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Credit: Children's Healthcare of Atlanta http://www.choa.org |
At the orthopedist’s office, my body
temperature rose and my heart began to race as I stood behind Sarah as she
stood up, touched her toes and back. There was an obvious misalignment and
curve that didn’t seem as noticeable to me before.
Being there with her alone, I tried my
hardest to hold back tears, praying that the worst was not in sight. With a 22
degree curvature in her spine, Sarah needed to be watched to see if her spine
would curve some more. Even more startling is that scoliosis is not just a
sideways curvature of the spine but that this part of the body can also twist.
I was really surprised by all of this
and asked the doctor how this is possible when Sarah had never complained of
any pain, and played sports actively, and often. The orthopedist told me that pain is not a
typical symptom of scoliosis, so she likely would not complain about it,
especially at her age, and so early on in her body’s growth and development.
Trying not to panic or thinking the
worst, I had to keep my nerves in check so as not to freak out Sarah, as she
gets upset if I am upset.
According to
the Mayo Clinic, “Most cases of scoliosis are mild, but some children develop
spine deformities that continue to get more severe as they grow. Severe
scoliosis can be disabling. An especially severe spinal curve can reduce the
amount of space within the chest, making it difficult for the lungs to function
properly.”
According to Dr. William P. Bunnell,
Chairman of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Loma Linda University
Medical Center, Loma Linda, California, who was quoted on the National
Scoliosis Foundation website states that” Ninety-five percent of the curvatures
will not require treatment.” However, this seems indicative of curves that are
under 20 degrees, and Sarah currently has a 22 degree curve in her spine.
Therefore, you can imagine my fear and
concerns.
The orthopedist encouraged us to
follow-up in a few months after that appointment and to get Sarah another set
of x-rays to review at a later date. We have an appointment later this week
and praying that her curve has not changed, and that it has stayed the same, or
lessened, if that’s possible.
Why I am a bit stressed is that Sarah
is only eight years old, and she has not experienced her first period. And,
according to information on the National Scoliosis Foundation, “if a patient's
curve is around 25 degrees, but she hasn't had her first period yet, there's a
significant chance the curve will increase.”
We will know more once Sarah is seen by
the doctor this week, and her X-rays are reviewed. We will then discuss next steps.
I am taking a deep breath as I write
these words. We are not taking any drastic measures right away, and we will
seek additional opinions if needed.
So, for today, World Poetry Day, I
leave you with a Haiku.
To stress, not helpful
Seek medical attentionDon’t make rash choices
Our children’s health
Scary when it goes awryBreathe, act, take next steps
I would be interested to hear your
experiences. Please feel free to share.
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