Feb 19 2010 Perthshire Advertiser Friday

A FORMER Kinross sheep farmer-turned green crusader has finally put 20 years of back pain behind her.

Carol Davies (63), currently planting 1000 conservation trees on her Nethermoss Farm, was plagued with excruciating pain due to a condition called scoliosis that got increasingly debilitating in her 40s.

A sideways curvature of the spine, scoliosis affects more than four per cent of the UK’s population.

Conventional treatment, however, involves waiting until a patient’s condition is severe enough for a high-risk operation using surgically-inserted metal rods to fuse the spinal column.

But after a month of alternative, non-surgical treatment three years ago at a new Suffolk-based clinic using techniques available in Europe for decades, Mrs Davies is now relatively pain-free.

“At the clinic I did six hours of special exercises a day,” she said.

“There were a lot of stretching and breathing exercises designed to de-rotate the spine. I have to say, it was a tough four weeks.”

Now no longer on painkillers, she does 40 minutes of special exercises a day and visits the clinic once a year.

Although her scoliosis only started causing major grief much later, it was first diagnosed after a horse riding accident when she was 14.

“The doctors found it when they saw my x-rays,” Mrs Davies explained.

“A lot of people have scoliosis and don’t know until it starts causing them pain when they’re older.”

It was only when Mrs Davies and her husband Ted started running a flock of 30 Suffolk breeding ewes at their farm 24 years ago that her back pain really started to flare up.

“I’d always been active, played a lot of squash, but the pain started to get much worse,” she said.

Finding only temporary relief from treatments such as massage, acupuncture and physiotherapy, she was eventually referred by her GP to an Edinburgh consultant who told her a “risky” operation was her only option.

“He advised me not to have it and to come back and see him if the pain became unbearable,” she said.

But by the time she reached her pain threshold, it appeared she had missed the boat.

“(The consultant) wouldn’t see me as I was 59 and he was only treating younger people. I was quite annoyed as the pain was really debilitating, really dreadful,” she said.

Fortunately, Robert, one of her two sons, called to tell her about a breakfast TV report on the just opened Scoliosis SOS clinic in Sussex, where she subsequently sought non-surgical treatment.

“I suffered for a long time and now I’m standing up straight, which I certainly wasn’t before,” she said.

Her days of “couping” sheep, however, are now also behind her.

“We gave up the sheep breeding in 2008, only have four sheep left, but we’re now planting broadleaf trees for conservation, hoping to help with the carbon footprint of the world,” said Mrs Davies.

Dear all,

I’m updating people with regards to some national work that may be of interest to you, your members or the families you support. Although this project is for those working with children and young people we work with a number of adult services both in the UK and overseas.

Postural care / therapeutic positioning involves supporting individuals and their families to understand how and why the body changes shape – including the rotational changes seen in scoliosis. They are then taught how to apply corrective forces using sleep systems. This is a gentle, cost effective and common sense approach. Non-invasive and validated measurement of body symmetry (available since 1992) provides both families and clinicians with evidence for this therapeutic intervention and for their progress. Our reference list is attached and we have work detailing the patterns of body shape distortion due for publication within a peer reviewed Journal in April of this year. This project is with children who have additional disabilities but the principles apply to all.

The following has been released via a number of email networks such as the UK Health and Learning Disability Network, the PMLD Network and the Choice Forum. If you need any further information please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Postural care project is being piloted in 8 Primary Care Trusts across England

The project, a one year training programme for the workforce supporting the needs of children and young people with complex and continuing healthcare needs, commenced in January 2010.
Working in partnership with Postural Care Community Interest Company, the project, initiated by Skills for Health as part of a Children’s Workforce Development Council/Skills for Health work programme, is developing training for practitioners and families to protect body shape through the safe use of therapeutic positioning, including scoliosis.

The programme is being piloted across England with participating PCTs training one person to become a licensed postural care trainer who will cascade awareness session training to multi agency learners.
The learning from the project is to be reported and shared December 2010.

To find out more about the project contact Pam Truman Programme Manager Children at Skills for Health – email available on request

To find out more about postural care and how it can help children and young people with complex needs visit Postural Care CIC at www.posturalcareskills.com

We manage the UK Postural Care Network which is a free email based network open to anyone with an interest in the conservative protection of body shape. To join simply email your name, role and location to network@posturalcareskills.com

We are also part of a national steering group including representation from family leadership groups, the Department of Health, the National Patient Safety Agency and the Royal College of Nursing. Should you be interested in the work of this group or if you would like to find out about joining us please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Thanks for your time,
Kind regards,
Sarah

Tesco Positive Mum of The Year 2009

Our one day courses are available for booking now. Day 1 Practical Positioning, Day 2 Measuring body Symmetry - book either or both (10% discount if both days are booked at the same time)
23rd and 24th March, 15th and 16th June, 31st August and 1st September, 9th and 10th November - Book early to avoid disappointment, strictly limited to 25 places per day

www.posturalcareskills.com
Postural Care CIC - Community Interest Company
Office: 01827 304 938
Mobile: 07729 552 626

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook - look for us under Postural Care.

by STEVE STOLER / WFAA-TV

Posted on February 9, 2010 at 9:24 PM

FRISCO — Zach Wester, a 15-year-old high school freshman from Frisco, is learning to walk again -- with the help of a Texas superstar.

Zach has cerebral palsy. He endured three surgeries to correct scoliosis. He set a goal for himself to walk 50 feet without resting. The Wakeland High School freshman underwent his first surgery when he was a third-grader. Since then, he's had two other surgical procedures.
After the last one, he could only crawl on his hands and knees. Zach’s father, James Wester, said his initial progress was very limited. “So for him to finally be able to heal up enough to be able to get moving and walking that far — it's been a long road," Wester said.

The sounds from the school's loudspeakers blared: “This is Colt McCoy, University of Texas quarterback.” As Zach's friends, family and aides converged on the school auditorium for his attempt at his goal, a recorded message was played from McCoy. Zach's face lit up with joy.
“To get a message like that, it made such a big difference to him, and his reaction was priceless," said Marisa Wester, Zach’s mother. After getting a boost from the Longhorns' quarterback, Zach started his 50-foot journey. Slowly he inched across the floor. As he got closer to his goal, the cheers got louder.

Zach made it. “I did a really good job," he said. And as he sat back down in his wheelchair, Zach gave one last gesture to his adoring fans and favorite quarterback: A "Hook ‘em Horns" sign.
E-mail sstoler@wfaa.com

smcmanis@sacbee.com
Published Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009


To see Kim Wagaman on a yoga mat – her supple spine stretched, her limbs angled with apparent aplomb – is to witness a body perfectly aligned and in harmony with itself.

She's a yoga instructor, after all, so such flexibility is a given, right?

Not in her case. Wagaman, 34, who grew up in Carmichael and teaches classes at the Yoga Solution and elsewhere in Sacramento, once was so restricted by scoliosis that she spent most of her teenage years in a neck-high brace.

The curvature made her spine look like a winding country road, veering right in the upper thoracic region, swerving left in the lumbar area. She also had a smaller curve high in her neck and was showing the beginnings of kyphosis, a rounding of the shoulders.

"I made a conscious effort to hide the back of my body," Wagaman recalls. "I'd enter a room at a party and position myself with my back to the wall. There was all this insecurity and denial. And there's this drive to fix the issue."

In Wagaman's case, that drive put her on an unusual path to confronting the condition. Her parents already had ruled out spinal-fusion surgery as too invasive.

So as a junior in high school, Wagaman chose to send the cumbersome "Milwaukee" brace, which she had worn 23 hours a day, to the back of her closet and look for more promising alternatives.

For her, the better way turned out to be yoga. In her early 20s, Wagaman started practicing poses and movements with Jennifer Sadugar, founder of the Yoga Solution in east Sacramento. That led Wagaman to study under Palo Alto-based yoga master Elise Miller, the leading practitioner of yoga for people with scoliosis.

Over time, Wagaman found that tweaks to standard yoga poses – a change of hand positioning, a more pronounced shoulder twist, a deepening of breath – not only eased pain but strengthened muscles around the spine and led to better structural alignment.

The weight bearing down on her left leg no longer is heavier than on her right side. One hip no longer is higher. Wagaman has trained the right side of her rib cage to return to a standard position.

Her spinal curve hasn't gone away, of course, but Wagaman firmly believes her adherence to yoga has delayed further complications and has taken away whatever bodily limitations she had.

Now, with a 500-hour yoga teaching certificate, Wagaman offers Yoga for Scoliosis workshops. (The next four-week series starts Jan. 10 at the Yoga Solution.) A big part of the classes involves mastering variations on classic yoga poses, such as the downward-facing dog, the triangle and the puppy pose. But there also is an emotional component.

"A lot of us have the concept from our society and culture that we're deformed, not right as we are," she says. "We try to work through that. You have to accept that your practice is going to be different than others' in terms of poses and expressions.

"As your awareness becomes more finely tuned, you begin to sense where you are in space, feel more keenly what your body is doing."

Sacramentan Mary Lau, 54, who has had severe scoliosis since high school and suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, says taking Wagaman's classes over the past year has helped both conditions. She says the 51-degree curve in her back has improved by 8 degrees in a recent measurement.

"It really makes a difference," says Lau, a retired scientist with the state Environmental Protection Agency. "I have an S-shaped curve that pinches one of the nerves in the lumbar spine. So a lot of those stretching poses, like the puppy pose, will help my pain. Doing that for a few minutes will give me relief and put pressure off the nerve."

What might surprise some students, Wagaman says, is how subtle changes in the poses can ease pain.

Take the standard puppy pose, a spine-lengthening movement in which one begins on all fours with arms extended to the front and moves the buttocks toward the heels while dropping the forehead toward the mat.

"For scoliosis, I'll have people walk their hands over to the left and then draw the hips back and drop the right side down a little bit and breathe into the left side," Wagaman says.

The standard triangle pose differs more significantly. After spreading the legs, those with right thoracic scoliosis will steady their left arm on a chair and, instead of reaching up with their right arm to stretch, will bring their hand to the rib cage.

"You'll try to draw the ribs in toward the body," Wagaman says.

A downward-facing dog pose has the most subtle change. When arms are extended in mid-pose, you "swivel the right palm out to draw that side of the scapula (shoulder blade) in," Wagaman says. "It's sort of an 'aha' thing. Students with scoliosis will feel a lot more comfortable that way."

Comfort and healing, of course, are precisely what Wagaman's scoliosis patients seek.

"This yoga is the best form of pain management I've tried," Lau says.

YOGA FOR SCOLIOSIS

What: Instructor Kim Wagaman will lead a four-week Sunday series on Yoga for Scoliosis

When: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Jan. 10 to Feb. 7 (no class Jan. 17)

Where: The Yoga Solution, 887 57th St., Sacramento

Cost: $70 by Dec. 30, $80 thereafter

Information: (916) 383-7933

For information on other classes Wagaman teaches: www.yogaquest.wordpress.com.

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
11/12/2009

Scoliosis screenings in middle schools find thousands of teenagers with curved spines each year.

What happens next isn't as well planned.

Treatment for scoliosis hasn't changed in five decades — if the spine is curved to a certain degree, the teenager gets a back brace. But research has not conclusively proved the benefits of the braces.

Some young people who don't wear a brace never have any problems and their curves never worsen. Others wear the braces for years and still end up needing back surgery.

A long-term study at Washington University and more than 20 other research centers hopes to figure out why.

"If we can say that bracing doesn't change (the progression of a spinal curve) then it's a treatment regimen that we shouldn't offer," said Dr. Matthew Dobbs, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon and lead investigator at Washington University. "Why do school screenings? Why identify a child with a small curve and put them through years of bracing if it's not going to alter natural curve?"

Half of the participants in the study will receive back braces to wear at least 18 hours a day, and the other half won't wear braces. Both groups will receive regular X-rays to check their spinal curves.

Braces aren't thought to correct the curves but to prevent progression.

"But again we have no data to support that, despite all of us doing this for years and years and years," Dobbs said. "We don't know what the best treatment is; we don't know who's going to progress."

Curves that progress to 50 degrees — about 10 percent of cases — are generally thought to require spinal fusion surgery.

Dobbs predicts the research will show that certain patients benefit from bracing and others don't, depending on the type of spinal curve.

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis occurs in about one in 1,000 teenagers, and is 10 times more common in girls. It can cause back pain, and in severe cases can affect heart and lung function.

The cause is unknown, although Dobbs and other researchers are studying the disorder's genetic factors.

Most states conduct scoliosis screenings by checking students' backs, typically in sixth and eighth grades. The Missouri health department estimates that 84 percent of schools voluntarily perform the checks. A bill working through the Illinois legislature would require the checks.

Smaller spinal curves are typically monitored by a doctor, but patients whose curves reach between 20 and 40 degrees are usually recommended for back braces.

If it's found that fewer teens need braces, the research could save money on treatments plus spare some teenagers the psychological stress of wearing a brace.

Braces are "mostly put on young teenage girls who are very concerned about appearance in general and don't want anything that makes them look different," Dobbs said.

That's why patients in the study are also monitored psychologically to see how they're handling the brace.

"If we see a child in the study who dips on their mood and mental health during the study, we need to figure out what's going on," Dobbs said.

Kelli Sargent of Belleview, Mo., has worn a brace for 20 hours every day since January, after doctors measured a 27-degree curve in her spine.

The seventh-grader hasn't let scoliosis keep her from activities including volleyball and basketball, which she plays without the brace.

But starting middle school this fall was sometimes tough when new kids asked Kelli about the brace. She also had to start changing for gym class, making it obvious that she wears it.

But "if you just act like it's no big deal," then other kids will too, she said.

Kelli does have a difficult time picking up books from the bottom of her locker and tying her shoes, because the brace can dig into her upper thighs when she bends. And now she has to buy jeans and tops a little bit bigger to fit over the brace.

Otherwise, she's gotten used to it and even nicknamed the brace "Shelly" since it feels like she's wearing a shell.

VANCOUVER — To watch her walk into a room, you would never guess that Carmen Stolk had major surgery six weeks ago to correct a curve in her spine.


The 18-year-old stood straight and confident Thursday morning at BC Children's Hospital, looking happy to be back in the building where history was made in August when surgeons performed a new, less invasive type of surgery to correct her scoliosis.


Stolk was the first person in Canada to receive the surgery, which reduces the amount of trauma done to patients' backs, allowing them to get up and walk the next day.



New spinal surgery has patients walking within a day

Sam Lister

A team of comic-book superheroes living inside the human body is to be used to help children understand complex diseases affecting them or their parents and reduce fear surrounding treatment and side-effects.


A children’s medical publisher is to be launched this week in London, supported by leading paediatricians, celebrities and campaigners including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, to tackle poor understanding of disease among the young.

The project, called Medikidz, will provide a range of comic books explaining diseases such as leukaemia, scoliosis, asthma and epilepsy that affect children, as well as those prevalent in adults, such as breast cancer and depression. A national catering company has ordered 100,000 advance copies of a title on childhood obesity for distribution in UK schools.

The superheroes include characters based on the cardiovascular and gastrointestinal systems, the lungs, brain and skin and bone who take the reader on an adventure explaining their condition and the treatments they are likely to receive. Children will also be able to find out more from a website which will offer social networking to allow young patients to share their experiences.


The project, which will be launched at the Evelina Children’s Hospital at St Thomas’ Hospital on Wednesday, has been set up by two junior doctors frustrated by the lack of child-friendly information available. Backers include the musician Will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas, Jacqueline Wilson, the children’s author, and Archbishop Tutu, who is due to address the launch.

The comic books are aimed at children between the ages of 8 and 15.

Kim Chilman-Blair, Medikidz founder, said that she had first noticed the problem while training in paediatrics at Otago Medical School in New Zealand. “I was looking after an eight-year old epileptic girl, and trying to explain her condition to her,” she said. “It was very difficult. I went and asked the consultant if there was any material that I could use, and there wasn’t anything. It started me thinking.

“When children fall ill they naturally look to adults for courage, comfort and explanation. In most cases these adults are unprepared and unqualified to deal with these situations and they have no useful information to give to young people to explain what is happening to them.”

Paediatricians said that they agreed that there was a paucity of engaging material for the young, with parents too often told of the problem and left to explain what was going on to their children. They said that being properly informed should be central to a child’s treatment.

Professor Ricky Richardson, a leading paediatrician and government adviser, said: “There is an enormous need to provide appropriate information about disease processes to children in a form they understand. Having this in comic book format and using social networking technology will be enormous step forward.”

Prof Richardson, who sees patients at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children and Princess Margaret Hospital in Windsor, and is chair of the Medikidz medical advisory board, said.

“It moves the focus away from parents to children. The psychology of the relationship between parents and children can complicate things, because parents will naturally protect their children and may not pass on information to them. But in fact that child can gain much more from properly understanding where they are and what’s happening to them.”

Dr Chilman-Blair and Kate James, the company’s co-founder, said that the focus would also be on developing countries, with titles covering major paediatric diseases such as HIV/Aids and tuberculosis. Every book, which is designed by a former Marvel comic book writer, is subject to clinical peer review by paediatricians and specialist nurses.

Archbishop Tutu, a campaigner for health and human rights who has been particularly vocal in support of controlling TB and HIV, is known to be a keen supporter of the venture. He is scheduled to address the launch of the programme. He said: “It is extremely important that they feel reassured, informed and included during the diagnosis and treatment process, and this initiative should be supported for helping to achieve this,” he said.

The following morning I was up early and into the shower and then ready and waiting with my very fetching gown and green socks on for Mr Papastefanou so that we could have final discussions and to sign the consent form. The porter was waiting in the wings and I remember asking after the operation, when would I be able to get out of bed. The answer was later this afternoon if I so wished, I thought you cant be serious, but it was as serious as it got. I thought well if thats the case im ready if you are.

We were off and as I was nearing the holding room before being taken to the anesthetic room, the nerves started to niggle a bit, I dont know why because I am used to it after all the operations I have had, but there you go, I suppose you cant win them all. I entered the anesthetic room and after discussions about pain relief on waking I was sent off too sleep

The next thing I remember is waking up on my side in the recovery room, shaking from head to foot with cold, which then set off muscle spasms in my legs, the staff were making me as comfortable and as warm as possible with a heated blanket, to stop the shakes. I remember looking towards the door and my consultant was coming towards me and at that moment I knew that everything was going to be ok as I reached out for his hand, he smiled and stayed for a few minutes, before scrubbing up for the next operation.

After he went I remember laying there a bit longer and the pain was getting worse and I remember saying to the nurses, please can I be turned onto my back as its the only way to reduce the spasms, they said wait while we speak to him in theatre, phew the reply was that I was allowed to be turned and that he would see me in a few hours. the team of staff came and slowly turned me and take the hat device off me replacing them with blankets.

I cant remember the exact time I was back in my room, but I know it was in the afternoon about 3pm I know I had missed lunch, so my thoughts were I have been in there a while. The nurses on the ward all seemed to jump into action and it wasnt long before I was settled and sleeping it off, the nurse spoke to Mum and told her I was back and asleep, so she knew I was back safely.

I think it was about 4 and true to his word he came to see me and to check how I was doing, we talked for a while and I remember him saying if you want to get up later its fine with me, rest now I replied I will stay in bed till the morning and get up with the physiotherapist. He said thats fine with me you go at your own pace and I will check on you in the morning. I then went back to sleep for a bit happy in the knowledge that everything went ok. One thing that I was also pleased about was although I didnt feel that great in recovey I didnt have any morphine, because they know that it makes me so ill and sick for days. As a result I knew that I was going to be up and about soon. When I woke the nurse asked me what I would like to eat, I said im I ok to eat now "yes" ok I will have the pork with mushrooms casserole and roast potatoes with veg and although it was a bit hard with the drips in my hand I quite enjoyed it. After that I felt well enough to ring Mum myself and I knew that once she spoke to me she would be more settled and know that I was ok

Well its a while since I have given you all an update on how my life is going, and thats because you may remember that I posted a bit ago that I was waiting for more spine surgery, well I have had the surgery and im back home safe, sound and doing well.

I went for my pre assessment and long discussions with my Spine Consultant Mr Papastefanou and we agreed to go ahead with the operation on the 19th August. The day was set and I had 2 weeks to get my head around what was going to be happening.

The 18th came and I made my way to the hospital to get admitted to the ward and complete the medical assesments that you usual go through the day before surgery. I have to admit that I was starting to feel a bit nervous, but not as nervous as I was going to be the next day. All the assesments went well and I have to say I was really impressed with my room, I got a room to myself so that I had plenty of space for my wheelchair and I had ensuite facilites so it felt like a hotel room. I was also impressed with the meals, in all the times I have been in hospitals I am never liked the meals and not really eaten much.

BANGALORE: Prateek (12) had developed a progressive sideward bending of the spine, and found it difficult to sit or walk.


A cerebral palsy patient, Prateek was diagnosed with neuromuscular scoliosis (sideward bending of the spine) of 100 degrees. He needed a galveston (spino-pelvic) fusion surgery, but as it is a rare surgery, involving high risk and expertise, the boy had to wait for two years for the right facility and surgeon. Finally, Manipal Hospital came to his rescue.

The surgery done by a team headed by Dr S Vidyadhara, consultant spine surgeon, lasted for eight hours. He was given six units of blood.

Now, two days after the operation, Prateek can sit straight. His post-operative radiograph shows all implants are in good position.

According to Dr Vidyadhara, cerebral palsy is quite common and affects one in a thousand children born of normal deliveries. It is the result of hypoxic damage to the brain during labour that causes muscular paralysis and results in neuro-muscular scoliosis.

Prateek's case was challenging because of the severity of the curve -- it was 100 degrees and rigid. Also, a side of the pelvis got lifted up on one side and due to which he lost balance while sitting. All this had to be corrected. He also faced risk of paraplegia (impairment in motor or sensory function of the lower extremities). The other challenges were increased surgical time and risk of blood loss, the doctor said.

Prateek can now move both his legs, and will be able to use a walker in two-three days once the operative pain is reasonably reduced.

A TEENAGE cerebral palsy sufferer has received a standing ovation after unveiling a self-produced video documenting his own life-threatening spinal surgery.

Tom Williams pitched Rebuilding Thomas to medical experts at the Custard Factory, in Birmingham, on Friday.

The 18-year-old sold 80 copies to a metal spine manufacturer and hopes to hear back from NHS trusts and charities in the coming weeks.

Tom (pictured) said he would now take a well-earned rest after a “whirlwind” week, during which he also discovered he had passed his A-levels.

The Newborough resident said: “It’s been a crazy week but I’m absolutely delighted to have got into Bradford University, where I’ll study to be a film producer, and to have got a standing ovation on Friday.

“I managed to change the views of those who thought the documentary would be too depressing and hope it goes on to be a success.

“I’m now going to take a year out to go to independence college, then on to uni, but I’ll always reflect on this and feel proud of what I’ve achieved.” Tom underwent a 12-hour operation to straighten his spine last year, filming his experiences before, during and after surgery.

He funded the film’s production with his disability benefits and now hopes NHS trusts around the UK will buy it to help parents, patients and doctors cope with similar operations.

During his year out, Tom will take up a new role as national advisor for the Scoliosis Society.

Koryn now stands two inches taller
A teenage girl whose heart was pushed to the wrong side of her body by a rare spine deformity has been cured by surgery.

Koryn McFadden, an 18-year-old nursery nurse from Corby, Northants, had scoliosis, a curvature of the spine.

The defect produced a pendulum effect where her heart was pushed three inches to the right.

Surgeons at the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham say her heart should now stay in place following her operation.

Doctors discovered the problem in 2006 after Koryn had been in a car crash and damaged the vertebrae of her spine.

An x-ray showed up the curvature, which doctors said had been getting progressively worse for years.

Koryn said: "I feel like the car accident was fate - it was the only reason I found out about the scoliosis.

"I've always been fit and healthy so I was shocked when I saw the X-ray of my spine. At first I told the nurse she must have the X-rays mixed up."


Koryn's x-rays before (right) and after (left) the surgery
Although initially the scoliosis caused her no symptoms, with time it gave her daily pain and doctors were worried the curve was putting too much strain on her heart.

Koryn said: "I couldn't get out of bed and kept having to call in sick to work."

Last month Koryn had an eight-hour operation where surgeons inserted two 16 inch-long titanium rods and 10 metal pins into her spine.

Now Koryn stands straight and two inches taller and her heart is back in the right place.

Koryn said: "I feel about 10ft tall and my friends all love my new posture.

"I was absolutely petrified about having to go in for such a major operation, but it has been so worth it."

A spokeswoman for the Scoliosis Association said: "If scoliosis goes untreated, it will cause massive effects on heart function and reduce breathing capacity because the lungs are getting smaller."

By Beth Miller
July 14, 2009 -- Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis is participating in a national trial to determine whether back braces for adolescents with scoliosis, an abnormal curvature of the spine, are effective in preventing the condition from progressing and, if so, which patients most benefit.
The medical center is one of 25 sites across the United States and Canada participating in the trial, called the Bracing in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Trial (BrAIST), one of the first clinical trials in pediatric orthopedics funded by the National Institutes of Health.
Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) occurs with no known cause in children from 10-18 years old. It is the most common type of scoliosis and is more commonly seen in girls. Severe scoliosis can cause back pain and difficulty breathing.
"Even though bracing to slow down curve progression in patients with AIS has been the standard of care in the United States for about 30 years, the treatment's effectiveness remains unclear," said Matthew B. Dobbs, M.D., a Washington University pediatric orthopedic surgeon at St. Louis Children's Hospital and a study collaborator. "There are patients who use bracing yet their curve progression continues, while other patients with AIS who don't use bracing do not experience any curve progression."
Participants are randomly assigned to either wear a brace at least 18 hours a day or to have regularly scheduled follow-up visits and X-rays to track curve progression. Spinal curves that progress to 50 degrees indicate a high risk for continued curve progression throughout adulthood. In these cases, spinal fusion surgery is usually recommended to correct the curve.
"The occurrence of AIS is about one in 1,000, and its prevalence is 10 to 1 in girls. Only about 10 percent of these patients require surgical intervention," Dobbs said. Patients between 10-15 years old with a curve between 20 degrees and 40 degrees have traditionally been treated with bracing until they reach skeletal maturity, which can be up to six years if the girl is 10 or 11 years old, Dobbs said.
"That means patients are wearing braces at a time in their life when they don't want to be different from their peers," Dobbs said. "It can be quite a traumatic decision, which is one reason why this study is so important. In addition, the bracing is expensive, and the orthosis needs to be refitted or replaced as patients grow."
Although the study findings could be at different ends of a spectrum — either bracing works and needs to be used for all patients with AIS, or bracing doesn't work at all and should be abandoned as a treatment —Dobbs said he expects an outcome somewhere in the middle.
"I anticipate we will discover that bracing works for certain types of curves, which means we can become much more selective in prescribing it as a treatment," he said. "Whatever the findings, however, this will be a major step forward in our understanding of how to treat this relatively common disorder."
To be eligible to enroll in the study, patients must be between 10 and 15 years old (either male or female). Inclusion criteria include diagnosis of AIS; pre-menarchal or post-menarchal by no more than one year; physical and mental ability to adhere to bracing treatment; and documented insurance coverage and/or personal willingness to pay for treatment.
Patients who have a diagnosis of other musculoskeletal or developmental illness that might be responsible for the spinal curvature or a history of previous surgical or orthotic treatment for AIS are not eligible for the study.
Once accepted into the study, patients will be followed at Washington University School of Medicine and St. Louis Children's Hospital. Two visits per year are required for X-rays and evaluation.
For additional information regarding the study and inclusion criteria, contact the research coordinator at (314) 454-4113.

Your child goes in for a school physical and you walk out with an appointment to see a scoliosis expert. It's a situation that's all too common. Many parents are left to wonder whether surgery is in their child's future.
But parents are now getting their answer, thanks a new test.

A scoliosis diagnosis is common in young children and often a brace is used to help correct it. But now a new test can tell you whether it's going to get better or worse.

Medical technology has come a long way. Now saliva in a vile can rate your child's scoliosis.



“The score is designed to tell us whether the patient's curve is going to stay the same or progress as they get older, " Dr. Geoffrey Haft, a scoliosis expert with Sanford Clinic Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, said.

Haft says the DNA test helps to guide a patient's treatment. And 13-year-old Madison Michels is a prime candidate.

Her score is 163, which means her scoliosis is considered moderate to severe. It also means she'll have to wear her brace a while longer.

"I don't really mind it as long as it corrects what my spine is doing,” Madison said.

“The test helped my husband and I find out exactly how serious her scoliosis is and the severity of it and what we need to do,” Madison's mom, Jolene Michels, said.

Looking at an x-ray, you can see how her spine curves without the brace. But when she has it on, her spine is nearly straight. Dr. Haft says the test can hopefully keep his patients from having surgery in the future.

“In the worst case, the curve gets to be over 50 degrees. We have ways of measuring curves and we put a number to it. Curves that are over 50 degrees tend to progress throughout adulthood and we end up doing surgery on those patients and fusing the spine, straightening it out so that it can't progress,” Haft said.

It's a surgery Madison and her family hope her brace will help her avoid.

“It's nice to know that test has said she needs to be wearing this and so we make sure that she does,” Jolene said.

Sanford is one of 42 sites testing the ScoliScore product. It won't become available to the entire orthopedic community until this fall.

In a person with scoliosis, the spine may curve side-to-side in a "C" or "S" shape. Sometimes the spinal bones (vertebrae) may also twist. © iStockphoto.com

By Laurie Sammeth, Contributing Writer, myOptumHealth

Content provided by
myOptumHealth

Subtle signs of scoliosis, such as an uneven hemline or one hip appearing higher than the other, may first be noticed during a growth spurt in the early teen or preteen years. While these signs can be alarming, scoliosis is usually mild and won't get worse. Only about four children in 1,000 will need any treatment for it. In some cases, bracing is used to stop the progression of a curve. Rarely, surgery is needed to correct it.

Scoliosis is an abnormal curve of the spine. Normally when you look at a person's back, the spine or backbone falls in a straight line from the base of the neck to the tailbone. In a person with scoliosis, the spine may curve side-to-side in a "C" or "S" shape. Sometimes the spinal bones (vertebrae) may also twist.

What causes scoliosis?

Most of the time, doctors don't know what causes scoliosis. In these cases, it is called idiopathic scoliosis. In a few cases, it may be caused by another condition, such as a connective tissue or neuromuscular disorder.

Scoliosis tends to run in families. Idiopathic scoliosis occurs more often and tends to progress more in girls than in boys. Posture, a heavy book bag, or diet and exercise have nothing to do with whether someone will develop scoliosis.

What are the symptoms?

Scoliosis usually causes the spine to curve in an "S" or "C" shape. There may be no symptoms in the early stages of mild scoliosis. Signs of scoliosis include having:

One shoulder higher than the other
An uneven waistline
Ribs that stick out farther on one side of the body
A shoulder blade that sticks out farther on one side of the body
A tendency to lean to one side
Most cases are mild and don't get worse. In other cases, early treatment with a brace may prevent a curve from getting worse.

If scoliosis becomes severe, it may cause back pain or breathing problems. The earlier a child develops it, the more severe the curve can become.

How is it treated?

What treatment your child may need for scoliosis will depend on his age and how much more a child is expected to grow. Treatment also depends on how severe the curve is.

The main treatments for scoliosis include:

Observation. If your child has only a mild form (a spinal curve under 25 degrees), she most likely will not need treatment. But she should see the doctor every four to six months for observation until she stops growing.
Bracing. If your child is still growing and has a spinal curve over 25 to 30 degrees, he may need to wear a brace to prevent the curve from getting worse. There are many different kinds of braces and each must be custom fit for your child.
A brace will not correct the spinal curving but may keep it from getting worse. Your child must wear the brace every day for as long as the doctor recommends. But she can often take it off to exercise and play sports.

Surgery. If your child's scoliosis is severe (a spinal curve over 45 to 50 degrees) or if bracing does not stop its progression, surgery may be suggested. Surgery involves fusing (connecting) two or more vertebrae to straighten the backbone and inserting a permanent implant, such as a metal rod, to help keep it straight.
Having scoliosis can affect your child's self-esteem during the vulnerable teen years. It may be helpful to join a support group of others coping with the same condition.

SOURCES:
US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). Screening for idiopathic scoliosis in adolescents.
Scoliosis Association. Scoliosis facts.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Scoliosis.
Greiner KA. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: radiologic decision-making. American Family Physician. 2002;65:1817-1822.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Scoliosis in children and adolescents.

By Sharon Sullivan

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — In the spirit of Jackson Pollock, local amateur artists created a painting at The Art Center Tuesday, by rolling wheelchairs across a canvas stretched over a portion of the parking lot.The Pollock Project was named for the famed late abstract expressionist artist known for painting on the ground, and flinging paint randomly on the canvas.

Although not every painter Tuesday could cut out his or her own stencil — which was then applied to a roller in front of the wheelchair — most could at least choose the shape and color they wanted to add to the canvas.“We have quite a few clients who love doing art — especially the explosive colors,” said Nikki Benning, day program supervisor at Mesa Developmental Services.“A lot of people didn't show much interest in anything until we started doing these art projects. When you mention going to The Art Center, or doing art projects, they're ready. There are lots and lots of smiles.”The Pollock Project was a collaboration between The Art Center, MDS and Very Special Arts of Colorado and their Arts for All program. The nonprofit's executive director Damon McLeese, and his daughter, Zoe, helped supervise the event.VSA of Colorado is a branch of Very Special Arts — an international nonprofit organization founded in 1974.

McLeese calls it an “Arts for All mobile art studio. With a home office/gallery in Denver, he brings adaptive art equipment to communities around Colorado at least 20 to 30 times a year for similar projects.”“The nice thing about this, everyone has added something to this,” McLeese said. “So often things are done for them, or to them. This is a much more inclusive process.”Although it may look like one huge abstract painting, there are “lovely compositions within,” McLeese said.

Clients chose all kinds of shapes, including a chocolate chip cookie, birds, fish, and big geometric shapes.Three of the canvases within the larger painting were later stretched and placed in frames to be hung at the Art Center and at MDS, 950 Grand Ave.The Pollock Project was initiated by local artist Mark Saro, owner of Unishape Adaptive Equipment, a national company that builds products for people with developmental disabilities. Saro contacted Denver's Very Special Arts to bring the project to Grand Junction. Saro began sponsoring art classes for MDS clients a couple of years ago. Since then other groups have helped provide art classes for handicapped individuals.“Our goal is to bring back art programs for the disabled,” Saro said.Tuesday was the first time The Art Center has collaborated with the nonprofit VSA of Colorado.“We'll probably bring them back. People are having so much fun,” said Art Center Director Cheryl McNab.The Art Center offers an art program once a month for the disabled. This month's event was sponsored by Wells Fargo Bank.MDS clients have a wide range of disabilities, including multiple sclerosis, scoliosis, degenerative spine disease, quadriplegia, and cerebral palsy. Jessica Snarr is a 22-year-old with spina bifida. She enjoyed maneuvering her wheelchair across the canvas, Tuesday.“I like it. It's really neat for us,” Snarr said. “I love art.” Reach Sharon Sullivan at ssullivan@gjfreepress.com.

Former Medical Reporter Has Scoliosis Surgery

POSTED: 12:33 pm EDT April 30, 2009

UPDATED: 7:01 am EDT May 1, 2009

BOSTON -- The two long days of surgery will be brutal. With quick encouragement from her husband, Rhonda Mann is rolled into the operating room to have a rib and six spinal discs removed, all to stop the 54 degree curve in her spine from crushing her lungs and other organs.
The five-hour operation on day one went well, but on the second day, an unexpected snag. Mann lost a large amount of blood in surgery.

"I did donate 2 units beforehand. And I lost 9 units of blood," she said.

"That is a lot of blood," said her surgeon, Dr. Paul Glazer of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. "It was pretty significant. Thank goodness she was able to get through the surgery."

Rhonda lost a significant amount of blood during the surgery. Despite the blood loss, Glazer forged ahead with more than eight hours of surgery on that second day, inserting screws, hooks and wires.

"We're actually pulling the spine into the right position during the surgery," he said.
The X-ray of Mann's new spine is startling.
"You can see the screws that are going into the bones, (and) where I use hooks to actually grab onto the spine and actually correct the deformity," said Glazer.

Watch It

It's all held in place by two titanium rods and a kind of medical cement, made from Mann's own bones that Glazer removed the day before.
"What you can see is this kind of speckled area. This is the bone graft that was applied during the back approach. And this will all become sort of solid over time and start to fuse."

A composite shows Rhonda's spine before and after surgery. Nine days post-op, Mann prepared to go home from Beth Israel and took a moment to read a Valentine's Day card from her son, "I hope you like this gift from me.”

Despite the pain from the two large incisions that will forever mark her torso, Mann is feeling hopeful that the chronic pain she endured for a decade is subsiding.
"I think I could be pain free. I think I could be. I don't want to jinx anything but I think I could be."

NewsCenter 5's cameras were there as Mann took her first post-surgery steps without a walker. "It takes a lot out of you."

One month after surgery, Mann said she notices every day that the pain has eased. But the emotions of undergoing such a drastic operation comes as a surprise.

"You feel like you can't do anything. I got really depressed right after the surgery. And then, you know, you start to do little things at a time. People will say, 'Wow, you went up the stairs.'"
"Just think about how much pressure I'm taking off my lungs and my other organs, and it's not going to hurt all the time."

- Rhonda MannBrunner: "It really is the little things, isn't it?"
Mann: "It's the little things."

The final result of her two days of surgery is better than Mann and her doctors expected. Her new spine shows virtually no sign of scoliosis.

Brunner: "When you look at these two pictures, it's got to be mind boggling."
Mann: "I'll tell you, I cried when I first saw them, and now I'm going to cry again. When they first showed it to me I couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe that that was me. Just think about how much pressure I'm taking off my lungs and my other organs, and it's not going to hurt all the time."


Rhonda returned to work about 11 weeks after surgery. "I'm absolutely so glad I did the surgery. And so glad it's behind me now."

Mann is two inches taller than before surgery.
It could take up to a year for her spinal fusion to fully harden. She said several sessions of physical therapy each week help her feel stronger. In fact, this week Mann returned to her job as a marketing executive at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center for a full day of work and meetings, at the end of which she marveled about how pain-free she felt.

AN Ilminster student's dreams of playing football with his friends may soon become a reality as he undergoes surgery to help him walk correctly.
Harry Rutter, aged 16, of Blackdown View was born with cerebral palsy, a condition which in his case severely restricts movement in the left side of his body.
He has always been able to walk but with considerable difficulty, and doctors told him the way he moved would eventually lead to curvature of the spine.
In February, he had an operation on his leg at Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, to prevent this. The surgery left him temporarily relying on a wheelchair and mobility scooter.
There is more surgery for the student of Holyrood School, Chard, on Thursday but he remains defiant.
Harry, a huge football fan, said: "I'm not treated any differently at school by my friends anyway, but it would be brilliant to be able to play football with them instead of just watching from the sidelines.
"I'm studying registered materials, cooking, humanities and PE, but it is a pain because I leave school in the afternoons and quite often miss the double lessons.
"I'm not really allowed to play football on any of the teams, because of health and safety, which is annoying."
Harry is a firm supporter of the Ilminster Youth Football team and rarely misses a match.
In 2008, his support for them was recognised when he was presented with an award at the Rotary Club of Ilminster's Young People of the Year awards.
He is also a staunch Yeovil Town FC fan. Last week, player-manager Terry Skiverton presented him with a signed club shirt and a copy of Hendford To Huish Park.
The gifts were a "good luck" gesture from the club for Harry's future operations.
He said: "I wasn't expecting that presentation at all and it was a bit embarrassing, but a nice surprise all the same.
"I joked about selling the gifts on eBay and making a bit of cash, but really the shirt will be going in a frame to put on my wall."
Harry's drive to persist with his treatment stepped up a gear at the end of the Ilminster Youth team's season, when the referee allowed him to play for the final ten minutes. Remembering this, he is unable to keep the smile from his face.
He said: "I got hacked a lot. Being able to play, even if only for ten minutes, gave me a taste of what I really want to do; I will get through these operations so I can play again."
Harry will soon take his final exams at school and is attending Holyrood's end-of-year ceremony on Friday.
Instead of staying on at the sixth form, he has secured a place at Somerset College of Arts and Technology in Taunton.
His mother Cindy, who used to run the Crown Inn in Ilminster, said: "I took Harry up to Taunton but he did the interview and everything else on his own, he doesn't let anything get in his way.
"I think college will help with his independence but he is very self-motivated anyway, it was his decision to have the surgery to correct his walking.
"We don't really have a timescale as to when the operations will be finished, as they depend upon the success of each other and cerebral palsy is so unpredictable. But our doctor says he is pleased with the status of Harry's leg and things look good at the moment.
"A lot of people know him in Ilminster and they know how determined he is. He's certainly not shy and is able to make friends easily.
"We get a lot of support from friends and family and I would especially like to thank the Ilminster Youth team, Yeovil Town and Holyrood School, who have gone out on a limb for Harry. Also Jeff Perks, who arranged the half-time presentation.
"This has taken its toll on the family but I think 2010 will be our year."

When a thank you letter arrived from The American Red Cross for the one-piece Nordic Walking Poles that were donated to Walter Reed Veterans Hospital by SkiWalking.com and The American Nordic Walking System it was one of hundreds of confirmations that one-piece Nordic Walking poles prove to be safer, lighter and much more durable than twist-locking adjustable length/telescoping/collapsible poles.

Glen Arbor, MI, April 15, 2009 ---- Nordic Walking instructor, running and ski coach, Pete Edwards, discovered five years ago that Nordic Walking Poles were not just for expert skiers deprived of snow, but doubled as an aid for those with balance and stability issues. He started volunteering to host free Nordic Walking Clinics at Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Parkinson's (PD) and Diabetes support group meetings. A couple years later he donated dozens of pairs of durable one-piece Nordic Walking poles to Walter Reed Veterans Hospital in Washington, DC. He has also shipped free Nordic Walking poles directly to injured soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan after talking to their spouses and/or parents. Family members, doctors and physical therapists have been amazed by the improvement in posture, balance, stability and gate thanks to the use of Nordic Walking Poles in the correct lengths.For over 25 years Edwards has been coaching runners and skiers. His skiers have been ski walking and hill bounding with poles during the warmer months when snow could not be found.

After a knee injury ended his marathon running career, his Nordic Walking Poles saved the day – allowing Edwards to Nordic Walk and even Nordic Run (running with poles) pain free.Using the perfect length Nordic Walking Poles helps us to automatically walk with a super straight back - better walking posture is biomechanically a good thing. This improved walking posture when combined with the unique 4-Wheel-Drive type action of walking with poles radically reduces the stress to the shins, knees, hips and back. Nordic Walking is low impact and yet provides a highly effective workout - burning more calories and working more muscle groups than regular walking.Nordic Walking has been the fastest growing fitness activity in Europe for several years. Over seven million Europeans are walking with poles - in the city, in the country and up in the mountains. Walking with poles helps to burn more calories than regular walking, improves balance/stability, radically reduces the stress to the weight bearing joints and provides a workout for your upper body by engaging your arms and legs – a lot like cross country skiing.Nordic Walking’s winning combination of improved posture, a unique 4-Wheel-Drive type action and shock absorbing benefits are helping many individuals to walk comfortably again.

Nordic Walking Poles are helping individuals with balance issues, knee issues or new knees, hip issues or new hips, back issues (including those with rods in their back), weight issues, multiple sclerosis (MS), parkinson’s disease (PD), neuropathy, arthritis, bursitis, scoliosis, lumbar stenosis, fibromyalgia, post polio, osteoporosis, stroke recovery, cancer recovery and other limitations to walking. Nordic Walking poles are helping thousands of Americans get off the couch, successfully get outside, start walking safely and effectively launch much needed walking campaigns.Individuals that use canes and/or walkers often find that Nordic Walking Poles are much more comfortable and stable than their canes or walkers. Individuals that find pushing a shopping cart comfortable find that Nordic Walking poles provide even more support and much improved balance, stability and versatility. The feedback from amputees, individuals with head trauma and others with balance issues is consistent – the poles really do improve balance and stability.From a fitness standpoint, walking with the correct length poles and proper technique can burn up to 40% more calories than regular walking. Walking with Nordic Walking Poles can turbo charge any walking campaign.Real Nordic Walking Poles are equipped with comfortable fingerless glove type straps, durable metal tips (for use on trails, the beach, snow and ice) and special rubber tips/paws that are removable and designed for use on pavement and other hard surfaces. All poles from http://www.skiwalking.com/ and The American Nordic Walking System are also equipped with patented straps (patented by the Salomon Ski Company).Thanks to the efforts of Pete Edwards, SkiWalking.com and The American Nordic Walking System, individuals of All ages and All fitness levels, are safely unlocking the calorie burning and aerobic benefits of walking, hiking, trekking and running with poles. These durable one-piece poles prove to be safer, lighter and much more durable than cheap twist-locking adjustable length/telescoping/collapsible poles. Nordic Walking Poles from SkiWalking.com and The American Nordic Walking System also includes a free Nordic Walking DVD and there are a variety of exertion options to choose from regardless of age, balance and/or fitness level.

By JOANNA DESIRA
joanna.desira@eveninggazette.co.uk

DESPITE a lifelong struggle with cerebral palsy, Daniel Johns’ positive attitude brings happiness to all who meet him.


Even after enduring two nine-hour operations within months of each other, Daniel pulled through with a grin on his face.

His constant cheerfulness has earned the 16-year-old admiration from friends and colleagues at Kilton Thorpe Special School, in Brotton.

And he has now been recognised for the joy he inspires with the Princess Diana Award for overcoming adversity.

Daniel lives in Loftus with his mum Lynn, 43, dad Peter, a Sky engineer, also 43, sister Lacey, 13, and brothers Mitchell, 13, and Louie, four.

Lynn said: “We were over the moon when we heard. His school put him in for it and it was written in his book when he came home that he was going to receive it. I rang all my friends and family!”

Daniel was born 24 weeks early and suffered bleeding in his brain, and had to fight for his life.

“He was born so early we always thought there might be a chance he would have cerebral palsy because he had bled. He fought so hard to live we weren’t bothered what he was like and it wasn’t a shock to us,” said Lynn.

Daniel was registered as blind from an early age and the Johns family have had to make adaptations to their house to make room for his wheelchair.

As Daniel got older he started to develop scoliosis in his upper body and doctors needed to operate to repair it.

“He had slight curvature in his spine for a while,” said Lynn.

“We always knew it was there from him being young but over time it was getting worse. It got to the point where he was in so much discomfort he had to lie down.

“The specialist said he had to have a major operation because if he didn’t, over time he would just curl up that much all his organs would squash.”

He had a nine-hour operation in January 2007, but had to go back for a second in the following April.

“It was horrendous,” said Lynn. “It was such a long operation and in the second he got an infection.

“He has recuperated quite well, amazingly - we don’t know how, after everything they did to him.

“He is so much better, but now they want to do his hip, because it is dislocated. His upper body is straight but he is sweeping to one side.”

Lynn added: Daniel has such a lovely personality, he can’t speak, but he smiles and everybody who meets him thinks they don’t have it bad at all.

“He doesn’t understand that he has won the Princess Diana Award and that’s a crying shame.”

Teacher Suzanne Laver, who nominated Daniel, said: “He is the most happy and content young man, he brings joy into everybody’s life, he is no bother at all.”


Daniel received his award, in front of his family and friends, from Mike Dillon, the director of adult and children’s services for Redcar and Cleveland, during a special assembly on Friday.

Well yesterday I went to James Cook Hospital for my MRI scan, and for those who don’t know me, let me tell you I hate those machines I get so jumpy because they are so noisy. Therefore to my instant relief when I was told I could have a General Anaesthetic I was happier to have one, and when I say happier I don’t mean I was over the moon believe me, because having an anaesthetic makes me sick for hours if not a couple of days, so you can imagine my apprehension facing me yesterday morning, but I thought well I have to have it done so might as well get on with it.
6.30am came and I got up and sorted waiting for my taxi to pick me up at 7.15 and off we went said bye to mum (it was like the middle of the night for us lol) anyway got to the hospital in good time and I made my way to the day unit ward only to find the door was locked and I couldn’t reach the intercom (why doesn’t that surprise me!!!! In a hospital of all places!!!)

Anyway I managed to find a member of staff who kindly took me to the main x-ray dept, I was booked in and taken through to the small ward to complete all of the paperwork and wait for the anaesthetist, who was very nice and explained everything to me, because I had a couple of questions with regard to the metal in my spine and the magnets in the MRI, my understanding was that when the scan hit the metal part it would bounce off the magnet and distort the image, if not corrupt it all together and to all intensive purposes I was right, but they said that they should be able to get enough of an image to see what’s going on before I have the artificial disc surgery.

I then waited for a couple of hours for my turn and then I was allowed to go down, I was put to sleep really quickly and for the first time in I don’t know how many years I wasn’t sick when I came round, I don’t know what he gave me but whatever it was I will be asking for it when I have my main surgery. As far as I know the scan went well and I was allowed home on the afternoon where I slept it off and tried to eat a little bit, I didn’t think green jelly could taste so nice lol but there you go!!! I now just have to wait to get the results, hope it won’t be too long.

Years of pain - but Neurofibromatosis sufferer Kirsty Ashton just wants to help our kids

By Mandy Appleyard

Kirsty Ashton has had years of surgery to battle an incurable disease. But instead of feeling sorry for herself, she raised £75,000 to make other children’s wishes come true.

Like any 18-year-old, Kirsty Ashton is full of dreams for the future. She’s hoping to go to university soon, then to become an actress, a model or a TV presenter.
But Kirsty has already seen more of life and confronted more of its challenges than most of us ever will.

Kirsty needs crutches to walk far. She has been in hospital countless times, undergoing surgery every year since she was 14.

A lot of the time she’s in severe pain and her body bears the scars from operation after operation to remove tumours from her neck, legs, knees, ankles and feet.
She takes a cocktail of drugs every day, has physiotherapy every week and has some learning difficulties.

But Kirsty shows not a trace of self-pity. In fact she finds time to raise thousands of pounds so that other children with serious illnesses, often terminal, can visit special places like Lapland and Center Parcs.

She says: “I just want to do something for other people. Helping others is what makes me happy.”

Kirsty, who lives with her family in Wythenshawe, Manchester, has every reason to be angry at life, but she isn’t.

She was 11 weeks old when she was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis (NF) – a genetic disorder which can cause multiple tumours to grow on nerve endings on or inside the body.

It affects the nervous system and can even lead to an earlier death.
Her mum Julie, 49, explains: “I have NF but less severely than Kirsty. I knew there was a 50-50 chance of passing it on so when my first child Christopher was born, it was a relief that he was clear.

“But as soon as Kirsty was born I noticed brown patches on her skin, which is a symptom, and a small tumour on her back.”

Despite the diagnosis, life went on as normal until Kirsty was eight, when a check-up revealed curvature in her spine and she was diagnosed with scoliosis. Tumours growing on her spine were pushing it to one side.

It was bad news. But Kirsty and her family didn’t give up.

“In fact my brother Chris knew I’d always wanted to go to Lapland,” Kirsty says. “He said I had been so brave that he wrote to When You Wish Upon A Star – a charity that makes dreams come true for children with life-threatening illnesses – and told them about me.

“I had a great day and I met a girl there that I really liked but she passed away not long after we got back. That’s when I realised that without the charity she would never have got to see Lapland in her short life.”

Julie adds: “The trip really moved Kirsty. She went with her dad John and saw children with cancer and terrible conditions.”

Kirsty decided to start helping local charities, selling bric-a-brac and giving the money to charity.

Meanwhile she still had to deal with her own disease.
When she was nine she started wearing a Boston Brace 23 hours a day to help support her back and ease the pain.

A hard “jacket” reaching from the top of the chest to the bottom of the hips, it was hot and uncomfortable. But Kirsty amazed doctors with how quickly she got used to it, and she wore it permanently for the next six years.

“Kirsty had to have major surgery at 14, where the surgeon put titanium rods into her spine to straighten it,” Julie says.

“Removing the tumours was too risky because of the danger of paralysis so the rods were seen as the next best thing. But even the surgery could have paralysed her.”
She spent two weeks flat on her back and three months in hospital – yet still she stuck to her mission to make life easier for other sick children.

In the past three years she has raised an incredible £73,740 for When You Wish Upon A Star. Kirsty explains: “I organised a charity ball which raised £24,801 and a Valentine’s ball which raised £23,000. I did a sponsored spell – because I’m dyslexic and thought it would be a challenge – in my lunch hour and raised £170.”
She’s also sold home-made Christmas cards, organised a rugby tournament and sold more than 800 pin badges.

A total of 94 children have been able to travel to Lapland in the last three years as a result of Kirsty’s fund-raising.

But Kirsty, who has written a book about her struggle with NF and is now looking for a publisher, has no intention of stopping there.

“I want to raise a further £75,000 in the next year to send 30 to 40 families to Center Parcs with children who are too poorly to fly.”

Maria Moseley, the charity’s events manager, says: “Kirsty is an amazing young lady. She is our own fairy godmother – and she’s a fantastic role model to other young people. She helps make magical memories for some courageous children.”
And Kirsty’s own battle goes on. She has endured serious surgery every year for the last four years.

Each time she’s had five tumours removed and has been left with three particularly severe scars on her back.

Her mum says: “Neurofibromatosis can be very cruel and we don’t know whether her life expectancy will be impaired.

“But Kirsty’s a very bright and happy child in spite of all the
challenges she faces.

“She never complains and is always thinking of other poorly children.
“She’s one in a million – I love her more than words can say.”

Kirsty’s wish... to be a model
We treated Kirsty to a day living her dream – to be a model.
Courtesy of the Mirror, the young campaigner was whisked to our photographic studios in London, where a top stylist was waiting to meet her.
She was given a luxury makeover before strutting her stuff in front of the camera – producing a portfolio of shots.

She says: “I loved every minute of the day, it was brilliant from start to finish.
“Having my make-up done, and trying on all of the clothes made me feel like a real model.

“The photos are great and I’m just so pleased I had a chance to do it.”
In recognition of her hard work and dedication, Kirsty was named
a “UK Huggable Hero” in 2008 by Build-A-Bear Workshop. Kirsty has
her own website at www.kirstysstory.co.uk and When You Wish
Upon a Star can be reached at www.whenyouwishuponastar.org.uk
or by calling 0161 477 7277.

By Dr. Neetu Dhiman - Richmond Review

Chronic pain and inflammation are conditions that many suffer from and can trigger a host of imbalances in overall health if left untreated.

While I was in my fourth year of naturopathic medicine I came across a technique that I have used in my practice with quite promising results. The Bowen technique is based on the philosophy that we are all born with a certain blue-print of health and balance. With gentle non-invasive stimulation of neurovascular bundles, muscles and tendons, the body will be put in a resting state and innately know how to self heal and restore balance.

Tom Bowen, born in Australia, developed the manipulative therapy known as the Bowen technique. After serving in the Second World War, Bowen became interested in ways of alleviating human suffering. He noticed when he made certain moves on a body it had particular effects. He developed the technique without training in any health care field.
I was drawn to the Bowen technique due to the philosophy of “less is more.”

During a session, several moves are performed in a choreographed order with set breaks between moves. The patient is fully clothed and lying face down on a massage table. Treatments initially are once per seven days, with the treatments continuing to work during the week. The goal is the permanent reversal of pain, assuming re-injury has not occurred. If the pain has not started to shift at the end of five sessions, there is a re-evaluation to determine if Bowen is in fact the correct treatment for this condition or if there is in fact an underlying condition preventing healing from occurring.

Additional reasons for chronic pain aside from structural imbalance could include:
•Adrenal insufficiency: The hormone cortisol helps us respond to the demands on our body during times of prolonged stress or chronic pain. It is our body’s main anti-inflammatory hormone.

When cortisol levels drop after patients experience prolonged periods of elevated stress or pain, the body can respond with chronic pain and inflammation.

•Thyroid function: The thyroid gland produces hormones, which are responsible for our metabolism. Low thyroid function can be one of the main underlying causes of chronic pain, and possibly the reason repeated massages, adjustments, and Bowen treatments are required. In some instances, if the bodywork treatment you are currently undergoing is only providing relief with repeated sessions, adrenals and thyroid status may be worth investigating.

•Food sensitivities and toxic burden: Prolonged exposure to environmental toxins and heavy metals can result in chronic pain and inflammation, water retention and muscle rigidity. It is common that certain foods can trigger an inflammatory reaction in the body. I have found gluten to be one of the major disruptors of the central nervous system. When I am treating nervous system issues and nerve related pain, I always consider an underlying gluten sensitivity. Individualized detoxification protocols and food sensitivity testing may be essential to reverse the chronic pain and inflammation in certain individuals.

As in nature, every organism is self-regulating. There is always an underlying reason for the pain or inflammation. It is our body’s natural defense mechanisms, trying to immobilize the joint and protect the injured area. Often anti-inflammatories such as steroids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatories will mask this healing process and the “dis-ease” process will spread deeper in the body.

The Bowen technique is phenomenal for treatment of chronic pain from motor vehicle accidents. These have been my most successful cases. Chronic pain of sciatica, sports injuries, constipation, digestion, hernias, neck injuries, frozen shoulder, nerve pain, tendonitis, infertility, PMS, hormone imbalance, scoliosis pain, just to name a few.

The Bowen technique has amazed practitioners of all disciplines and can be an integral part of a successful treatment plan for healing chronic pain and inflammation. Although it is not a new technique it is still fairly unheard of in Canada. For more information see www.bowtech.com, and spread the word to family and friends across Canada.

Dr. Neetu Dhiman is a naturopathic physician and certified advanced Bowen therapist. drdhiman@yourbriohealth.com

Mar 3 2009 by Helen Rae, Evening Chronicle

A LITTLE boy who was born with an extra half-vertebrae is set to have a major operation to correct his spine.

Jack Sundin, two, of Whitley Bay, could not have had a more difficult start to life.

He was born with a range of serious health problems, including congenital scoliosis hemivertebrae, a curvature of the spine that is the result of an extra half-vertebrae. Now consultants at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital have told his parents Lisa, 33, and Alistair, 43, that their son’s spine is curving quicker than expected.

In the next few weeks the youngster will need an MRI and CT scan before the six-hour operation.



Speaking from their home in Hertford Close, Beaumont Park, Mrs Sundin said: “We found out before Christmas that Jack’s spine was out by 33° and within 10 weeks that has moved to 45°.

“We’ve been told he needs to have an operation as soon as possible and there’s a 50% chance there could be other medical problems as his curved spine could be putting pressure on his internal organs.

“We knew Jack would need an operation on his back in the future but we never expected it to be this quick.”

After the operation Jack, who also lives with his siblings Hollie Graham-Scott, eight, and James Holmes, 14, will be put in a back brace.

Jack was born prematurely at 32 weeks and was also diagnosed with a hole in the heart and defective valves – and tracheo-oesophageal fistula, where the bottom end of the food pipe is joined to the windpipe.

Within days of being born, he had a major operation to rectify his foodpipe abnormality. Last April the youngster had open heart surgery at the Freeman Hospital. Jack has also been diagnosed with chronic lung disease.

Well it is exactly 6 years since I had my surgery for Scoliosis and as you know I am waiting to have further surgery in the form of artificial disc replacement. Anyway following my recent consultation I have now been sent a copy of the x-rays that where taken on the day. Yesterday I also had a call from the hospital about my MRI under anesthetic and I am pleased to say I dont have to wait too long because it is the 26th March so I am getting ever closer to hopefully stopping the pain I have.

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A new procedure is stopping and reversing scoliosis in children -- without a brace.

Doctors at Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York-Presbyterian are using a novel procedure called spinal stapling to treat scoliosis in children under 5. The procedure is not only stopping progression of the condition, but reversing it. Until now, no treatment existed to straighten the spine of children with scoliosis.

"For the first time, we have a way to potentially reverse the scoliosis," Michael Vitale, M.D., chief of pediatric spine and scoliosis surgery at Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York-Presbyterian, was quoted as saying.

Spinal stapling is a two-hour, minimally invasive procedure during which doctors implant staples across the growth plates of the spine. It's available to children who are still growing and have progressive moderate scoliosis.

Normally, spinal braces are used to slow the progression of scoliosis in children with a moderate form of the condition. Dr. Vitale said braces can be uncomfortable and embarrassing for children and press against the stomach, making eating and playing sports difficult.

SOURCE: Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York-Presbyterian, 2008

Stacy Lewis failed to win enough money in LPGA-sponsored events in 2008, so she is at Q School trying to earn full-time playing status. "There's a lot at stake," she said. "But ... it's not like I'm never going to play golf again."


DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Less than six months ago, Stacy Lewis stunned galleries and her foes with a 6-under-par 67 to take a one-shot lead into the U.S. Women's Open final round at Interlachen Country Club in Minnesota.

All of 23 and just 19 days after turning professional, Lewis charmed the news media with her candor, displayed poise and grit beyond her years on the course and flaunted a putting stroke the envy of all. Although the former NCAA individual champion from the University of Arkansas stumbled to a fourth-round 78 to finish in a tie for third, NBC TV golf analyst Johnny Miller, no less, labeled Lewis the next LPGA superstar.


SWINGMAN: Hardy ready for annual golf summit

Her ascension to such heights, however, ran into a slight detour that has taken her this week to the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament. The $162,487 she won in the Open did nothing in her attempt to secure full-time playing rights on the LPGA tour, because the Open is not an LPGA co-sponsored event.

Given six LPGA tour events she could play the rest of the year as a non-LPGA member in hopes of winning roughly $120,000 to earn her 2009 tour card, Lewis came up $35,000 short. So she had to book a trip to Florida to go through the rigors of Q School, where only 20 of the 140 players in the field beginning today at LPGA International will earn full-time playing rights on the tour for next season.

FIND MORE STORIES IN: Florida | Texas | Minnesota | University of Arkansas | Johnny Miller | Stacy Lewis | LPGA International | Interlachen Country Club | Kapalua LPGA Classic | Q School | Legends Course | non-LPGA | LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament
"It's definitely frustrating," said Lewis, who would have finished 59th on the money list if the Open currency had counted. "I competed with the best players in the world (in the Open), so knowing that I can compete with the top players helps.

"Playing in six other events helps, too. And I feel like I have been play-ing in qualifying school every week, basically.

"There's a lot at stake. But it's not life or death. It's not like I'm never going to play golf again. I've had that before."

Lewis spent more than seven years wearing a brace-like corset 18 hours a day after being diagnosed with scoliosis, a curvature of the spine, at the age of 11. But during her senior year in high school in 2003, she was told she needed surgery, and doctors had to fuse a rod and five screws into her back to straighten her spine.

When told she needed surgery, Lewis said she thought her golf-playing days were over. But she slowly returned to the course, and an outstanding collegiate career followed.

And she's in a good place right now despite being at Q School. Rested and eager after practicing three weeks in Texas, she also can call on good vibes from the fact she won her NCAA championship on the Legends Course, one of two courses in play this week at LPGA International.

And her back is just fine.

"I'm just ready to play," said Lewis, who last played in a tournament in October when she tied for sixth in the Kapalua LPGA Classic. "I just want to play. I feel good about my game, and it's good to be back."

Despite curved spine, Bryn Mawr student is a budding ballerina
By Jazzmen Tynes

At 13, Isabel Montague has played nearly every character in "The Nutcracker."

This year, she's the star in the Baltimore Ballet Company production Dec. 13-14 at Goucher College's Kraushaar Auditorium.

The Bryn Mawr School eighth-grader "is a very dedicated student here and she's worked incredibly hard," said Cem Catbas, half of the husband-and-wife team that runs the company, where Isabel studies.

While dedication is a given for any serious dancer, Isabel's work ethic has been severely tested.

At age 10, she was diagnosed with scoliosis, a medical condition in which the spine curves from side to side.

Determined not to let that derail her dreams of being a professional dancer and one day owning her own dance studio, "I worked harder to overcome the challenge," she said.

"My spine is curved in two different directions, so I have to sleep in a back brace every night," she said. "It's harder for me to balance when I'm wearing my pointe shoes, so it makes me work harder constantly.

"When the doctors told me, I thought, 'OK, I have it. It's just another thing for me to work on and overcome,' she continued. "I was determined not to let it affect my dancing. If you don't have that kind of determination, not just in dance, but at home, in school and in life, it's almost impossible to achieve your goals."

After a full school day, Isabel, of Sparks in Baltimore County, practices for about three hours a night, eight hours on weekends.

Despite the rigorous practice, she said, the hard work is worth a sore back and toes and late nights spent finishing her homework assignments before heading off to bed.

"You have to make sacrifices," she said. "I've performed in this play for so many years, it's an annual tradition for me.

"It's always been a part of my life and I can't imagine a year without it."

In the past nine years, Isabel has played numerous characters in Baltimore Ballet productions of "The Nutcracker," including an angel, a mouse, a gingerbread man and a doll.

"It was almost natural for her to play Clara next," Catbas said. "She's played so many parts already and she was our Clara understudy last year.

"It was almost expected that she'd get the part this year."

The performances sell out every year, but the thought of a packed house doesn't frighten Isabel.

"I've been at the studio so many times and I've seen all the dances performed before, so I have an idea of what it's supposed to be like," she said. "I'm a little nervous about doing some of the lifts, but overall I'm mostly excited."

Catbas said he's watched Isabel grow as a dancer in her years with the Baltimore Ballet.

"Recently, she's been helping teach the younger children," Catbas said. "She shows incredible control and talent working with the young dancers. I was impressed with her maturity and how well she handles them."

For 'Nutcracker' ticket information, call 410-337-6333.

After two long years, the Secret Life of the American Teenager actress finally removes her brace, a report from Us Weekly notes this week. Shailene Woodley, 17, received her Christmas gift on December 3. According to the report that's the day the star of the ABC Family series - who at 15, was diagnosed with scoliosis (a severe curvature of the spine) - stopped wearing her back brace.

Shailene Woodley: A TV Star's Secret Scoliosis

Woodley, whose show returns January 5, spoke to Us Weekly and the weekly celebrity and entertainment magazine has a question and answer session with the young star. She tells the magazine she feels "Amazing and "can't wait to get back into Pilates. But the doctors still need to observe my progress, so I'm hopeful and positive."


***


Q: Describe what it felt like to wear the brace.

It's like wearing a tacky, disgusting, plastic corset for 18 hours a day. In the beginning, it was hard to eat or breathe. And I had to give up cross-country running. But I needed to have it on to realign my spine.

Q: Why didn't American Teenager viewers ever see it on screen?

I took it off for filming. My character, Amy, is pregnant, and I couldn't fit a prosthetic belly over the brace. But usually it wasn't for more than five or six hours at a stretch - more than doable.


***


Q: How did costars treat you?

A little differently at first. But once they saw I wasn't going to break, they relaxed.

Q: What's next?

I've lost most of my muscle mass, so I'm in the process of rebuilding it. An who knows, maybe someday I'll get to play a character who has scoliosis.

New stapling treatment may help reverse scoliosis

Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of NewYork-Presbyterian is one of only a few hospitals in the country to offer spinal stapling, a new treatment alternative for young people with scoliosis, an abnormal curvature of the spine that is painful and can restrict breathing.
The Center for Early Onset Scoliosis, led by Dr Michael Vitale, sees about 400 patients per year under the age of 5 with the condition. Spinal stapling is one of a number of new techniques that promise improved outcomes.

Tens of thousands of children in the U.S. are diagnosed with scoliosis each year. When the curvature is moderate, spinal braces can be used to slow or decrease the chance of progression. Until now, however, there was no way to reverse progression and straighten the spine.

Spinal stapling is a two-hour minimally invasive surgery that involves implanting inch-long metallic staples across the growth plates of the spine. Made of a high-tech temperature-sensitive metal alloy, the staples are implanted using a camera called a thoracoscope with a very limited incision and minimal scar. The procedure is available to children with progressive moderate scoliosis (less than 30?) who are still growing (girls up to age 14 and boys up to age 16).

"Stapling not only stops scoliosis from getting worse, but can even correct the curve," says Dr. Michael Vitale, chief of pediatric spine and scoliosis surgery at Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of NewYork-Presbyterian and the Ana Lucia Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics and Orthopaedic Surgery at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. "While most children do well with spinal fusion, we are on the cusp of a new era in the treatment of scoliosis. For the first time, we have a way to potentially reverse the scoliosis. "

Braces can be uncomfortable and embarrassing for children, notes Dr. Vitale. The custom-made plastic corset is usually worn all but one or two hours a day, and its tight fit presses against the stomach, making eating and any sports difficult.

Spinal fusion, too, has its drawbacks. "We recently presented evidence that spinal fusion in young children can lead to significant issues in quality of life and pulmonary function over the long term," says Dr. Vitale, who presented the findings at the International Conference on Early Onset Scoliosis in Montreal. The study followed 27 patients who received spinal fusion, which permanently connects several vertebrae. After 10 years, their pulmonary function, measured by lung volume, and reported quality of life were significantly less than that of a healthy child.

"While stapling is very new," adds Dr. Vitale "it promises to have a major effect on how we treat young people with scoliosis." Additional therapies may include:

VEPTR. The Vertical Expandable Prosthetic Titanium Rib (VEPTR) straightens the spine and opens a larger space for the lungs and other internal organs to grow by placing a titanium brace between two ribs to push them apart. VEPTR can be expanded as the patient grows through an outpatient procedure.
Growing Rod. Attached to the spine and affixed to vertebrae at the top and the bottom, growing rods are expanded over time using a mechanism that allows the lengthening to be performed in a simple outpatient surgery. The approach minimizes spinal deformity, and most importantly allows lung development to occur to preserve a normal life span for the patient.
Scoliosis

Scoliosis is a musculoskeletal condition that primarily affects children and adolescents, in which there is an abnormal lateral curvature of the spine, causing the spinal column to bend to the left or right. The name is derived from the Greek word "skoliosis," which means "crookedness." Scoliosis affects approximately 3 percent of the population. The Adam's bend test is performed to gauge the amount of curvature a scoliosis patient has. Scoliotic curve is said to exist when the angle of the curve measure is at least 10 degrees. Curves of more than 40 degrees are considered severe. Most patients are diagnosed between ages 10 and 15, although those with severe cases may be detected earlier. Dr. Vitale is a proponent of school screening of adolescents for scoliosis, and authored an informational statement on the subject that was published in the January 2008 issue of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. His position is shared by American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS), the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

http://www.nyp.org