by mmcnett | Oct 20, 2012 | Infantile Scoliosis, Infantile Scoliosis Blog, Life with Mehta Casts, Our Stories, Progressive Infantile Scoliosis (PIS),
Our son Evan was born on March 20, 2006. We could not believe how beautiful he was, and there was no missing his gorgeous eyes. We really weren’t aware that anything was wrong with his back until his 4-month regular check-up. His doctor noticed that he had a slight head tilt and wanted to get an x-ray of his neck. Because he was so small, when they took the x-ray of the neck, they also caught a portion of his spine on the film. We were told that he had torticollis, which has since resolved through physical therapy, and what appeared to be infantile scoliosis. This was the beginning of our journey toward a cure.
Evan had an MRI done, and his first visit with a local orthopedic doctor before he was 5 months old. He was diagnosed with idiopathic infantile scoliosis with a curve around 30 degrees. We were told to wait and see if the curve progressed and continued with regular check ups until he was 10 months old and his curve had progressed to 42 degrees. I immediately began searching for any information I could find about infantile scoliosis. This is when I came across ISOP (Infantile Scoliosis Outreach Program) and the C.A.S.T. support group. Finding this information literally changed my family and more importantly my son’s life.
Evan had his first appointment and casting at the Shriner’s Hospital in Erie, PA when he was 12 months old. His curve had now progressed to 49 degrees and he had an RVAD of 20 degrees. He had not taken his first step before the first cast and it only took 2 weeks in the cast and he was walking everywhere. When they removed the cast after 2 months, his curve was measured at 34 degrees (a 15 degree correction), we were thrilled. His subsequent castings and corrections are as follows:
COBB 49°, RVAD 20° Before Early Treatment
Cast #1 Date 3/26/07 COBB 34°, RVAD 11° out of cast
Cast #2 Date 5/29/07 COBB 27°, RVAD 2° out of cast
Cast #3 Date 7/26/07 COBB 22°, RVAD 2° out of cast
Cast #4 Date 10/04/07 COBB 16°, RVAD 2° out of cast
Cast #5 Date 12/04/07 COBB 12°, RVAD 2° out of cast
Cast #6 Date 2/25/07 COBB 12°, RVAD 0° out of cast
Brace Date 4/30/07 COBB 15°, RVAD 0° out of brace
Cast #7 Date 6/16/08 COBB 4°, RVAD 0° out of cast
Brace Date 9/21/08 COBB 3°, RVAD 0° out of brace
Currently scheduled to be in his current brace until July 09
Evan’s physician transferred to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NY in January of 08 and we continued care there in June of 08. Evan has been in a brace for 6 months now and at our most recent visit we were told that he appears to be cured, but he will continue to wear the brace for another 6 months, to ensure the correction holds. My whole family is extremely grateful that there are physicians out there who are taking the time to learn about this condition and Early Treatment through EDF casting. We are so thankful to ISOP, the C.A.S.T. support group, the work of Dr. Mehta and the wonderful staff and doctors at Shriner’s and Strong Memorial Hospitals. My son most likely will not remember much of being in his casts, but he will forever stand tall because of them.
by mmcnett | Aug 20, 2012 | Infantile Scoliosis, Infantile Scoliosis Blog, Life with Mehta Casts, Our Stories, Progressive Infantile Scoliosis (PIS),
“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indominant will.”
Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869-1948)
My son Finn is the very essence of the word strength. He is also determined, witty, and charismatic. For in his three short years he lives his life with the wisdom of an old soul. He has struggled and he has rallied. His life has not been one of ease but he has blossomed into a thriving, energetic young boy.
Finn was born into my arms on May 31, 2006. I had struggled with Polyhydramnios in my pregnancy that has ballooned my stomach to twice the normal size of a single pregnancy. I went in weekly for the last 6 weeks of my pregnancy for fetal monitoring and at 38 weeks my midwife and physician decided it was time to induce labor. Finn’s delivery was uncomplicated and very natural. We had not known if he was a boy or girl and were overjoyed when the announcement from my midwife was that he was a boy. My daughter Mia, then almost 4 years old, attended the birth and was the proudest big sister I had ever seen. I did notice that Finn was bruised on one side of his face and that he had some difficulty opening his left eye, also that his left eye sat higher on his face than his right eye. I was told that he was a little shifted from the delivery and once the swelling went down all should be normal. His Apgar at 1minute was an 8 and at 5 minutes was a 9.
Hours into Finn’s arrival his muscle tone decreased and he had difficulty with his breathing. He was grunting and was taken to the nursery for oxygen. After three days in the hospital he was released and we went home to begin our life as a family of four. Within days I noticed that Finn sharply tilted his head to the left with his chin sitting on his right shoulder. His position looked so uncomfortable but it seemed very natural to him and when I repositioned his neck he would again rotate it to the side. The next thing I noticed was that his eyes did not move correctly. Even though he was a newborn he had absolutely no eye focus and stared very blankly never even trying to make eye contact. Even weeks later his left eye still sat higher on his face and his face was very asymmetrical. The left side of his face also drooped with poor muscle tone and without expression. His feedings were extremely difficult and he could not breastfeed well. On top of sucking problems, milk would spew from his nostrils if he was not held in an upright position.
I called into Finn’s pediatrician at 6 weeks of age and told her my concerns of his held tilt and vision. His pediatrician said that the head tilt was torticollis and not uncommon and that the vision problems would resolve as his eyes matured a bit. She said that she would take a look at his 8 week appointment. By his 8 week appointment my concerns and worry were through the roof. I just knew that Finn was not developing normally. He didn’t sleep, he had great difficulty nursing and I had to feed him pumped breast milk from a bottle, and he surely couldn’t see well. All of my concerns and worries were almost dismissed and one of his pediatricians told me to go home, stretch his neck, feed him from a bottle and not worry about his eyes. I chased after her as she left the room and went into her office. I insisted she write a referral for physical therapy and decided to make my own appointment with an eye doctor.
Finn began physical therapy for his torticollis within a couple of weeks and we went to see a ophthalmologist when he was around 3 months old. The ophthalmologist acknowledged immediately that Finn had an eye issue. She was concerned also that his eyes did not seem to abduct out. She was correct. Finn went in for his first MRI at the local children’s hospital. The results did not show any nerve damage or anything else. It was just a mystery. The ophthalmologist sent Finn to a neuro ophthalmologist for a second opinion. The neuro ophthalmologist looked Finn over for about ten minutes and declared he had Moebius Syndrome. Moebius Syndrome is characterized by a complete absence of cranial nerve 6 and 7 movement along this a variety of other symptoms. There is no testing for it. It is just diagnosed with observation of a set of symptoms. I didn’t think Finn had this from day one of his diagnosis and it is clear now that he doesn’t have Mobieus Syndrome because now, Finn has facial movement on the left side of his face. Mobieus Syndrome doesn’t ever get better. The neuron ophthalmologist then referred us to a pediatric neurologist who recommended repeating the brain MRI to include the brainstem and cervical spine. The MRI showed subtle, possibly abnormal, structural abnormality based on an inverted V-shape of the fourth ventricle but no other abnormal findings.
So, we moved on. I came to the realization that Finn’s greatest issues were not his facial asymmetry or his horizontal gaze palsy or his feeding difficulties. Finn’s greatest issue was the torticollis. The torticollis was being aggressively treated yet we did not seem to be getting anywhere with the treatment. When Finn was about 5 months old I had noticed that when I carried him he felt very shifted to his left side . I asked his pediatrician about it and she stated that it was his muscle development and that he was developing more on his left side. This did not sound correct to me, but what did I know. We moved along and Finn was in vision therapy, speech therapy and physical therapy. He didn’t sit up well, he did not crawl and he screamed at night like I was torturing him. I decided to take him to Shriner’s Hospital in Tampa Florida for another opinion. When his appointment time came, he had learned to do an army crawl and he pulled with one arm and pushed off with his big toe. He was also doing a little better job of sitting.
Finn’s first Shriner’s appointment was when he was 11 months old. Sure enough, he was diagnosed with scoliosis. The findings were: T8 to L4 42 degree levoscoliosis. The AP and lateral C-spine x-rays showed no obvious bone abnormalities and the AP spine and pelvis x-rays showed a left thoracolumbar curve of 42 degrees. The hips were well contained and the lateral spine x-ray showed no obvious bone abnormalities and no congenital vertebral anomalies. I was terrified. We were referred to a geneticist to put all of the pieces together because Finn did not have all the classic characteristics of Mobieus syndrome. We were advised to watch and wait to see if the scoliosis progressed. I had absolutely no idea what a beast infantile scoliosis could turn in to. I look back at how naïve I was and how unconcerned Finn’s medical providers seem to be. I just had no idea…
Finn had his genetics appointment and there were no additional findings. At about this time we also began to see a chiropractor, because his MRI had ruled out structural abnormalities. The chiropractor studied Finn up and down. She was determined to make a difference in his life. She worked and worked on his head with cranial sacral therapy to reshape his cranial asymmetry. Little by little we began to see the left side of his face move. Within months of his chiropractic therapy he was smiling a full, normal, toothy smile. He had never been able to move his mouth and face like this and we were so excited and so very hopeful.. I look back on Finn’s first smiles and I think that this was really the first time he had shown some expression of happiness. He had screamed and cried during the night from the time he was born. I knew he was a fighter. His smile told me that he was trying to burst out of his immobile shell.
Finn struggled through the next few months. His head was always going the wrong direction or no direction at all. He was not developing within his normal range and his developmental delays were more noticeable than ever. All of our little friends of the same age were walking, talking and playing but Finn really struggled just to move a few feet. He had trouble rotating his head and that was the only way he could see what was going on around his sides because his eyes did not turn out to look. He could only look forward. We worked so hard. I gave him a massage every night. I rotated and stretched his head. I walked with him, I talked with him. I loved on him like he was all I ever loved. We attended all of his scheduled therapies. He spent so much time just trying to make his body behave as physically normal as possible that he learned nothing else. He just wanted to move!
At 17 months old we returned to Shriner’s Hospital in Tampa. Finn’s AP of the spine showed a left thoracolumbar curve of 60 degrees. The scoliosis had definitely increased from previous films. The vertebral and intervertebral disk spaces were maintained. The bony structures of the pelvis were normal and the femoral heads were within their perspective acetabula. Shriner’s in Florida recommended a brace. They also discussed with me the possibility of needing a distraction rod in the future. I asked if there was any other treatments available for infantile scoliosis. I was told that there were none. Bracing and surgery were the only opinions, or do nothing. Finn was molded for a brace and told to return in 4 weeks. We returned for the brace but there was a problem with getting a good fit and giving Finn correction so Orthotics & Prosthetics wanted to do a Risser cast for a brace mold. They did a mold and made the brace, this was another month, and when that brace was made it did not fit correctly either. So, Finn was molded again with a Risser Cast and a brace was made from the cast. Shriner’s was satisfied with this brace and we were sent home and told to return in four months because they wanted to monitor him because they stated that he may require surgical intervention in the future He measured 40 degrees in the brace.
We went home with that brace. He absolutely could not support his body or his neck in the brace. He laid on the floor mostly and refused to try to do anything. I knew this was not going to work. I had done a little research on my own when the braces were being made and they had told me that he would possibly need surgical intervention. I remembered that there was a method of serial casting that was being practiced at some Shriner’s Hospitals but it was not practiced in Tampa. I went back and found that site. Finn will probably thank me for the rest of his life that I did. It changed his life. ISOP (Infantile Scoliosis Outreach Program) was the only brace that mended my son. It began to heal him the minute I joined the group.
Now, just to give you some background on myself. I am natural to the core. I feed my kids fish oil, pro biotics, and vitamins on a daily basis. They are allowed their share of junk food but eat a natural whole foods diet. My home is as natural as possible and we do not use pesticides or harsh cleaning chemicals. The idea of putting rods in my baby was very uncomfortable to me. I believe in natural health and homeopathic cures when possible. I was really scared to commit to EDF (Elongation, Derotation, Flexion) serial corrective casting, but it was my son’s best alternative to very invasive, repeated surgeries. I worried about if the cast would be uncomfortable, I worried about if he would be to hot in the Florida sun, I worried about what I would do if Finn chocked. I worried about how I would bathe him, how would he do being unable to get wet at the beach or pool. Could he walk in it, could he run in it? Could he just be a little boy in it? Well, I thought about all of this and really looked at my options. He could barely get around as it stood because he was so crippled over with torticollis and low muscle tone. I read and I studied ever story. I knew that Finn did not have a very good chance to get 100% straight because of his degree of curvature, rotation and his age but I decided we just had to try. I made an appointment with the closest physician that was practicing the Mehta Method. This physician was not part of the Shriner’s network but we decided to give him a try anyway. We went to the appointment and the physician agreed to cast Finn. The next morning Finn went in for casting. About an hour after Finn went into the OR the physician came out and said that he could not cast Finn. He said that I should take him to get growth rods immediately. I was absolutely devastated. I lost all hope. I cried for days. When I returned home with Finn I posted on the ISOP support group that Finn had been unsuccessful in our casting attempt. I learned that some doctors are not following the exact recommendations of EDF casting and the Mehta Method. He was modifying the plaster jacket by not using shoulder straps in all cases. He did have kids with low curves that were achieving correction but this modified method without the support of shoulder straps was not going to work for Finn and his high thoracic curves. He just had too many neck issues going on and he needed the shoulder straps to hold his shoulder area and chest cavity in place. I was encouraged by another mother on the group to get another opinion. The mother suggested the Shriner’s in Chicago. I gave them a call and sent all of Finn’s medical documentation up to be reviewed. They called and told us to come on up. I was so nervous and excited. We went ASAP.
On our initial visit Finn’s x-rays showed that he had progressed to nearly 90 degrees. It had been less than four months since our last x-rays and the curve was progressing like wildfire now. He could hardly stand at this point. His overall function was almost as bad as it had ever been. He just could not develop like he needed to because all of his energy and focus was on trying to support his body. The attending physician noted that he was very flexible and in traction x rays he looked much better. The physician said he would try to cast him the next day. I was not going to set myself up again for disappointment so I just did not get very excited. The next day Finn was casted. After the casting, his physician came out and told me he “looked good”. Looked good I thought, oh my goodness, could this be true? I was beyond words. I was crying with relief. He was casted down to the mid 30’s. This was achievable because the doctor treated my child individually, had EDF experience and knew the importance of shoulder straps for curves above T-9.
Finn came out of recovery and we wheeled him down to his room. His cast was taped and trimmed. I picked him up and put him on the ground. He was a little disorientated and a bit uncomfortable and unsure of what had just gone on. He held his body tall and strong for the first time in his life. He laughed, and he moved, and he tried to walk. I packed him up that afternoon and went back to Florida. With in the next few days Finn became very comfortable with his new accessory. Once he adjusted to the weight of the cast he was full steam ahead. Finn was amazing. The cast allowed him to stand without slumping. He could walk and move freely. He immediately started doing things I had never seen him do. Finn was a new kid. It was the beginning for him. It was the beginning of his new life where he had an opportunity to learn without pain, where he had the opportunity to be the same as his peers and run with the wind, and where he had the opportunity to focus on something else than just trying to standing up.
Finn has received good correction in his casts. He just went in for number 7. I have never been one for numbers or degrees. I have always known that Finn will most likely never get full correction like some of the younger kids with less severe curves. I choose not to ask what his numbers are. I know he is still above 50 degrees but he is well below 90 degrees. I also know that he gets down to about 28 degrees in his cast. I just really don’t need to know numbers though. I am not focused on that. I am focused on the new chance for life that Early Treatment w/ properly applied EDF casting and the Mehta Method has given my child. I am concerned for his overall development. I want him to develop in all the ways his peers have had the opportunity to develop. I just want Finn to have the chance of a the most normal life possible, one that is free of pain and full of opportunity to grow, develop, and explore in this world that is so full of life. And you know what??? He is, and the reason he is full of life is because of Mehta casting and the absolute best medical team at the Shriner’s Hospital in Chicago.
Finn continues to achieve success. He just turned three and is doing remarkably well. His vision has improved and he has learned to rotate his head to see what surrounds him. His facial palsy is almost nonexistent. He runs, and he plays and he has the most inspiring, infectious laugh. He is always in trouble for getting into something or climbing on something. He is the pillar of strength and determination. At the end of the day I know that he most likely will require surgical intervention but the casting has given him the opportunity to grow a little more , develop a little more and explore life a little more. I could not ask for anything more.
by mmcnett | Aug 12, 2012 | Infantile Scoliosis, Infantile Scoliosis Blog, ISOP Videos
by mmcnett | Jul 20, 2012 | Infantile Scoliosis, Infantile Scoliosis Blog, Life with Mehta Casts, Our Stories, Progressive Infantile Scoliosis (PIS),
Makenna was born on March 27th, 2007 weighing 5 lbs, 3 oz. Although this perfect, beautiful, baby girl was born four weeks early, she passed the newborn tests with flying colors.
At about three months, I noticed that her eyes were not tracking from right to left. We were referred to a pediatric ophthalmologist who ordered an MRI of her brain.
The MRI results indicated a diagnosis of a cranial sixth nerve palsy and strabismus (a condition commonly known as crossed eyes where eyes do not line up in same direction when focusing.) The eye doctor explained that Makenna was only using one eye at a time, but that each eye was actually quite strong by itself.
The eye that she wasn’t using would drift to a crossed position. The strabismus condition was affecting Makenna’s development, and as a result, delayed her ability to walk.
Makenna went in for eye surgery at 19 months. They realigned her eyes by tightening (shortening) the muscles on the inside of her eyes. A few days after the surgery not only did her eyes align nearly perfectly, but she got up and started walking. It was like night and day. It still gets me every time I think about it. It was like a second ‘birth day’. She came alive after that surgery. Before, she had to spend so much energy just trying to focus and make sense of the double vision that she just couldn’t engage in eye contact. Although the strabismus condition was successfully mended, the nerve palsy affecting Makenna’s ability to move her eyes outward, cannot be repaired.
After the eye surgery, we felt like they were in the clear and could breathe a sigh of relief. But in the summer of 2009, I noticed that Makenna was walking peculiar. Her right foot never quite got in front of the left. The neurologist ordered a second MRI to rule out any neurological causes of the discrepancy. But before we could get the results, I noticed during a bath that Makenna’s right rib cage was sticking out to the side. I ran my finger along her spine and felt a curve.
X-Rays confirmed that Makenna had a curve in her spine measuring 20 degrees. Technically, she would be in the “watch and wait” category of scoliosis to determine whether or not it was self-resolving or progressive. However, in Makenna’s case, there is a rare connection between the sixth nerve palsy and the scoliosis called Horizontal Gaze Palsy with Progressive Scoliosis (HGPPS.) Basically, she has brain stem hypoplasia (underdevelopement), creating a cleft or ridge in her brain stem right at the nucleus of the sixth nerve. There are very few cases (about 80) reported in the world. All research indicates that the most troublesome aspect of the condition is the scoliosis. So this is where we turned our attention.
By chance, I met a mom with a 2 ½ year old daughter who had just gone through EDF treatment. This treatment option was never mentioned by Makenna’s doctors. I was directed to the website for Infantile Scoliosis Outreach Program (ISOP). After much internet research and phone calls, it became increasingly apparent that the best method for treating progressive scoliosis in someone as young as Makenna was Early Treatment with EDF (elongation, derotation, and flexion) using the Mehta Method.
I spoke with Heather who guided me on the proper procedure to get Makenna the help she needed. After some paperwork and red tape…we got Makenna into the program at Shriner’s Hospital in Chicago. She received her first cast in November of 2009. Makenna’s curve measured 25° prior to casting and she is currently casted at 0°! Every child with Progressive Infantile Scoliosis should be given the chance that ISOP and Shriner’s has given Makenna! We are eternally grateful.
I want to share Makenna’s story with everyone–not to dwell on all the challenges and frustrations we have encountered, but rather, to reach out to others who may be experiencing similar hurdles with their child. Searching for the best doctors, and the latest research or treatment options is the very best we can offer our children. As parents, we are their best advocates. We should always have faith and keep searching for answers.
To read Makenna’s full story go to: http://www.strengthofspirit.weebly.com
To view a blog featuring Makenna go to: http://thefontenotslife.blogspot.com/2011/01/infantile-scoliosis-makennas-story.html
If you wish to contact Amy Replogle (Makenna’s Mom) her email is sos_2010@comcast.net.
by mmcnett | Jun 20, 2012 | Infantile Scoliosis, Infantile Scoliosis Blog, Life with Mehta Casts, Our Stories, Progressive Infantile Scoliosis (PIS),
Isabella was born in April 2006 by c-section. She was full term and weighed 8 pounds 4.5 ounces and was 21 inches long. My pregnancy was what I would call a perfect pregnancy. I had no complications and felt great the whole time. There were also no complications with the delivery.
It was at about 12 weeks of age that we noticed something wasn’t right when we had Isabella in a seated position, she seemed to slouch. Whether she was seated on our lap, her car seat or swing, she had this slouch. She seemed to lean to the side and in her baptismal picture she looked like the letter “S”. We blamed it on her young age. This continued for the next several months. She did visit her pediatrician regularly. We never missed an appointment or went past due on a visit. He didn’t catch it and neither did we. We thought it was something she would outgrow and be able to better support herself when she got older. I still kick myself for not asking any sooner.
At Isabella’s 12 month pediatrician visit (she had already developed a rib hump on her back) I brought up her “slouch” to her doctor. I wasn’t going to wait and see any longer. He immediately said that she had scoliosis and would need to be referred out to a specialist (orthopaedic surgeon) at a local hospital. Little did we know that at that same time of our referral an EDF Mehta trained doctor had just been hired by that local hospital. When we met our doctor, he didn’t even have business cards yet; he was that new. At the end of our visit he wrote on our x-ray sleeve “Heather Hyatt Montoya”. Isabella was diagnosed at 12 months of age with Idiopathic Progressive Infantile Scoliosis. Her curve was at 51 degrees with severe rotation. The doctor recommended casting and estimated 2-3 years of casting with the worse-case scenario involving surgery at a later point in time.
Isabella has endured over three years of casting. In May 2010, her doctor moved out of state and just like that, California lost it’s only experienced EDF/Mehta trained doctor. We currently travel to Utah for her treatment. We will visit Utah 3 times a year. Her doctors have been very optimistic and the word “surgery” has not been mentioned since her diagnosis in 2007. We have seen Isabella’s curve and rotation improve drastically. As of September 2010, her curve is at 29 degrees out-of-cast and 19 degrees in-cast. Remember, she started at 51 degrees with severe rotation. Her progress has always been slow, but steady. I think about the story of the Tortoise and the Hare and its lesson…..slow and steady wins the race. And Isabella will win the race, thanks to Dr. Mehta, EDF trained doctors, and Heather Hyatt Montoya.
Note: Isabella (Izzy) is a happy and otherwise healthy child. She lives life to the fullest and nothing gets in her way, not the cast, and not scoliosis. There are a few no-no’s with casting like no sand and no water but the saying is true, necessity is the mother of invention and we have found ways for her to enjoy the beach and enjoy water play in the summer. She lives a typical life for a 4 year old, but with some life-saving plaster that hugs her torso.
by mmcnett | May 12, 2012 | Infantile Scoliosis, Infantile Scoliosis Blog, Life with Mehta Casts, Our Stories, Progressive Infantile Scoliosis (PIS),
Teresa was born in August 2006 weighing 9lb 8oz, the second largest of her five siblings (who are all boys!). Shortly after birth, she began to have frequent spitting-up episodes and was diagnosed with mild laryngomalacia (partial airway collapse) associated with this reflux. Her pediatrician suggested that we keep her in an upright position and that sleeping in her infant carseat/carrier was a good idea. Teresa slept semi-upright in her infant carseat for all naps and at night, from age 0-9 months. Whenever we would try to take her out of her carseat to sleep, she would sleep horribly and cry a lot, so we would go back to letting her sleep in the carseat. She was actually a great sleeper and a very healthy, happy and content baby. Developmentally, she was “on schedule”. She rolled over (both ways) at age 3 months and sat up unassisted at age 6 months. Instead of crawling, Teresa shuffled on her bottom to get around, which we thought was unique and cute! (We would later question this and now assume it was somehow associated with her scoliosis.)
At age 8 months, I noticed two “bumps” on Teresa’s left front ribcage. When I asked her pediatrician, he said they were probably “just slightly deformed ribs” and he would “watch” them as she grew. At her 9-month check-up, though, I mentioned to him that her back seemed to have a “bump”, too. He looked at her spine and suspected that she had scoliosis of the spine. She was x-rayed later that day while being held in an upright “standing” position (even though she really wasn’t bearing weight on her own yet). We would have to wait a few days to get the results back. I had never noticed a curve in her spine, but when I got home, I saw her sitting up without a shirt on, and I immediately noticed the severe curve. I couldn’t believe it! I was very upset and worried. Believing that the “carseat sleeping” had something to do with her developing this curve, we took her out of the carseat and laid her “flat” for all sleeping.
I immediately began researching “baby scoliosis” on the internet and learned that although infantile scoliosis is very rare, in 80-90 percent of the cases, the curve is 25 degrees or less and self-resolves without any treatment at all. With this information, plus our prayers and faith in the Lord, I was confident that the x-rays would show Teresa’s curve was minor.
A few days later, we found out that her curve was actually 45 degrees, with a 21 degree rotation. I almost didn’t believe the doctor when he told me! He said that 45 degrees is “very significant” and Teresa would need to see a pediatric orthopedic surgeon. I was sort of in shock and I spent the next couple of days going from being fearful to being “at peace”.
I went onto the internet again and did more research on babies with significant scoliosis curves. I learned that 45 degrees indicates that the curve will more than likely not resolve on it’s own, but instead require some form of treatment. Current “conventional” treatment consists of years of plastic braces, followed by surgery to implant metal rods in the child’s back to straighten it. Of course, this was shocking and very frightening for me to imagine.
While researching, I also learned about an Early Treatment Mehta Casting procedure from the Infantile Scoliosis Outreach Program (ISOP) using several corrective plaster casts applied to the torso of the child. The casts gently support the spine in a straight and de-rotated position as the young child grows, possibly removing any need for future surgery. This sounded like a great alternative to us, and Teresa was found to be a good candidate for this procedure. Her first cast was scheduled 2 days after her 1st birthday at a Shriners Hospital.
In the mean time, Teresa had an MRI and neurological exam, which ruled out any congenital deformities and abnormalities. She also had an appointment/x-rays with a local pediatric orthopedic surgeon (as a “second opinion” to the Shriners doctor). These x-rays were taken with her lying down and showed her curve at only 27 degrees. The doctor told us that plastic bracing and future rod surgery was the only option for little Teresa. When I asked him about the serial casting option, he actually hadn’t even heard of it! I was perplexed, as this procedure had been published in medical journals and was showing great success in permanently correcting infantile scoliosis without any invasive surgeries. I learned that because it was a newer form of treatment, and because infantile scoliosis is so rare, many doctors were simply unaware of this treatment. (Thankfully, the positive results over the last few years are beginning to get the attention of more doctors.)
A month later, at her appointment at the Shriners Hospital, she had a 3rd set of x-rays taken (again, laying down). The doctor measured her curve at 21 degrees and said her rotation was “almost 0”. He said her spine appeared to be very flexible and he was “very sure” that her curve would self-resolve without any treatment at all. Her first cast was cancelled and periodic x-rays to monitor the curve were recommended.
Over the next year, 3 x-rays were taken of Teresa’s spine. They all showed her curve to be staying about the same. This put Teresa in a sort of “gray area”, as the curve wasn’t progressing, but it also wasn’t showing signs of resolving, either.
We decided to see another orthopedic surgeon who had recently begun applying the special casts. He took 2 more x-rays, 5 months apart, and determined that her curve and rotation were slowly progressing and would not resolve without some type of treatment. Even though she was almost 3 years old and approaching the end of the “4-year ideal window” for casting, he recommended she start a casting program right away.
Teresa received her first Mehta-style cast a few days after Christmas at 3 years 4 months old. X-rays taken standing up in cast #1 showed her curve reduced to 23 degrees (from 36 degrees) and the spine’s rotation reduced to almost none.
After 2 months in cast #1 and immediately following it’s removal, cast #2 was applied. X-rays showed her curve further reduced to 14 degrees with no rotation (this x-ray was taken in the OR, laying down, in cast).
After 3 months in cast #2, cast #3 was applied and her curve showed further reduction to 10 degrees with no rotation (again, this x-ray was taken in the OR, laying down, in cast).
Teresa stayed in cast #3 for 2 months, at which time she was put into a plastic brace that had been molded in the exact style as the casts. It was actually molded at the same time as cast #3 was applied. The bracing option was suggested as a temporary treatment, which would allow her to remove the brace so she could swim during the hot summer (with her brothers!).
At this time (6 months after cast #3 was removed and she was given the brace) she is, unfortunately, still in this “summer brace”. We are actively seeking having cast #4 applied as soon as possible, as Teresa is now 4 years 5 months old. Unfortunately, the doctor who applied her casts is “between hospital contracts” and unsure when/where/if he will be returning to our local area. Because of this, we have decided, once again, to seek the advice of a “casting doctor” at the Shriners Hospital for Children.
Teresa continues to be a happy, very energetic, and active little girl. Although this journey has at times been difficult, our faith is in the Lord. We know that His ways are not our ways, His plans are not to harm us, He works to bring about what is good, and we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us! God bless you and your little ones.
Pre-casting: Cobb 36 degrees/RVAD 24 degrees (standing)
Cast #1: Cobb 17/Rotation 0 (laying); Cobb 23 (standing)
Cast #2: Cobb 14/Rotation 0 (laying)
Cast #3: Cobb 10/Rotation 0 (laying)
by mmcnett | Apr 20, 2012 | Infantile Scoliosis, Infantile Scoliosis Blog, Life with Mehta Casts, Our Stories, Progressive Infantile Scoliosis (PIS),
Our baby came into the world on January 9, 2009. She was perfect, a petite little doll.
From the beginning whenever she was laying down or holding her she always seemed to be curled up in a ball. We thought that must just be a comfortable position for her after spending the past 9 months in (utero) a little ball in mommy’s tummy. We shrugged it off. She was also a baby that spit up alot, which got worse when we started her on formula. Concerned we took her to the doctor to have her checked out. Doctor sent us for a GI series – which did not show any gastric abnormalities. She was diagnosed with reflux and given Reglan and switched to special formula. After reading all the scary stories on tardive dyskinesia as a possible side effect of Reglan use, we decided to discontinue this medication. Her spitting up and gas issues continued but we held our own with Mylicon drops and spit up rags.
As she grew, which seemed slower than her older sister, she still seemed to be balled up, and her right shoulder blade began to stick out in back. We asked her pediatrician about it – but she didn’t seem too concerned. She checked her hips and leg length and everything seemed symmetrical so she felt everything was fine. At her 6 month well baby her doctor checked her hips and leg length again. I appeared to be fine, but to make us feel better an xray of her clavicle was ordered. The xray of her clavicle came back OK, but what they missed, since they were focusing on the clavicle was the fact that her spine was curved. How did they miss this? How could they not have told us? We returned to the doctor on her next scheduled visit and told her we were still concerned about her back – we showed her again how her right shoulder blade seemed to protrude so she referred us to OU Childrens Hospital in Oklahoma City.
It took 6 weeks to be seen, at which time they took xrays of her spine and informed us that she had a significant curvature of her spine 45*. They stated that usually if a child has a curve of this magnitude there is an underlying cause, such as tethered cord, or other syndromic conditions. They scheduled an MRI – another 6 week waiting period.
The doctor called with the results of the MRI and stated that everything appeared normal. Thank God! But what about the curve? He scheduled us to come back in 6 weeks to see if the curve was progressing. Okay so now we have wasted 18 weeks. In those 6 weeks I hit the internet looking for treatments, answers, etc. Some of the stuff I read really scared me. This is a potentially life shortening, fatal disease, with no cure? What?
I came across the ISOP website and found hope in my despair. I read everything on the website, I contacted Heather, as I needed to be ready to slam the doctor (be prepared) with all of the questions I needed answers to. She told me important things to ask, how to have a proper xray taken, etc. We went to that appointment loaded with a stack of questions. When I asked him if he knew of Dr. Mehta’s Early Treatment Method of EDF Casting, he mentioned that he had heard of it, and that one of his colleagues had been trained in it, but he didn’t think that was appropriate at the time – come back in 4 months and we will recheck her. I asked him to give our file to the doctor that had been trained in Dr. Mehta’s Early Treatment Method, and to have him contact us. Of course he never did.
We were furious when we left that appointment. We immediately went home and contacted Shriners in Salt Lake City. They had us fill out an application and fax it to them. We then bundled up all of her xrays and MRI results and sent it to them with a cover letter and a picture. We were given a date of January 27, 2010, she would be almost 13 months by this time. All we could think about was “have we missed the best timeframe for treatment?”. When we realized that this would only be a consultation and not a casting we called and asked if her xrays and MRI results could be used and could we skip the consultation and go straight to casting. It was approved and we had a casting date of February 11, 2010. Unfortunately our baby is/was also prone to allergies and ear infections, and yes she ended up with a full blown ear infection the week before casting. They would not allow us to get the cast – we would have to reschedule. We were heartbroken!
We took her to an ENT and we were able to get tubes put in her ears on February 16, 2010. Our casting was rescheduled for March 11, 2010. We had only lost a month. “Time is ticking” is all we had in the back of our heads. We got our 1st EDF plaster cast (covered w/ 1 layer of pink fiberglass) on March 11, 2010, and we were so excited to finally get started! We were able to take her back to the hotel that night, but we were so unprepared for the emotional effect it would have on us. At dinner, she couldn’t sit in a high chair, she couldn’t reach her food, she couldn’t really turn her head very far to the right or left, as the shoulders came up so high. We cried for what she couldn’t do. We went back to the hospital the next day – and they made several adjustments to the cast. They ended up cutting one shoulder completely off (we called it her DIVA cast), lowering the neckline in the back and front, which made it more comfortable for her. We went home to start our new casting life.
The first couple of weeks were the hardest, she had to gain strength to hold herself up in the cast, she had to relearn her balance, and new ways to do things. We trained the daycare staff on diapering technique and how to handle her. Within 3 weeks our life was completely normal. She did not let the cast slow her down at all. She can do almost everything that any other child her age can, and being the age she is, she doesn’t know to miss swimming or sand yet. She did miss her baths though.
We have returned to Salt Lake City 3 times averaging every 8 weeks. We got our 4th and final cast on September 27, 2010. During this casting she was molded for a brace. We will start brace wear on November 23, 2010. Our astounding results are summed up in a statement by one of our Doctors. When we asked him about the measurements that they put on the xray that show the degree of curvature on the spine, all he could say was “We couldn’t put any measurement on this one – she is at zero in this cast – she is PERFECTLY STRAIGHT!”
So if you have an infant or toddler with Progressive Infantile Scoliosis, please do not “hope for the best,” or sit and “wait and watch,” for months for it to correct itself, as some doctors may advise. Please seek a consultation with a doctor trained and practicing Early Treatment with Dr. Mehtas EDF casting. Our baby, who is now a toddler went from a 40* degree Cobb angle to 0* in 6 months, and her rotation is completely resolved. – This method is proven and it does work!!!!!!!
We are forever indebted to Dr. Mehta, ISOP/Heather – and The Doctors and Staff at Shriners in Salt Lake City.
by mmcnett | Mar 20, 2012 | Infantile Scoliosis, Infantile Scoliosis Blog, Life with Mehta Casts, Our Stories, Progressive Infantile Scoliosis (PIS),
Marcela is one of the happiest little girls you’ll ever meet. Since the moment she was born in May of 2008, she was not only the happiest of babies, but also the most serene. Nothing ruffled Marci’s feathers—not even the horrible acid reflux she began battling as soon as we arrived home from the hospital. Our little girl’s reflux was so bad that she would often projectile vomit her entire bottle of milk back at us just seconds after drinking it! For this reason, we began propping Marcela up after her bottles for fear of gagging, and we began putting her to sleep on an incline. We also put her on medication for a little while. With time, however, things got better and the reflux was soon a thing of the past. Aside from that, Marci was a pretty healthy child.
Then one night, when she was about 10 months old, I noticed a “hump” on the left side of Marcela’s back as she bathed. I showed my husband, who thought maybe her muscles were developing differently. We decided not to worry too much about it, but as a couple of weeks went by, I began to get an unsettling feeling that this was more than muscle development. The hump felt hard, and didn’t change when she moved in different ways. I quickly made an appointment with her pediatrician. Once the x-rays were taken, the pediatrician called me over to look at the image–and that’s when I saw the curve. My eyes instantly watered, and I just became speechless. The doctor told me that Marcela had infantile scoliosis. I knew what scoliosis was but I didn’t know what that entailed for a baby. “What does that mean for Marcela?” I managed to utter. “Surgery, and I imagine she’ll never play sports,” was all she could offer me. Needless to say, I was a mess by the end of the visit, but ended up leaving with a referral for a “highly recommended” pediatric orthopedic surgeon.
Well the day arrived for our visit, and my husband and I walked in completely unarmed and uneducated about our daughter’s condition hoping to be enlightened by this highly recommended doctor. What a mistake! After measuring Marcela’s curve at 23 degrees and confirming her IS, he suggested waiting 6 months to a year to “see where this was headed.” And when we pressed him about alternative treatments, he immediately brought up the subject of rib implants. Feeling hopeless and broken-hearted, we left the appointment in tears. Things didn’t improve when, a week later, a different specialist called Marcela’s curvature “boring” and told us to wait a couple of months to see what it would do.
By then, we had had enough of waiting. That day, we both took to the Internet (my husband from work and I from home). Without knowing it, we both happened upon the ISOP website and began reading the stories of the children with Progressive Infantile Scoliosis (PIS). That day, I can honestly say, was the brightest spot since this ordeal began with our daughter. After reading every single story, I knew that we were in the right place—there was hope for Marcela! I called ISOP directly and spoke with Heather, who sounded like an angel on the other line when she spoke of the gentle yet effective Early Treatment EDF casting w/ the Mehta Method of casting that was being used to CORRECT Progressive Infantile Scoliosis, gently & permanently. Finally! Here was a way to help our daughter NOW rather than wait for her to get worse.
After speaking with Heather, we got our daughter into Texas Scottish Rite Hospital in Dallas within a month. Marcela received her 1st cast at 13 months old on June 22, 2009 and was casted 2 more times until January 22, 2010, at which time we ended the casting process because we had achieved correction.
Casting life was tough, but it was much tougher on us as parents than it was on our little trooper. My husband and I often marvel at how life-changing this all has been—Early Treatment w/ Mehtas Method of EDF casting has literally changed the course of our daughter’s life. I thank GOD for Dr. Mehta, ISOP, for the doctors using Dr. Mehta’s Early Treatment method of casting, and for my mother’s intuition. Currently Marcela is without a cast or brace and is scoliosis-free with no detectable curve!! She is 2 ½ years old now and is as happy as can be to be able to keep up with her older sister. Needless to say, we will monitor her little back frequently until maturity, but we have such high hopes for her future! Whether she decides to play sports or not, the option is hers and her abilities are now limitless.
by mmcnett | Mar 20, 2012 | Infantile Scoliosis, Infantile Scoliosis Blog, Life with Mehta Casts, Our Stories, Progressive Infantile Scoliosis (PIS),
Levi was born on February 23rd at 38 weeks gestation. He was a perfect 8 lbs. 1 oz. and 21 inches long. Everything about his birth was “normal” however one nurse noted how flexed his feet were. She said usually you only see that in breach babies, but no worries he will relax. He was such a wonderful happy baby with a just a few exceptions. Levi hated being placed on his stomach or “tummy time” as we called it. He would just scream as if he was in pain.I constantly asked his pediatrician about this at appointments, but was always told “all babies hate being on their stomachs…just keep doing it.” Consequently Levi was almost sitting up before he ever mastered rolling over (at over 5 mos) because I just couldn’t stand doing that to him very often. Levi also had trouble nursing on one side with his head positioned in the cradle hold. He would try and then pull away and scream but would still be hungry and want to eat. This only happened when held that particular way, never on the other side. When I asked about this the lactation consultant seemed somewhat stumped and simply said then hold him the way he will eat & call back if things don’t get better. The problem eventually resolved I thought until months later I realized he wasn’t eating on that side at all because the milk was drying up there & he wasn’t gaining weight. We switched to bottles and formula and moved on.
A little before 6 months a popping sound began in Levi’s left shoulder. It was not like popping knuckles, it was periods of intense specifically located popping that happened every time he was picked up for several days at a time & then disappear. Other family members (one with a nursing background) noticed the popping also & urged me to ask about it. Whenever I brought this up at Levi’s well baby check ups I was told some kids just pop. At his 6 month check up his pediatrician did notice what she believed could be abnormal skin folds & ordered a pelvic X ray to further examine his hips. The X rays came back clear & we were told all was fine with our baby boy.
Developmentally Levi was on track & even ahead in many areas. He sat up around 6 months & walked just after his first birthday. Although he has never been very interested in climbing up on things. There were several times during his early walking days that I would watch him & wonder if his left shoulder was dropped just a bit but couldn’t ever decide if it was an illusion brought about by a wobbly toddler. I figured he moved around in his diaper for the pediatrician surely if there was something there she would pick up on it I was being overly worried. I felt brushed off on many of my questions, but figured I was just a 1st time mother, what did I know? I hadn’t gone to medical school like our pediatrician.
Around 14 months Levi had a fall down the stairs. It was far more traumatic for me then for him I believe, but looking back now I’m thankful for it because of that fall I had been watching Levi very carefully. While giving him a bath one night I noticed a bulge under his right shoulder blade. Fear washed over me & I just remember screaming for my husband & saying “is that his spine?” No surely not we decided it had to be an enlarged muscle. After all Levi had already had an X ray & if something as serious as his spine was the issue surely his pediatrician would have noticed by now! I massaged it every night & by his 15 month check up it was still there. It was the last on my list of questions for the pediatrician & Levi had to have been running around the office for at least 20 minutes in only his diaper before we got to it. That day is burned into my mind, his pediatrician reaching out & poking at the bulge, her face turned white as she finally “saw Levi” not just another patient. She said he’s going to need some X rays & maybe an ultra sound. The pediatrician called with the X ray results showing a 25 degree spinal curve (lying down). I asked the most important question I could think of “What does this mean for Levi’s future?” She said she had never seen it in a child this young & hoped it had been found in time before it became “disfiguring or disabling.” I broke out into tears. She offered as comfort that if the X rays hadn’t shown anything the next step would have been to ultra sound the area for a tumor….at least it wasn’t a tumor she said. I broke. We switched doctors & have never heard from her again.
We were referred to a top notch pediatric orthopedic doctor at the local children’s hospital. He ordered another set of X rays & evaluated Levi at a 20 degree curve with a 17 RVAD (standing) & said that he had an 80%chance of being in the resolving group. We left feeling very positive. We “watched & waited” for about 2 ½ months. During this time we again noticed the popping in Levi’s left shoulder. At his follow up visit the X rays revealed that Levi’s curve had progressed to somewhere between 29 – 35 degrees with a 25 RVAD. Levi was given a progressive diagnosis & an MRI was ordered. The MRI came back clear & our doctor immediately moved on to discussing treatment options with us. Bracing was thrown out immediately as the doctor didn’t believe it to be very effective in actually correcting a curve & recommended casting for this age if we were pursuing treatment at this point. This doctor was so open & honest with us about his recourses & experience in treating infantile scoliosis. He was willing to cast Levi in a matter of weeks, but the decision was ultimately ours. I hold this man in such high regard for answering honestly the most important question I could now think of… “What would you do if this was your son?” He didn’t speak for awhile and finally said, “ If it were my son I would take him to Dr. D’Astous at Shriner’s SLC. Casting is what he does.” I now knew this is where we needed to go as my research online had lead me to ISOP & Heather who had given us the same information.
A little over a month later Levi was casted at 20 months of age. He is now doing fabulous! X rays pre cast at SLC showed Levi’s curve to be “C” shaped at 31 degrees with 15/20 degrees of rotation & 10 RVAD. The post cast X rays showed Levi being held at 16/17 degrees with no rotation! His 2nd cast had him holding steady at around the same numbers which was the expectation before he was ever casted. Levi is currently in his 3rd cast & down to about 15 degrees with no rotation in cast. Currently we are expecting to do one more cast & then try out bracing. We have noticed periods of more popping while in his casts, but the doctors are not concerned about it nor are they sure it is related to his scoliosis…. My “mommy gut” tells me it happens with growth spurts. His appetite doubled post cast & he actually gained 4 lbs and 1 inch in the nine weeks he wore that first cast. Levi enjoys running & playing as much as ever. He loves match box cars, going to basketball games, & macaroni and cheese. Thanks to the amazing team at Shriner’s SLC we are now very optimistic about Levi’s future & look forward to one day putting this behind us.
by mmcnett | Feb 20, 2012 | Infantile Scoliosis, Infantile Scoliosis Blog, Life with Mehta Casts, Our Stories, Progressive Infantile Scoliosis (PIS),
Tyler was diagnosed with progressive infantile scoliosis in December of 2002.. His thoracic curve was measured in the high 20’s, and progressed to the high 30’s within a couple of months. We were told to “wait and see,” and that surgery was inevitable ( growth rods, fusion ).
Our research then began. We started our research on the internet, and were able to find infantilescoliosis.org. We were informed of the serial corrective plaster cast method and the need for early treatment. After multiple attempts trying to find a doctor willing to cast, we were successful!!
Tyler is on his third cast. The first was applied on March 21, 2003, and his curve read approx. 37 degrees. Now, in his third cast his curve is measured at 10 degrees. My son Tyler does wonderful in his cast. He is able to do everything his twin brother does, except swim.
I am scared to think of how high his curve would have progressed had we opted to, “wait – and – see.” Every doctor we saw agreed that Tyler had a progressive curve that would have NEVER resolved on its own.
Our experience has been a positive one, and we feel lucky to have come across this invaluable information. My son Tyler is proof that serial corrective plaster casts applied early, are far more effective than the “wait and see,” approach to treatment.
Please contact me if you would like to talk about our experience with this superior treatment.
Sincerely,
Tawney
(Tylers mom)
by mmcnett | Jan 20, 2012 | Infantile Scoliosis, Infantile Scoliosis Blog, Life with Mehta Casts, Our Stories, Progressive Infantile Scoliosis (PIS),
Our son Ian was born on August 15, 2004. He was a full term baby and appeared to be a very healthy baby boy. Just before his 6 month well-baby check up, he began to sit up on his own. At that time, I noticed that the “muscles” on one side of his back seemed to be really big and he always leaned to one side, but I just chalked it up to him just learning to sit. When we brought him in to the pediatrician for his 6-month visit, she noticed that something seemed wrong with his back. She didn’t know what it could be, so she brought in another doctor to look at him. After they conferred with each other and called an orthopedist, they came back and told us that they thought it might be infantile scoliosis.
In February of 2005, we met with an orthopedist here in Virginia. They immediately had us take Ian in for x-rays. They would only let one person in to hold Ian down for the x-ray and I couldn’t get him to lay flat or still during the x-ray at all, but they did manage to get a film taken. The x-rays confirmed that Ian did indeed have scoliosis. Those “muscles” that appeared to be big to me actually turned out to be his rib hump. Ian was diagnosed with a right thoracic curve of 37 degrees. I was very overwhelmed with everything at this point. The orthopedist did not show me Ian’s x-rays nor did he tell the degree of his curve. I had to ask for this information. He prescribed a TLSO brace and requested an MRI be done. We were in his office all of maybe 5 minutes. I cried all the way home from that meeting.That night I immediately got on the internet and started researching treatment for infantile scoliosis. I had a hard time finding much information. I chatted back and forth with a parent on a message board who mentioned casting as an alternative treatment for infantile scoliosis. This was how I eventually found I.S.O.P and learned about the success that other parents were seeing in their children who were being casted early.
I immediately called Shriner’s Hospital for Children in Erie, PA and made an appointment for Ian to be seen and evaluated for a cast. We arrived in April of 2005, and they immediately took x-rays. This time the x-ray technicians were very careful to make sure that Ian was completely straight and not moving while they took the films. We were surprised to learn that it appeared as though he was resolving. His Cobb angle measured 29 degrees and his RVAD was 13 degrees. At that time, we decided to wait and watch since he seemed to be getting better. I wish I had known then how important it is too make sure the baby is as straight as possible and not moving for the x-rays. Had I known that, I would have been sure to tell the doctor that the first films were probably inaccurate.
So, we followed up with x-rays over the summer and he appeared to be staying pretty stable. He didn’t improve, but he didn’t get worse either. Then, in October 2005, we had another x-ray taken and learned that Ian was progressing. His supine x-rays showed a 32 degree Cobb and his standing x-rays showed a Cobb angle of 36 degrees. I immediately called Shriners in Erie, PA. and they scheduled Ian to be evaluated at the second ETTP (Early Treatment Trial Project) Nov 2005. Dr. Mehta reviewed the x-rays we brought with us and felt Ian was definitely going to progress due to the amount of rotation he had. She told me it was the most rotation she had seen in a Cobb angle of 32 to 36 degrees. Ian was again x-rayed during this conference and in just four short weeks since his films were taken the previous month, he had progressed again. He was now 43 degrees Cobb, 22 degrees RVAD and he also had 45 degrees of rotation.
Ian was put into his first cast on November 8th, 2005. In his cast, he was down to 7 degrees. We were to return in 8 weeks for a second casting. Ian adapted quickly to his cast. He did have some difficulty sitting in shopping carts and sitting on the floor, but that became easier within a few weeks.
In January of 2006, Ian returned to Erie for his second cast. We were pleased to learn that he was now down from 43 degrees to 26 degrees out of his cast! We continued to have success with his subsequent casts, and he is currently down to 11 degrees out of his cast. Ian is in his 6th cast now. He will likely have one or two more casts before he goes in to a brace.
We really couldn’t be happier with his progress and are indebted to both ISOP and Shriners Hospital in Erie, PA., for helping us to understand the importance of early treatment and using growth as a corrective force in treating progressive infantile scoliosis.
Please feel free to contact me at noellesmommy@comcast.net , if you have any questions about Ian’s early treatment experience.
Sincerely,
Jennifer
2008 UPDATE!
After 8 casts and 1 brace Ian is now at 3 degrees, which is no longer considered scoliosis!!
