What you can do to help if your child has scoliosis?
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Scoliosis is the curving of the spine into a ‘C’ or an ‘S.’ Although it affects all genders, it is more prevalent in girls than boys. It is most noticeable between the ages of 10 and 14. If you notice that your child’s shoulders are uneven when they are standing straight, they might have scoliosis. Another sign to look out for is if the child’s hips do not look aligned. While it might not have any back pain, scoliosis will affect your child in later years, and there are high chances of it progressing. If you have a feeling that your child has scoliosis, here are a couple of things you can do:
Get your child to a doctor
While you might feel that your child has scoliosis, do not skip the medical exam. Take your child to a doctor and have them examined. A series of tests will be carried out to confirm if your child really has scoliosis. The most common tests done are X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans. The result from these tests will show you if your child has scoliosis and how progressed it is. According to studies done, the younger the child is, the higher the chances of their scoliosis progressing.
Know what the treatment measures are
Even though scoliosis does not cause any back pain initially, it might change as the condition progresses. Patients with scoliosis have complained of increased back pain as time goes by, and some even report difficulty breathing. Having to imagine your child going through that can be heartbreaking. The one thing you need to remember, however, is that early diagnosis will help. The sooner it is discovered, the easier it is for you to resolve it. There are various treatment methods for children with scoliosis, as seen below:
Observation and repeated testing
Depending on how soon the condition was discovered, your child will have to go through repeat testing. The testing will help the doctors determine how fast the scoliosis is progressing and whether they need to handle it aggressively. They will also look at how the other body organs are affected by scoliosis.
Bracing
If your child’s condition keeps getting worse, you might need to get a back brace for them. Bracing for children with scoliosis helps to improve the condition. Even with bracing, you will still need to go for more tests with time. These tests determine whether the condition of the child is improving or getting worse.
Surgery
In cases where the curve measures above 45 degrees, it is recommended that you take your child for surgery. You should also consider surgery in case bracing did not stop the progression of scoliosis. In case your doctor recommends surgery, get in touch with top-rated spine surgeons to help you understand the risks and rewards of going for surgery. One thing you need to remember, however, is that the sooner you go for surgery, the easier it is to rectify the condition.
What you can do at home
As a parent, the main worry for your child is whether they will lead a normal life. As such, you will keep looking for ways to help your child manage the condition better. The easiest thing to do is get your child exercising. Talk to your doctor or physiotherapist about what exercises can be good for your child. Exercise has greatly influenced the progression of scoliosis in children. In cases where the curve is less than 10 degrees, exercise can deal with scoliosis. Even though exercise can help with the condition, do not overexert your child. It will do them more harm than good.
No parent wants to hear that their child has a condition that will affect them. For many parents, learning that their child has scoliosis can shock them. One way to help deal with this is to talk to a therapist. They will help you come to terms with everything and realize that it is not a death sentence. Where in doubt, as your child’s doctor. They will offer insight into the disease, and you will realize that it is not as bad as you initially thought.