10 Year Old with Scoliosis, Seeking Any Information

Hi J.,

My name is M.. I am 30 years old and also have scoliosis. I too went to the chirporactor and had lifts for my shoes made when I was in high school. To this day the scoliosis doesn't affect me but I don't know what the degree of mine is. Good luck.

J., I am sorry to say that I do not know much about scoliosis but I know a great doctor who does. His name is Ira Zaltz and he is out of Royal Oak Beaumont. My son sees him for his club foot. We never thought that my son would walk and his a running three year old. Dr. Zaltz is a specialist in scoliosis and club foot. He is a great doctor if you would like a second opinion!

J.,

I was diagnosed with scoliosis right around age 10 - which was 16 years ago, so it's entirely possible that things may be done a little differently now - but here's my experience. I don't remember the exact measurement of my curve, but it was higher than your daughter's but lower than 50. I had to wear a hard plastic back brace that went under my clothes (I wore a thin undershirt underneath it to prevent chafing) 24/7 for 2 years (with an hour break every day), then they gradually reduced the amount of time in the brace. I don't remember the exact schedule, but maybe it was 20 hours a day, down to 16 hours (so I didn't have to wear it to school), down to 12, and so on until I was only wearing it at night. I don't remember exactly when I was out of it completely, but I started my periods at age 12 and I know I wasn't still wearing it when I was 16.

The thing to keep in mind is that the brace will not cure scoliosis, and it will not greatly reduce her curve, it will simply help prevent it from getting worse, which would happen as she grows if she did not have a brace. A severe curve would not only give her a different physical appearance from her peers, but I believe it could lead to health problems as well.

So, as difficult as it is for children to have something "different" about them, it is for her best in the long run to get the brace. It will probably be an emotional challenge for her, as she has to adapt to this new feeling, telling her friends, etc. It shouldn't limit her physical activity very much, she'll definitely be able to walk normally, and like I said before it's worn under her clothes so it's not real noticeable. However, if I slouched a little, the top of the brace in the back would poke out under my clothes and people could definitely see that something was odd.

Here's one thing you can do to help the adjustment process go smoothly: the brace is not very thick, but it probably will require some new clothes in a slightly bigger size to fit properly, so let her have fun picking out some new clothes (but take the brace along, don't guess at sizes). It may not bother her much in the beginning - when I got mine, I was in 5th grade and it was a novelty that I told my classmates about at Show & Tell. But things changed when I got to middle school, I was tired of wearing the brace and kids started to pick on me.

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have more questions, I would be happy to help. :)

Hello. I am 30 year old new mom and was diagnosed with scoliosis when I was about 8 yrs old. I was monitored yearly until about 7th grade, and put in a back brace. The brace was worn beneath clothes, so it was difficult to tell that I was wearing one (except that I had exceptional posture and rock hard abs!. I wore it until I stopped growing (about 1.5 yrs) and was still allowed to dance and exercise throughout the time. It really paid off! My back still bothers me at times, but the brace, along with exercise, kept the curve stable. I was teased a little bit, but nothing too bad. Just keep reassuring your daughter that it is only temporary and keep her self-confidence high! You can let her know it gave me an hourglass figure at age 14-not too bad! Hope it helps!
Jen

I too wore a brace during the 7th grade. I didn't end up wearing it any longer than a year because the doctors found out that my scoliosis (which was in the high 30 degree curvature range when I started wearing the brace) was actually caused by a tumor at the base of my spine (a VERY rare condition) and had very little to do with my growth. Anyway, my point isn't to tell you about my scoliosis but to help with suggestions on helping your daughter through the brace. I won't lie - I hated the thing - I did anything I could to try to get out of wearing it. But I think I mostly hated it because I was in 7th grade - an incredibly awkward time for many kids anyway. Looking back, I don't think most kids ever knew that I wore the brace. I don't know what they're like now (I wore mine 20 years ago) but the one I wore was easily concealed beneath some baggier clothing. And I've seen that other posters ahve suggested buying something to wear under the brace (maybe a cami-style tank top would work best) - and I agree. It helps to keep the brace clean and protects your skin. Looking back, I think the brace actually helped me to be a stronger person, emotionally. Do you think your daughter would be comfortable talking with her peers about it? That might make the transition a little easier - so that they understand why she's wearing the brace and are maybe less inclined to be confused about it??? Just a thought.

I ended up having back surgery because after puberty, my curve continued getting slightly worse each year (because it was caused by the tumor). But my mom was very good about talking to me constantly about how the brace will help me in the long run so I think it's important to help your daughter stay focused on the long term. Best of luck!

I wore a brace like you describe when I was in high school. While it wouldn't have been my first choice, it was manageable and most people didn't even know I wore it. It didn't correct the scoliosis, but it prevented it from getting worse. Today I am 32 and rarely notice effects from the scoliosis. I also wore a fabric "tube" under the brace to keep the brace clean and help my sensitive skin, especially in the summer. I would also put corn starch on underneath. Just remember that the brace is temporary, and at least it's not a life threatening condition. I hope it goes well for your daughter.

I would def recommend the brace. I know at 10 yrs old it's def going to be a pain in the butt and something she may not want to do but she will need it. I am 28 and have scoliosis. The difference is mine wasn't caught until i was 19. They say most of the time it happens between 12 and 17yrs of age and then it's done. I went to a specialist in grand rapids michigan that told me at that time mine probably wouldn't get worse but if i did i would possibly need surgery to put a rod in my back or possibly end up in a wheel chair. now it has to this point not gotten bad enough for that but i do get a lot of discomfort and pain sometimes. I cant specifically say that the brace will really do anything as far as stopping it from getting worse as i'm not a doctor. but i would say that you probably want to do anything you can to try and prevent it. most likely it won't get bad enough to have any surgery or anything but i would do the brace to be safe and help it a little bit. hope this helps jen

Hi there J.,

I am a Physical Therapist and used to treat many kids with scoliosis when I lived and practiced in Germany. The treatment your MD is suggesting is crucial. It is even more successful when you combine it with an appropriate exercise program to stretch the short muscles and strengthen the weaker, stretched muscles along the spine and trunk, as well as breathing exercises to address the lung capacity from within as it is also changed due to the scoliosis. In Germany it is common for doctors to send kids to Physical Therapy for individual or group scoliosis exercise classes depending on the severity of the curvatures.
Call me if You would like to talk or get more advice ###-###-####.
Have a Blessed day!
C. W.

I have scoliosis, and it wasn't found until I was in 7th grade. My spine is in the shape of an S. I do not remember the exact degrees though although I know it was bad. I wore a back brace for three years, the first year was 23 hours a day with one hour break. It was very hard, but I do not regret the results. Since your daughter is so young she will forget it very soon after the whole thing is overwith, I did. I actually don't think about it at all anymore. The first month is the most painful though, I actually grew an inch in a month and got stretch marks on my thighs because of it. But those faded and I got over it. Just be prepared for a hard road at first, it takes some adjustments and some clever clothes to mask the bulky brace but with lots of support she will be fine.
Also, look into spine manipulation from a machine. I go to Westcott Chiropractic in Livonia and they use a machine instead of hand manipulation. I get adjustments every once in a while and they really help. I trust this way a lot more than regular chiropractic. If you have any other questions please email me and I would be glad to offer any more advise!

I am now 33 and was diagnosed in the 7th grade with scoliosis. At that time my curvature was so slight I was advised to just do some exercise and watch my posture/flexibility. My family knew nothing of scoliosis so we pretty much didnt do anyhing and the condition worsened. When I entered Jr. high the condition was bad enough to be put in a brace but my mother felt I would get teased throughout school. I never wore it. I wish I did. I am so self conscious about it now that a couple of years wearing it would have been worth it. Also I am very unflexible which I am sure is cuz of my back, I cant even do crunches cuz my back doesnt bend right. Later in life when I went to see about the surgery they said the only reason people have it done is for self conscious reasons. Not willing to let someone cut my back open for it.
So please think about letting your daughter wear the brace. I few years of being self conscious will be worth it in the long run.

Jamie, This might sound crazy, My daughter was also diagnosed with scoliosis, same curve, this is what we did and it worked! They make back braces to help folks at "work". My daughter wore that in the night and at home, she also is a dancer, dancing, especially Ballet makes one stand up straight, the exercises and dance 1st were fun, built up the muscles in her back, and whole body to keep her standing and sitting up straight! The spinal brace they are recomending is invasive and VERY hard on a child, tell me would a year of the "reg" back brace and dance hurt? NO! Check it out, ask, try! Good luck! My daughter is now 26, and relatively back trouble free!
K.

I am a mother of four daughters that range from 4 to 14. My Husband and I have a Chiropractic clinc in Michigan and I was wondering how long your daughter was in treatment? And was there any improvement at all.

I too had scoliosis when I was a around that age. I do not know the severity though. What I do recall is that the doc suggested we see if I would grow out of it. By the next growth spurt or two...I had infact grew out of it. Was there any mention of that?

Wow. How rough. I have no experience with this only ideas. Did the chiroproctor say why it worsened . It still seem slike you oarteon the right track with chirpractors. I would interview more and find someone with lots of experience at scoliosis and who could explain what went wrong the first time. You could also try acupuncture. Good luck, J..

S.

How about spinal decompression? I had a 14 degree improvement when I underwent it and I'm 54. I did this 2 years ago. And it's a technique supported by NASA. It isn't cheap, and at this point I doubt yet that many insurances would cover it. But consider this: many who have seen orthopedics and had surgery done (fusion or a rod up your spine) have gone on to spinal decompression therapy and had unbelievable results. I know a team of doctors in Northville if you'd like to just go in and discuss it. Let me know.

J. R.
I am sorry to hear that your experience with your chiropractor was not a positive one. I am a chiropractor in Eastpointe, MI and I would still recommend chiropractic to help support your daughters care. I have a couple of questions though. Was the chiropractor a specialist in children and childhood orthopedic issues? Did they provide recommendations for supportive exercises? I know of several other chiropractors who have helped many children and even some adults with their scoliosis. There are specific techniques and protocols that must be implemented when dealing with a scoliosis spine. I hope that you and your daughter might be opened to trying chiropractic again. The hard braces used to "correct" scoliosis try to prevent the spine from increasing the curve but it does not allow the spinal musculature to grow and strengthen properly, which means that they are not able to support the spine properly. I hope that I have given you some additional information about the benefits of chiropractic and that you are able to find a chiropractor in your area that can benefit you and your daughter.

Yours in Health and Wellness
Dr. B.

My sister, cousin and I were all diagnosed with scoliosis around that age. My sister and I never wore a brace, I guess the doctor's didn't think it was quite bad enough. But my cousin did wear the brace for a couple years. Now we are all around 30, and my sister and I have "bad backs". I get pinched nerves and my back muscles are always hurting because of the imbalance. (It was even worse during pregnancy) My cousin, on the other hand, has no back problems. She has a strong, straight back. So, thinking more for a lifetime, wearing the brace might be well worth it. I know it can be damaging to self esteem at that age to have to wear a brace, but my cousin seemed to be able to hide it under her clothes pretty well.

Our daughter (soon to be adopted) had a curvature of 60 degrees. We went to DeVos children's hospital with Dr. Matthew Hilinkski. He was WONDERFUL. She did have surgery as the curve was so severe (it has been on going since she was six and not well taken care of.). He will be the first to make sure your daughter is comfortable with what is happening and do what is best at the time.

I looked it up for you and from the city where you live to the hospital (in Grand Rapids) is just over 100 miles - about a 2 hour drive.

Please give him a call. He will NOT do surgery just to do it. He will work with you - not TELL you things.

Feel free to contact me and I will help in any way I can. My email is: ____@____.com

Good Luck!!!

K.

Hi J., How visible is your daughters curve? Is it obvious enough that it will bother her? Does it affect how she stands or walks?
I have scoliosis but mine is not visible. It is in 4-6 vertabra area so I am lucky that people can not tell I have a curve. I do have bad days where I can't stand straight, but they are not often (once every couple of months or so for a day or 2).
I got this condition from my mom. She was given a brace but refused to wear it after a short time. You can't see her curve and has not been majorly hindered by it. I have never been suggested a brace which is good, since I wouldn't wear it very much either.
The things I would think about are..
- is the curve easily noticed by others?
- does it greatly affect her standing, sitting, walking etc.
- which is worse for her both physically and mentally, brace or no brace?

Kids, and alot of adults too, can be cruel if you look different. So the assuming the curve does not majorly affect her physically, which will affect her more mentally? Her having a curve or wearing a brace 24/7 for who knows how long?
I hope this helps you out a bit. Feel free to message me if you would like to talk.
V.

My daughter had the same. We took her to a chiropractor instead. Life Style Chiropractic on Mound Rd in Shelby. She still (23yrs old) has a little issue with her back and now does alot of yoga which really helps her. Dr. Scott did wonders and she never did have surgury or the brace. I will look up his phone number and get back with you.
Dr. Scott Rubenstein ###-###-####. His practice is at 54821 Mound Rd. in Shelby. Thanks. C.

My niece also has scoliosis, my mom said its "mild" but anyway, my mom is a medical massage therapist and she has worked on my niece which will always have the scoliosis, but seems to be maintaining at the severity that its in. If you can find a Medical Massage Therapist they go through training and are certified to do massage it might help your daughter.

Good luck,
J.

I had scoliosis. I did not wear the brace until later because my parents were occupied with a divorce. You should get the brace on ASAP. I ended up having to have the surgery and it would be great to avoid it. Even though my surgery went fine and I am ok.

K.

Hey,
I am 29 years old and after a horriffic pregnancy due to extreme back pain with pinched nerves, causing my one leg to go completely numb...I went to an orthopedic surgeon. I thought I had maybe a bulging disc or something. He found nothing. After more pain and the advice of my Chiropratic Uncle from GA I went to see one. He found I had scoloiosis. I had a 34* curvature in my mid back, 8* in my neck and 16* in my lower back. He put me in his critical care adjustment routine and after 4 months my curves went from 34 to 25, 16 to 8 and 8 to 5. I feel much better. I can not remember the last time I had a migrane and my back pain has become much better. I waas too old for a brace, but he said those braces can be very embaressing and uncompfortable. I know you said you went to see a chiro already, but maybe the one you wnet to was not a good one. If you want I can give you the name of my Dr. he is in shelby Twp. I am not sure where you live...but it would be worth it if he could help your daughter. He did warn me that with my degrees of curvature and age he may not be able to help.....He was shocked with my results. I can only imagine that with your daughter only being ten that he could really help her. He has also given me the chance to have more children....becuz beforehe helped me I wouldnt have been able to. Email me if you want his info. And my heart goes out to your daughter.... But do know I never had much pain till my pregnancy. I did suffer from extreme migraines and headaches from a very early age.

Hi J.,

I have scoliosis. I am 39 years old. My cure is always been
severe. I wore the brace from 4th grade til I was a junior in high school! It was such a pain!! Hard to find clothes that would fit over the brace and not be too huge on me.
My classmates never teased me, only when I went out in public did people just stare at me. I really not let it bother me. Sometimes I would just stare back at them or make a crazy face back at them. For me the brace did nothing except to just hold the cure.
Have your daughter get into yoga and swimming which really helps me. I would ask the orth what other options are there out there besides the brace. I know they wanted to implant some kind of transformer into me and hook me to some electrodes that would sitimulate the musles to push the spine. I never had the surgery. I do go to the Chro. I had a baby a year ago and no issues with my back.

I hope everything goes good with your daughter!

I have a niece with Down's Syndrome with the same condition, a couple years older than your daughter. She has been wearing a brace for about a year already. The same thing: needs to wear it until she stops growing. She enjoys swimming, so that is one time she can be out of the brace, and they go swimming daily. She's sorta gotten used to it, it seems. This last time they visited in particular she seemed to do very well with it, and was doing all the things the other kids were.
May you find some answers!