17 degrees at the base of his spine.
That's Jason's actual image.
We finally got around to seeing the orthopedist today.
But first can I say that I had no idea about anything scoliosis related until recently.
Namely I had no idea that this tends to develop around adolescence.
I guess I figured that either you are born with it....or not.
But I was like wrong and stuff.
So today we learned a lot.
Namely there is ummmmm....nothing we can do about it.
His spine is not only curved but it is also twisted.
Jason's right shoulder blade sticks up and out of his back.
It's oddly weird to look at.
The curving will slow down and stop as soon as he is done growing....which should be soon apparently. He's 15 and 5'10.
The doctor was quite nice and very informative:
Can live a normal life.
Can play sports of any kind.
Has no precautions.
Won't affect his back later in life.
The only thing the doctor said he may not be able to do is
join the military.
Ummmmmm....
Whaaaa?
I'm sorry.
Could you repeat that?
After a bit of research it turns out he was wrong......and right.
Apparently the curvature in the thorasic region (the middle) has to be 30 degrees or higher to disqualify you from service.
Jason is so far at 26 degrees.
Not too big of a deal for Jason since he is not sure what he wants to do yet,
but here's what else we learned today,
it's genetic.
And this child has wanted to go to the Air Force Academy since shortly after he emerged from my uterus.
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| Guess who's getting a chest xray soon. |
We also learned today that Jason's children have an 85% chance of having scoliosis.
Hi curvy grandkids! Gma loves you!
Oddly, if Jason were a girl, his children would only have a 55% chance.
Fascinating.
Chalk it all up to Adventures in Motherhood ~ The Things You Never Knew.
Scoliosis 101: Check.
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My Boyfriend has Scoliosis, and it did not affect him until later in life. We played Kickball on a team when he was 39 and he injured himself; he is 47 now and is on disability. There is so much they can do now that they couldn't do before. Get second opinions and check it out further. His daughter has scoliosis and she was monitored closely for few years so that it did not progress as far as Howards. Not to scare you; but don't take it lightly.
ReplyDeletePlease find a CBP Chiropractor and get a second opinion! My niece was completely turned around by one our family sees in CO. I went back on Cory's last deployment and got help for my compressed disc too. On his next deployment we are going back to CO for McK's scoliosis treatments. It runs in our family too.
ReplyDeleteI do not think it is true that a) nothing can be done or b) it will not affect him later in life. I would strongly suggest you get a second opinion. Maybe the first one is correct but it is not something you want to miss.
ReplyDeleteEllen
I'd echo the "get second opinion". My mom had scoliosis and it progressed enough to warrant back surgery as an adult...and rods on either side of her back. Some continue to curve. Some don't. I'm thinking there are ways to prevent it from advancing further now as he's growing. A friend wore a brace for a time. Just my two cents...from the daughter of a mother with scoliosis...but who admittedly has no medical background. :) You've got time on your hands to seek out a second opinion and add yet another doctor's appointment to your schedule, right?!? :P
ReplyDeleteI second seeing a chiropractor. My son had mild scoliosis and one shoulder was way higher than the other. Our chiropractor was able to improve things quite a bit!
ReplyDeleteMy five year old granddaughter just had her second surgery yesterday for her scoliosis. She wore a brace first with little to no success and then a little over a year ago 2 rods were placed on either side of her spine. It has helped her tremendously and not hindered her in the least that I can tell. Yesterday she had one-day surgery to lengthen the rods which will have to be done as she grows. The doctors don't like to do surgery that early I'm told but hers had progressed to the point it was compressing her lungs and necessary. Best of luck and prayers!
ReplyDeleteScoliosis is not too scary and very manageable.
ReplyDelete1) There are things that can be done. Bracing and surgery come to mind first (I do have a medical background).
2) A chiropractor might HELP, but cannot CURE scoliosis.
3) Check out your options for treatment and maybe a timeline or a degree of severity that might warrant more aggressive treatment.
I've known people who had a spinal fusion (surgery) and have been very pleased with the results. Granted, their curves were severe. One of the young teens I know who had it done about 4 years ago gained so much more self confidence after surgery because she felt better about how her back (and shoulders) looked.
dude- we're right by the air force academy-- when he comes here we'll sponsor him and feed him and call him our own!
ReplyDeleteugh! I didn't much either. Hugs and good luck!
ReplyDeletethat was supposed to be "know" much!
ReplyDeleteWow...at least your boys who do not happen to have your genetics should be in the clear...maybe :) Praying it doesn't cross that 30 degrees!
ReplyDeleteOK, I just learned more....
ReplyDeleteMy husband had a huge growth spurt when he was in middle school...he was 6'2'' when he was 12-13 (that's his adult height too) Had trouble w/ scoliosis until his bones had a chance to catch up w/ the rest of him, then was fine. That said...I don't getting a second opinion would be a bad idea...
ReplyDeleteVery interesting. Our new little waiting sweetie has congenital scoliosis. Keep us updated if you go for a second opinion!
ReplyDeleteHOLY COW!!!
ReplyDeleteI highly recommend taking him to a chiropractor. It won't cure the scoliosis, but it can make a huge difference in helping to prevent it from getting worse. My mom has scoliosis and she has been seeing a chiropractor for about thirty years.
ReplyDeleteSonia, I have a very similar S-shaped curve in my back. 30 degrees at the worst curve. It happened during a growth spurt in my teen years. My parents didn't know either; it happens over time. I have never done anything about it. I don't really agree with the no pain part, HOWEVER, I very successfully carried two sons to term with no issues in my back and do anything I want to do. It just hurts every night when I lie down, but once I go to sleep, I don't feel it and by morning, it is good as new!
ReplyDeleteAs for genetics and the military part, my 10YO son has wanted to be a Navy Seal since he was about 2 years old. We have no immediate family members in the military but his granddads were in the Army and Air Force and great-granddad in WWII. Anyway, he really, really, really wants to do this and has never wavered, so I really, really, really hope he doesn't get the curve going. And I really, really, really hope your other guys don't either.
P.S. I'm really short--5 feet even. Numerous doctors have told me the scoliosis took 2-3 inches from my height. Of course short runs in my family, so I don't think I would have been tall anyway. Short is good for me though. :)
Oh, I forgot that my shoulders are very uneven and I used to be so self-conscious about it. Now I don't really think about it. Also, my ribcage sticks out on one side. Again, used to really bother me, but now I just don't think about it. It does still bother me that I have to tell people cutting my hair to NOT measure by my shoulders b/c they are uneven. They will sometimes say "oh, were you born that way?" Um, no, but what if I was (I want to say). But I don't. Sigh.
ReplyDelete