by Heather Rascon

Created on: June 13, 2008

Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine. Most often it is hereditary, but it can also occur spontaneously. It is three times more prevalent in girls than in boys. It is also much more aggressive in girls than in boys. Most spinal fusions for scoliosis are performed on adolescent girls. The best thing you can do for your child is to have her/him checked regularly for a curve. Don't rely on the school nurse; ask your pediatrician. It most often occurs in pubescent girls who go through a rapid growth spurt. If there is a family history, have your child checked often.

I am writing not just as a mother of a child with scoliosis, but also as a person with scoliosis. I was diagnosed with scoliosis when I was 11 years old. The school nurse didn't catch it. My doctor did. By then my curvature was 36 degrees. We tried chiropractic care for six months. I wore a funny foot lift and visited the chiropractor three times a week. At the end of those six months my curve was 43 degrees. The orthopedic doctor recommended having surgery immediately as it was highly progressive due to my young age and because at that time, they could only correct up to 40 degrees. Harrington rods were still pretty new at the time and we opted for a bone fusion. Bone chips were taken from my hip and inserted between my vertebrae to fuse together. I was placed in a body cast and bent at an angle to counteract the curve. I missed almost all of seventh grade, being tutored by a teacher from school so I wouldn't have to be held back. It was a painful procedure but I endured it and went on to live a full life afterwards. Yes, I have some limitations but I don't let it slow me down.

My daughter was also diagnosed at the age of eleven. Because of my history I made sure to have her pediatrician check her. She was checked when she was ten and no curve was detected. When she was checked at eleven, the doctor told me there was definitely a curve. We took her to an orthopedic surgeon who x-rayed her and said the curve was 56 degrees. After much online research, I knew that anything higher than 40 degrees requires surgery. As my daughter's school is year-long, we scheduled her surgery for the three week fall break. We were told her recovery would be about three to four weeks and she could return to school. I knew all of the risks, having gone through it before and having researched thoroughly. But I also knew there wasn't much of a choice. Because she was only eleven and not finished growing, chances were great

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>