Update to my injured cheerleader

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Update to my injured cheerleader
2
Tue, 01-02-2007 - 7:32pm

Dd 14 saw the sports medicine doc right before Christmas break. She apparently has Spina Bifida Occulta - a fairly normal occurance that is a mild form of the Spina Bifida we have all heard about. Supposedly, up to 10% of the population has this but never know about it until they have xrays of their spine. The xrays did show some stress fractures of her spine as well (the spondylosis). They did not do any xrays of her leg, but he did refer her out to a physical therapist as her legs are extremely muscular, but she has no strength in them.

The physical therapist started with her ankle and felt some scar tissue around her ankle where she had sprained it. He also noted that her hips were uneven and "pushed it back in place?". He also pointed out her back - the left side is quite muscular and developed, yet the ride side caves in. There is a possibility of her sciatic nerve being affected or it could just be some smaller nerves that are affected by her 2 back issues. Time will tell with that one. She is slightly knock-kneed and flat-footed and cheering with these conditions has just affected her over time, especially in her shorter leg (the right leg).

So basically, we just need to take her out back and shoot her!! JK She has to go to physical therapy twice a week and do additional exercises at home. She sees the sports med dr in 3 weeks and 6 weeks for possibly more xrays and/or mri. Neither doctor seems to think she is done cheering for good. For the moment, she is done for 3 weeks and possibly 6 weeks (the entire season).

I honestly didn't listen too well to the sports med. dr - I kinda froze up when he said Spina Bifida and should have asked more questions, but dd was sitting right there and I didn't want to scare her to death. So far she is taking all this in stride. I think she is just relieved to know what is going on and, atleast at this point, it is fixable.




iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 01-02-2007 - 8:56pm

Id freeze at Spina Bifada too!

DS3 was recently dx'd with scoliosis-his spine is 15 degrees off. I gather this is within the normal borderline realm but it certainly freaked me out. He had a full spinal series of Xrays so I guess hes clear of what you speak of. I think all we do is monitor but I admit I feel I need to talk to the dr some more after your posts

Hope all continues to be reasonably positive

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-14-2006
Wed, 01-03-2007 - 6:35am

Wow - how scary! Hope your DD does well in PT and is back to normal activities soon.

((HUGS))

Sue