A Short Update

Early this week, we met with the chiropractor to determine a course of treatment to help with Brittany's recent scoliosis diagnosis.  Several of you left such encouraging comments on that post, and some of you emailed me privately - all were very much appreciated!  I thought I'd let you know how things turned out on Monday.

First, I gotta say that I felt like crying when I saw her xrays up on the screen.  For some reason, I had in my mind that I would see one very small curve - more straight than rounded. But Oh.My.Gosh.  That was not what I saw.  I wondered quietly how there could possibly be any help for such a crazy, S-shaped spine!?  Britt has not one, but three curves in her back.  The one in her neck is very small and hardly noticeable.  The biggest one, in the middle, is a 34° curve and is rated "moderate".  The smaller, "mild" 19° curve below that, which goes the other way, the chiropractor thinks is to compensate for what's going on in Britt's upper back.  At any rate, it was very hard for this Mama to look at with any degree of hope.

For the next two months, Dr. Liz would like to see Brittany twice a week.  After that, once a week for a month, and then twice a month from then on.  She really encouraged consistency in treatment, and I guess I can see her reasoning in that.  Too bad it's 80 miles away, round trip.  I just have to look beyond the obligations of both time and money, trust that this investment is what's best for her - both now, and in the long run, and choose to be thankful that options even exist!

Along with continued chiropractic care, Dr. Liz also recommended buying an inverse gravity machine.  Perhaps it was my confused expression that caused her to explain further.  =)  For those like me who don't know what that is: it's a contraption that would enable Brittany to hang upside down while being strapped in by her ankles.  She would have to start VERY slowly, and increase to hanging upside down twice a day for 10 minutes each time.  Sounds weird, eh?  And maybe a bit like cruel and unusual punishment?  But she explained that for a cost of $150 - $200, this machine would greatly relieve stress on the spine, and can be of help with the issue of spinal straightening to some extent.  So I'm off to explore torture devices inverse gravity machines.

Thanks again for your comments and emails.  They have certainly benefitted me as a Mom, and been such an encouragement to my heart.  More often than not, we just share the good stuff on our blogs, portraying the image that all is well, all the time.  But we all know that real life happens, and sometimes it's not pretty.  Sometimes it just plain hurts.  When we take the risk and become a little more transparent with others, we allow them to come alongside and help to lighten our load.  That's what you guys have done for me this last week.  Thank you!