Possible scoliosis in 10yo

[therouge]

Does anyone have any experience with adolescent scoliosis?

DD, 10, has had back pain for a while and family history on one side of scoliosis. Finally got a GP appt and he can see some abnormality and has referred to physio. Is physio the usual referral? GP didn't want to make a call on x-ray because of her age, but wondering if she should have just been sent straight to a specialist? Any thoughts/advice very welcome.

Having similar issues with our DS. We have had years of fobbing off from G.P. referred to physio many times (which did nothing to help him).
We've had to be very firm and push for a referral to see a consultant and now eventually, he's getting the help he needs.

That sounds enormously frustrating. I'm glad you managed to get a proper referral now, I hope they're able to help.

We think that she may be covered through my husband's health insurance from his job, so perhaps if the physio is crap or takes ages we could investigate that.. feels like such an unknown, I gather there's no way to predict how it will progress.

I think with us the G.P could see the history of Physio referrals. I think it's something that's automatically offered before a referral. If they can sort something via physio, there's no need to get consultants involved. (Also cost, it must be a factor in their budget, I'm not sure how it all works)
I'm a wimp when it comes to getting my point across, I sent very assertive dh to G.P appointment with ds. If I'd have gone it would have resulted in another physio appointment I'm sure!
Private health insurance is a bonus, great that you have that option.

I was sent to pediatric orthopedics for suspected scoliosis at 12 for a proper x ray and diagnosis, then physio for treatment and podiatry for corrective innersoles as per orthopedics instructions. I then had six monthly x rays reducing to yearly for a few years to check progression until it straightened out, although I still wear the corrective innersoles as my pelvis and shoulders are permanently misaligned (I'm now in my 20s). I would push to see orthopedics properly as it may need x ray monitoring.

No - you really need to push for an urgent referral to a spinal consultant. I am a physio and had the same issue with my own daughter, the GP was refusing to refer, blaming it on postural issues even when it was obvious to me that it wasn’t. We ended up getting X-rays and seeing a consultant privately, and now almost 2 years on she’s 6 months post op from spinal fusion to correct the scoliosis.

10 is an age where if things are caught early enough they can brace her and hold the curve in order to prevent it worsening to a stage where she needs surgery. Unfortunately DD was diagnosed at 16 and things developed very rapidly so this wasn’t an option for us. If left alone it will get worse (possibly quite quickly) due to growth spurts, so getting her seen as soon as possible would be ideal. A lot of parents go privately for the initial consultation due to waiting lists just to speed things up a bit. Most consultants will then be happy to take her on to their NHS list for treatment and monitoring etc. Good luck and hope this helps!! X

It all depends on the gravity of the scoliosis, in some cases physio can be enough. Others they need a corset, others they may need surgery.
I would want an Xray to see the exact alignment of the vertebrae.
Where I live your Dd would be sent immediately for images
My Dd has severe scoliosis & has had multiple surgery on her back
Not something to play with.

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate the guidance. I thought I'd replied earlier but my phone clearly ate it.

I'd e-mailed the Scoliosis Association this morning who said much the same, that she needs a specialist referral. I've since confirmed that we all have comprehensive private insurance and the GP has agreed to forward me a referral letter for orthopaedics that I can use to book the first appt. The SA also sent me a list of specialists so I'm feeling a bit more armed and ready!

That’s great. The Scoliosis UK Facebook group among others is a wealth of knowledge and has been massively helpful for us on our journey, would definitely recommend it

Clipclop Thanks for your post. My daughter has scoliosis and Consultant (Orthopaedics) has just been saying we will watch and wait! Enormously frustrating as she now has a Cobb angle of 23 which is just past the threshold where, apparently, special exercises could often if not always have prevented it from worsening. The Schroth method is one approach to help. This is a problem affecting girls, in particular. Interested to know how the spinal fusion op has been please (please message me privately if you would rather). I believe it is very painful. Bracing is commonly used with special exercises to keep the curve from exacerbating. I have discovered that there are centres abroad (Poland, Germany) where youngsters can do two week intensive courses to improve their scoliosis with aim of avoiding surgery.

My sister had scoliosis but has other conditions too so I don't know how representative her experience was and it was years ago, but that's why I clicked on this thread.

I really hope you get appropriate help for your DC OP.

Am posting because am a school librarian and just happen to have seen a tweet about this book, as it may help some girls who end up in a brace, it sounds good. Contains themes such as parental suicide (for lead character's friend) so you'd need to consider age suitability though:

books.google.com/books/about/Braced.html?id=Y5vpDAAAQBAJ

(Obviously I really hope your child doesn't need a brace OP, but thought it might help others who are reading this thread.)

Don't bother with orthopaedics, you need a spinal surgeon.

@Maud450 Always worth seeking a second opinion with a different consultant if you feel it could be beneficial - opinions vary wildly, especially when it comes to things like thresholds for bracing.

Still relatively early days in terms of her fusion (healing isn’t complete until 1 year), she still gets aches and pains but nothing major. Recovery was surprisingly quick and far easier than I had anticipated, by week 3 she was back to her normal self. The first few days in hospital were tough but in her own words it was worth it to finally have a straight back again!

@Toddlerteaplease Spinal surgeons are just orthopaedic surgeons specialising in spines.

@clipclop5 I don't think they are. I work in a hospital with a major spinal centre and it's a separate speciality in its own right. With a separate training scheme.

@Toddlerteaplease I am an orthopaedic physio, working with spinal surgeons and many orthopods - they have to go through the general orthopaedic training programme before specialising and going on a spinal fellowship. Some are neurosurgically trained rather than ortho but they are few and far between

@clipclop5 that makes sense. I've. Ever come across one that does orthopaedics as well. But in smaller places they probably do.

We are also a neuro centre as well so most of ours are neuro rather than orthopaedic. My ward did scoliosis surgery up until about a year ago when it was moved to the neuro ward, (we are orthopaedics, among other things)

Thanks everyone. I haven't heard back from the insurance company yet, they're the ones who will book the appt but I did request a specific surgeon who was in a list sent by the SA.

We are abroad at the moment but when back I will be in a better position to do a bit more research. I don't yet know if she should be avoiding certain sports or what I should be telling school she can or can't do.

@therouge Unless they’re causing her pain no reason to avoid sports at all. Our consultant encouraged DD not to let it stop her in any way and she continued horse riding and netball right up until her surgery. Any sport is great but swimming is particularly good for core strength which will benefit her in terms of lessening curve progression x

yes, she should continue all sports, unless causing discomfort,
keeping fit & core muscle strength is important

Great. We do have a family pony so will keep her riding if it's not sore. Currently abroad and she's swimming a lot every day and loving it, wants to sign up to do more swimming than just her weekly lessons when we're home so we'll look into that.

back stroke is ideal

My daughter had surgery (posterior spinal fusion) last month. She's 12. She was only diagnosed by complete fluke a year ago. Her curve at the time of surgery was 40 degrees but rarely had pain. She never used a brace as her surgeon said it was past the point of being useful and tbh dd point blank refused to wear it. 5 weeks post op now and she's doing amazingly.

Oh and don't be fobbed off with physios or general orthopaedics. You need to go to a specialist spinal centre. My daughter had her surgery at GOSH which is absolutely outstanding. Other centres include Bristol childrens, John Radcliffe, Stanmore, alder hey