Orthotics and/or chiropraxy?

[Mrs.Tigersoap]

Our daughter went to visit the school’s doctor (compulsory visit), and he asked us to see s.o. for her back because he suspected a scoliosis. Two years ago, we went to a podiatrist to have her a set of corrective insoles made to correct her posture as we had noticed that her shoes were wearing out unevenly. So now, apparently, there might be another problem (either the podiatrist did not see it at the time or it was not noticeable then).

So we went to our family doctor’s who gave us a voucher for a set of X-rays (at another doctor’s). We went today. Apparently, her scoliosis is at 20%. The X-ray specialist was also concerned by her pelvis (which is tilted on the right to the point where she has a difference of 1,1 cm between her right and her left leg). He says the (possible) scoliosis might just be the result of her pelvis problem. He asked us to go back to our family doctor’s to ask for another voucher for another set of X-rays (I asked if he could not do them right there and then but apparently you need THE VOUCHER. Riiiight…). So we need to go back to our family doctor’s, get the voucher, go back to the X-ray specialist and then go back to our family doctor’s for the results! Western medicine at its best…

In the meantime, I was searching ‘pelvis’ and ‘scoliosis’ on the forum and found this post http://cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php/topic,10763.msg76670.html#msg76670. We wanted to try out chiropraxy for our daughter’s problem anyway, so this definitely piqued our interest. There is no way to discuss chiropraxy with our family doctor and the X-ray specialist, of course. Chiros are considered crooks here.
So now, I have a question because I don’t know how to go about this:

Option 1: ‘complete the cycle’ first (family doctor for voucher – X-ray specialist –family doctor for results of X-ray specialist – then probably other specialist for special orthotics) and then possibly go to the chiro with the set of X-rays (which could help him).

Option 2: go to the chiro now, before the second set of X-rays and try and see this way first because maybe with corrections, she would not need even other orthotics to begin with? We can then have the second set of X-rays afterwards to check how it is all going? Should I do both at the same time?

Am I forgetting something?

Maybe this is a silly question. I’m stressed out so I don’t see things clearly. Thank you for reading.

 

[Gaby]

Am I forgetting something?

How about rolfing? If done ASAP, it can correct the problem significantly. I remember seeing a case study and asked my rolfer about it and he said that yes, rolfing is the one thing that helps a lot in scoliosis.

I don't know if there are certified rolfers in your area, but it would be great if there is one.

 

[echo]

There is also osteopathy which is a very good and gentle method, maybe they have a better reputation than chiropractors in your country? They are known for only needing a few sessions whereas chiropractors usually sign you up for longer (at least it says so here: http://osteopathy.com.sg/chiropractors.php).

Osteopathy helped me last summer, particularly with pelvis problems. They began with cranio-sacral therapy and moved on to correct my pelvis which made a big difference in only one session.

Fwiw, I think the alternative methods are worth looking into. (also, I just remembered a friend of mine who had scoliosis was helped by a chiropractor).

 

[Mrs.Tigersoap]

I don't know if there are certified rolfers in your area, but it would be great if there is one.

I've been searching for one for a long time and was never able to find one, even elsewhere in the country. I will keep on looking, though. Thank you, Psyche.

There is also osteopathy which is a very good and gentle method, maybe they have a better reputation than chiropractors in your country? They are known for only needing a few sessions whereas chiropractors usually sign you up for longer (at least it says so here: http://osteopathy.com.sg/chiropractors.php).

I've personally used both in the past with great results. I have no idea which of these two would be best for my daughter's problem. Maybe we'll try the gentler method first (ostheopath). Thank you Echo.

 

[Mrs. Peel]

There is also osteopathy which is a very good and gentle method, maybe they have a better reputation than chiropractors in your country? They are known for only needing a few sessions whereas chiropractors usually sign you up for longer (at least it says so here: http://osteopathy.com.sg/chiropractors.php).

Yeah, I have scoliosis to some degree, and my pelvis is tilted, my left leg is a tad shorter than the right. I've gone to chiro's for years and they do suck you in for regular adjustments. My shoes wear out unevenly at the heels, depending on which side means you either pronate or supinate. I had a lift for my shoe to help correct the problem, but I never use it as it's kinda bulky and doesn't fit in dress shoes.

I'd try the osteopathy first if you don't want to spend a lot of time at the chiro.

 

[Jacques]

Hi Mrs Tigersoap,

Both of my daughter have a scoliosis.

The youngest one had a scoliosis under 20 degree and the older one around 26 degree when they have been diagnosed.

Both of them received chiro's treatments, osteo's treatments and physio's treatments.

For the younger one, maybe because her degree was not that high, the treatments worked very well and the scoliosis stayed at that degree. She is now 27 years old and she is still followed by her physiotherapist who is by the way specialized in that field.

However for the other one, the treatments did not work and the only thing that stopped the progression of the scoliosis was to wear a special corset 23 hours a day as long as her growth was not finished.

However due to a medical error, the doctor told her to stop wearing the corset before that she had ended her growth and in less than three months, the degree of her scoliosis went from 26 to 37. She is still followed by the same physio and it does help her quite a lot now. She is 28 years old.

So I would recommend you to be very careful and to follow very closely the progression if any of the scoliosis.

Now she is wearing once in a while the spince cor brace: _http://www.scoliose.ca/Clinique_scoliose/Scoliose.html

 

[Gertrudes]

Mrs. Tigersoap, personally I am suspicious of orthotics. Not to say that they don't work, because they do, but when not properly prescribed they can do more harm then good. The problem is that an orthotic prescription is sometimes given by someone who doesn't see the whole picture, the entire body integrated as a whole, and I have had clients whose pelvis has become misaligned due to orthotics. This isn't to say that that's what has happened with your daughter, but just a note of caution.

The other possible problem with orthotics, and other props such as corsets, as described by Gandalf, is that the body isn't building up its own muscular strength, neither are all other related muscles, the ones surrounding the seemingly affected area, adapting themselves accordingly. This is because the body isn't creating it's own "defenses", if you will. If there improvement, and the improvement seems to be stable, then that is probably the right course of treatment, Gandalf's younger daughter being an example. But if there isn't, it can be the case that the body is being manipulated into a posture which can either be wrong, or for which it doesn't have the muscular support to sustain.
The same issue with recurrent osteopath or chiropractic visits. They can really work wonders on a short term, but if it is something ongoing it may need to be looked at more closely. I tend to equate short term regular osteopath and chiropractic visits as supplementing our diet, and longer term as taking drugs to cover up a hole. And quite frankly I have seen it over, and over. The same pattern repeating itself, when the body needs, instead, to build up on a muscular level to correct the unbalance.

Pilates can be excellent for that, but I don't know whether that would work with your daughter as she is still very young and it is a technique that takes a lot of focus from the part of the client. In that case a good Physiotherapist may also help.

Adding to that, Rolfing also sounds very good, as well as osteopathy and cranial osteopathy itself. She may need a combination of techniques that manipulate her body, with techniques that build up the necessary muscles for it to regain balance. But then again, techniques that manipulate (as well as auxiliary props) can work wonders and are sometimes the best solution, but I would be careful of when it starts to become a longer term thing that drags you for years without a permanent and stable improvement.

Also, many people have a shorter leg, it isn't something unusual. The same way we have an asymmetric face, if you will. However, if the difference isn't obviously serious and it isn't proving to be the root cause of other problems, I tend to find orthotics unnecessary. Again, I'm not saying that this is the case with your daughter, but just trying to give you another perspective. I have a slightly shorter leg, therefore a slightly tilted pelvis, although in my case my spine has actually straightened itself up (and my pelvis to a great degree) with pilates.

What also happens when the affected individual builds up his/her strength to correct the muscular unbalance, is that they will normally develop an enhanced sense of body awareness that is possibly the most invaluable tool they can have to resist against falling into another misalignment, as they will notice much sooner the muscular stress.

Obviously I'm not seeing the whole picture as I can't know exactly what's happening with your daughter, but I just wanted to chime in with some more ideas and, possibly, some food for thought.

Added: when you first noticed that her shoes were wearing out unevenly, how severe would you say the difference was, and did you notice anything else, like strange walking patterns, as example?

 

[herondancer]

Am I forgetting something?

How about rolfing? If done ASAP, it can correct the problem significantly. I remember seeing a case study and asked my rolfer about it and he said that yes, rolfing is the one thing that helps a lot in scoliosis.

I don't know if there are certified rolfers in your area, but it would be great if there is one.

Try to keep looking for a rolfer. The problem with all these other techniques is that they don't address the persistence of aberrant patterns at the level of the connective tissue which governs the muscle patterns which in turn, govern the skeletal alignment. As long as this is not addressed, in my mind, any sort of skeletal manipulation which makes an improvement is short-term at best. The connective tissue (fascia) will still retain the old patterns. I used to think that the rationale behind chiropractic was to keep dragging the bones back into line and hope the muscles would eventually agree to it. They rarely do, which is why people end up going to chiropractors for decades.

If you can't find a rolfer, try looking for someone who practices myofascial release. It's sort of rolfing-lite. Not as integrated or deep a modality as rolfing, but it may allow her structure to move towards a more normal alignment. Good luck!

 

[Alana]

I too agree with the rolfer advice, Ms T. In fact, our rolfer became one because he had scoliosis and he was treated by a rolfer in his teenage years. He told me that his back never became completely straight, but it make a huge difference to where it was before, he was so impressed that he decided to become a rolfer himself. From knowing him, whatever is left from his scoliosis is not very perceptible unless you know about it (or so was the case when I looked at his back). And your daughter is much younger, so there might be hope for total improvement. Good luck with finding a rolfer or a practitioner of myofacial release, as herondancer suggested.

 

[Gertrudes]

I used to think that the rationale behind chiropractic was to keep dragging the bones back into line and hope the muscles would eventually agree to it. They rarely do, which is why people end up going to chiropractors for decades.

Thanks for putting it so concisely herondancer, that's precisely how I see it.

I would still keep an eye on her improvement after trying out any myofascial release. From my experience, often a combination of both releasing tight muscles while strengthening weak ones is needed.

 

[Mrs.Tigersoap]

I'd try the osteopathy first if you don't want to spend a lot of time at the chiro.

I used to think that the rationale behind chiropractic was to keep dragging the bones back into line and hope the muscles would eventually agree to it. They rarely do, which is why people end up going to chiropractors for decades.

Thanks for putting it so concisely herondancer, that's precisely how I see it.

Wow, that seems to be the general consensus, then. I'm glad I asked because, not knowing any better, I would have started there.

However for the other one, the treatments did not work and the only thing that stopped the progression of the scoliosis was to wear a special corset 23 hours a day as long as her growth was not finished.

Oh, Gandalf, that image of the corset just broke my heart! What your daughter must have gone through! Were doctors ever able to say why both your daughters had this particular problem?

Mrs. Tigersoap, personally I am suspicious of orthotics. Not to say that they don't work, because they do, but when not properly prescribed they can do more harm then good. The problem is that an orthotic prescription is sometimes given by someone who doesn't see the whole picture, the entire body integrated as a whole, and I have had clients whose pelvis has become misaligned due to orthotics. This isn't to say that that's what has happened with your daughter, but just a note of caution.

Two years ago, after remarks from several pediatricians and doctors that her legs were slowly taking the shape of an X (and because I too was in this position as a child and had to wear orthotics), we went to have orthotics made for our daughter by a podiatrist I know. Normally, orthopedic surgeons make those but podiatrists can do them as well here. There is a debate because orthopedic surgeons ask 3 to 5 times more than podiatrists but some argue that they are better at it. Now seeing my daughter's X-ray and the fact that she has been wearing orthotics for 2 years, I wonder if we did not make a terrible mistake: maybe she did not really need them to begin with and this is what caused the scoliosis? Maybe we should have gone to an orthopedic surgeon instead of a podiatrist? I feel terrible about this.

Adding to that, Rolfing also sounds very good, as well as osteopathy and cranial osteopathy itself. She may need a combination of techniques that manipulate her body, with techniques that build up the necessary muscles for it to regain balance.

If you can't find a rolfer, try looking for someone who practices myofascial release. It's sort of rolfing-lite. Not as integrated or deep a modality as rolfing, but it may allow her structure to move towards a more normal alignment. Good luck!

Bizarrely enough, there is no rolfer in the whole of Belgium, but myofascial therapists are a dime a dozen! So I booked an appointment with one for the end of March and she recommended an osteopath with whom she's working and who apparently knows different techniques. We see this ostheopath next week. We'll see what she says. I'll keep you guys informed of any progress.

Thank you all for your help!