Trying something new

Many people have offered welcome, and sometimes unwelcome, advice and suggestions about scoliosis over the course of our experience with it. Some are based on real life experiences, others based on hearsay, or "a friend of a friend...". It has reminded me of when I was pregnant - everyone had an opinion or story to share!

                Some were helpful, others... not so much!

Over the past few months a number of people have asked us if we had ever heard of a specific method for treating scoliosis. It seems to hit on an area we were curious about, and is called the Schroth Method.

What we like about it, and what has prompted us to explore it as an option in addition to the bracing strategy (not instead of), is that it purports to target the specific muscles and curves of each patient with individualized stretches & exercises, rather than just the general core strengthening exercises we were getting from the PT.

Dancer Girl already has a strong core - she's a dancer after all! What seemed to be missing in the PT program was exercises directly related to her specific curves. It just seemed to make sense to us that it would help to be more specific, but we weren't sure where to look.

So when this one came up a few times in short succession we looked it up and contacted her doctor. It turns out there is a center very close to us! An initial interview is where we will begin and we figured it can't hurt to at least find out more about the program. Her back doctor is supportive, although was quick to say they can't guarantee correction.

I don't think we are looking for correction so much as a program that will help stabilize her back and give her the tools to manage the curve she has as she goes through life. Correction of any amount would certainly be a wonderful bonus, but we know it may not happen.

I just got off the phone with the doctor who runs the clinic and he was very helpful, friendly, and informative while also being very low-pressure. He just gives us the information and lets us make the decision about whether or not to move forward. He also made sure to mention that Dancer Girl is going to need to be motivated for it to work - having supportive parents is nice, but she is the one that needs to want to do the program!

So far it has been very positive - we will post updates as we explore this option. Any helpful comments about direct experience with this method, or similar methods, would be welcomed!

Emotional Day!

It has been a while since we posted anything.

Mostly because things were sort of coasting along as far as the scoliosis and the brace, but also because we have been buried under snow and our routine has been challenged time after time with snow days and rescheduling!

Recently though, Dancer Girl had been complaining of her brace not fitting correctly and things just not feeling right.  We made an appointment to hopefully get things adjusted to relieve the discomfort.

We are looking at the real possibility of being brace-free by June so obviously didn't want to hear that she needs a new brace.

              The news was not what we hoped...

Dancer Girl has grown about another inch, despite us all thinking she had stopped. Her brace clearly doesn't fit properly anymore and can no longer be worn effectively. The brace guy said he would recommend a new brace to her back doctor.

         Sigh.

We set up an appointment for two weeks out to let things sort out with getting the doctor's order, insurance coverage, etc.

Dancer Girls wasn't happy. So, we went out for frozen yogurt and did some shopping - seemed to help us both just a little bit!!

When we got home there was a message from the brace guy - he had talked to her back doctor who seemed to think that there really wasn't any point in getting a new brace since she was to be out of it by June.  By the time we got the brace fitted properly she'd practically be done with it!

So...basically she is done!  He said that IF she can wear it at all between now & our June appointment to go ahead...

         Right. Like that's going to happen!


                 She is thrilled! No more brace!!

I am happy for her but also wary - what if, when we get to the June appointment, her doctor says that the last three months brace free weren't good for her back, it was too soon, and she does in fact need a new one? That will be devastating. We will deal with that if it happens, (and will be praying that it doesn't) but for now Dancer Girl is looking forward to sleeping well again!