Scoliosis Update – Part 2

I found a doctor that treats scoliosis AND takes my insurance – but the doc was far away.  In Orlando – 7ish hours away.  I called to make an appt. 
We just returned from Orlando for our appt.  She saw Dr. Knapp and I really like him.  He staff was nice and courteous.  Dr. Knap remeasured [...]

Scoliosis Update – Part 1

My daughter Olivia was due for a 6 month scoliosis checkup in January.  She has dutifully worn her brace very night for at least 8 hours, sometimes more.  She also sees a Chiropractor once every week or two. 
Since Olivia was due for an Xray to check her curve progress, I asked her Chiro to do [...]

Olivia Fainted at School

Olivia’s school has it’s own tv stationa nd every morning, the “TV Team” broadcasts a schoolwide talkshow.  Olivia is on the TV Team.  Each team works for 9 weeks, then the next team comes in.  During their 9 weeks working on the talk show, each kid rotates into each “job” so they can try out [...]

Scoliosis Xray

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100_4855, originally uploaded by MyHeart4Him.
The top X-ray, is my daughter’s scoliosis spine. She has a 20 degree Cobb Angle curve. The Xray on bottom was taken while she was wearing her brace (see the buckles). The brace was able to “unbend” the curve by -7degreees. I understand that -5 degrees is considered good, so -7 [...]

Teasing PJ

Each week, we make the one hour trek to Foley for Olivia Chiro visit.  Yesterday afternoon, as we drove to Alabama, PJ spilt his water bottle on his pants.  The water had mostly dried by the time we reach the doc’s office.
In the exam room, as Dr. Rich adjusted Olivia, I told him, “Now, I [...]

Eye doctor appt

Today, my husband drove my daughter to Birmingham for her eye doc appt.  Olivia has an enlarged optic nerve, but has not been diagnosed with glacoma (or any other eye disease).  Her appt went well and she will be re-checked in a year.
She does need new glasses, but I expected that.

Back to Hanger Orthotics

This afternoon, I checked my kids out of school and took them to my daughter’s appt with the Orthotics guy, Danny, at Hanger Orthotics.  Danny adjusted my daughter’s brace and suggested a different sleeping garment.  He said she needed sleeves, instead of the spagetti straps she was sleeping in.  We stopped by walmart and purchased [...]

Scoliosis Mom’s Support Group UPDATE

Great News, another mom joined our Scoliosis Mom’s support group.  If you are interested in joining us, post a comment or email me.

A phone call from Olivia’s pediatrician

Tonight, Olivia’s pediatrician called me.  I called last week and left a message with her nurse about Dr. O’Grady not being able to treat my daughter’s scoliosis. 
I believe I have exhausted the pediatricians leads for finding a pediatric orthoped.  She did mention that the reason she called Dr. O’Grady was because she (Dr. Foland) and [...]

I hate scoliosis

It is nearly 9:30 and my daughter has been in bed for an hour.  She just called me on the phone to ask if she can loosen her brace, because she is hurting.  I just helped her adjust it.  I don’t think we had it put on properly tonight.  In the dark, she looked like [...]

Another Scoliosis Disappointment

As you know, I was really happy about Olivia’s appt today at the Andrews Institute.  Turns out, I should not have counted my eggs before they hatched.
Today was PJ’s field trip to the Pumpkin Patch.  It was fun, but very tiring.  As soon as the kids set foot off the school bus, I ushered them [...]

Field Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

Today was PJ’s first field trip.  He was SO excied this morning. We left at 9am and went to the patch.  Picked a pumpkin, heard a story, and did a craft.  Then, off to the park for lunch and play.  I know PJ had fun. 
This afternoon is our appt with the doc at the Andrew’s [...]

New Scoliosis Doctor

I’ve been working with Olivia’s pediatrician to find a new Orthoped who will treat her Scoliosis.  The doc’s office finally told me I owuld have to go out of town to Jackson or Gainsville.  Fine, if that’s were we have to go, that’s were we have to go.  I really wanted her to go to [...]

Scoliosis Mom’s Support Group UPDATE

I’ve had one Mom from New Zealand contact me to be apart of the Scoliosis Mom’s support group.  If you are interested in joining us, please contact me.

Scoliosis diagnosis

I recently learned what caused my daughter to be examined for Scoliosis.  I was talking to Eve in Risk Management and she said the PA, Leigh Diamond, moticed Olivia had one shoulder lower than the other.  Interesting.  I never noticed it before.
If you or your child has scoliosis, what prompted the scoliosis exam?

Scoliosis Mom’s Support Group

If you are interested in joining with me to form a Scoliosis Mom’s support group, please post a message or send me an email.  Somedays it would be nice to have a friend who understands.  If you need a friend who understand how hard Scoliosis is on a kid, let’s talk.
Shannon

Pediatrician/Parent Consult

I met this morning with Olivia’s pediatrician (Dr. Amy Foland) for guidance on finding another orthopedic doc.  She said she would make some calls and let me know something by Friday.  I am hoping there is a doctor at the Andrew’s Institute who treats scoliosis.  She is will call the ortho, and get back to [...]

Don’t be afraid to complain about your bad doctor (or PA, as the case may be)

I’ve had a few questions about what I did to complain about a doctor.  First thing, don’t be afraid to complain.  If you received improper medical treatment, it is your (MY) right to complain.  AFter all, we are not talking about a bad haircut.  This is your (or in this case, my daughter’s) health we [...]

Hanger Orthopedics

I called Danny at Hanger yesterday.   I needed to schedule an appt with him to adjust Olivia’s brace to solve the leg numbness she is having.  While I had his office on the phone, I asked for the brace manufacturer’s name and phone #.  The appt clerk put me on hold (and I thought, OH [...]

Scoliosis diagnosis

I met briefly with the Risk Management woman at Nemours today.  She mentioned that the PA checked Olivia for scoliosis because she noticed one shoulder was lower than the other.  Interesting.  I wondered what prompted the scoliosis exam.