Scoliosis Support Group

Scoliosis affects all ages. Unlike the naturally occurring curves in the spine, scoliosis causes the spine to curve abnormally to the left or right.

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My daughters Cobb measurement HAS to be wrong!

TheaterMom
TheaterMom

Hello everyone, thank you for having me. My daughter went in for an xray of her spine this week, and her doctor called us to tell us she has a 70 degree curve. We were shocked, scared, and beyond emotion at the thought that she may need spinal surgery. She's never had pain, and visually you cannot tell she has scoliosis at all unless you know really what to look for (her doc noticed it last year, and again his year but thought it was minimal, ordered xray just to take note of it). Anyway, we got her xray and from what a 70 degree curve looks like online, her's looks not even close. Her curve seems so much more minimal, and gradiating the full length of her spine (vs. a kink).


I'm an art director who always turns to tech to research and solve things. So I researched scoliosis and the Cobb measurement a ton and did my own measurements of my own. (I'm very thoughrough, and type-A) I did my measurements twice and came up with a 14-15 degree angle. I'd be happy to share images if anyone would like to take a look.


Anyone have experience with a Cobb measurement being way off????

enigmaticloner
enigmaticloner
I do have a 70+ degree curve and it's quite visible indeed, I don't believe I've had any experience with someone giving me an incorrect curve measurement. It could possibly be off a few degrees based on the circumstances I would imagine but a difference like that just shouldn't be happening. Have you already taken your daughter to a different doctor for a 2nd or 3rd opinion?
TheaterMom
TheaterMom
Sure enough, it was WRONG! Turns out it was a SEVEN degree, not seventy! And her bottom curve was 21, exactly what I measured! Whew! No brace, just watching!
enigmaticloner
enigmaticloner
That's good to hear. I'm sure you're relieved.
Jagsgirl
Jagsgirl
How old is your child. My daughter was born with a 45 degree curve. She got cast put on every few months for years. Got her back to about 10 degree. Because we failed to put her in a brace it has shot back up to 25 degrees. She has been in a brace for the last couple years and will be in one until she stops growing. If she doesn't wear it her curve could and more than likely will get worse.