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Chiropractors/spina bifida occulta
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Question
My 4 year old has had progressive back/leg pain to the point of waking up at night with back pain and unwillingness to walk due to the leg pain. Also has been having headaches. Spinal xrays showed spina bifida occulta per radiologist's report. I am awaiting results of head and spine MRI. Almost all of the info I have found states SB occulta usually requires no treatment. I am worried about chronic pain issues and most of all want to be aware of all options before we see the neurosurgeon regarding the MRI results. What are non surgical treatment options for symptomatic SB occulta kids? Do you have any suggestions for where I could go for more information? Thank you very much for your time. I appreciate any insight that you can offer.
Dear Steph,
First of all, it is correct that spina bifida occulta is not normally a condition that actually requires any treatment or causes any pain. It is commonly found on x-rays in adults when they had never even known it to exist. That being said, it can become inflamed depending on the exact location, the extent of the defect, or if he had a fall that stressed the area.
The best conservative treatment for any low back pain is chiropractic care. It is very safe, even more so in children, and has a great success ration in controlling and even eliminating pain. If the MRI's come back without any indication of spinal cord defect or space occupying lesion, then a chiropractic evaluation and management would be appropriate.
We actually treat quite a few young kids in our practice. The youngest I have ever adjusted was only two hours old for cranial and upper neck issues, but low back pain in children although not common, is usually easy to alleviate. For more information on pediatric chiropractic care I would check out the information on the International Chiropractic Associations website through their counsel on pediatrics. You can access this in formation at www.icpa4kids.org
Good luck Steph.
Respectfully,
Dr. J. Shawn Leatherman
www.suncoasthealthcare.net
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Dr. J. Shawn Leatherman
Expertise
I can answer questions on general chiropractic care, sports injury, whiplash and auto crash, mild traumatic brain injury, structural and functional rehabilitation of the spine, nutrition for inflammation and repair, fitness training, nutrition for sports performance and other general health and nutrition related inquiries. I currently lecture on automobile trauma, occupant kinematics, and forensic risk analysis to local EMS, Fire and Police, as well as nutrition and sports injury to community groups. Rest assured all answers are generated from my clinical experience, and scientific research.
Experience
I have accumulated over 1100 hours of post-doctoral training to include; Certifications in Spinal Trauma and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury from the Spine Research Institute of San Diego, Certification in Chiropractic Spinal Trauma from the International Chiropractic Association, Certification in Low Speed Auto Crash Reconstruction and Certification in Forensic Risk Analysis from The Center for Research Into Automotive Safety and Health, Certified Proficiency in spinal and extremity diagnostic procedures from The Motion Palpation Institute, Certified in Sports Injury and Rehabilitation from the National University of Health Sciences and The American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians, Nationally Certified Fellow of Structural Rehabilitation from The Chiropractic Biophysics Organization, and I have advanced training in manipulation under anesthesia and nutrition. Feel free to check out my website for course listings: www.suncoasthealthcare.net
Organizations
International Chiropractic Association, Florida Chiropractic Association, American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians, American Academy of Pain Management, Chiropractic Biophysics, Spine Research Institute of San Diego, Center for Research Into Automotive Safety and Health, Motion Palpation Organization, American Academy of Manual and Physical Medicine, Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce
Education/Credentials
B.A. (Psychology)The University of Cincinnati
B.S. (Human Biology)Cleveland Chiropractic College
D.C. (Doctor of Chiropractic) Cleveland Chiropractic College
C.C.S.T. (Certification in Chiropractic Spinal Trauma)The International Chiropractic Association
C.C.S.P. (Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician)The American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians.
*CCST and CCSP 120 hour certification courses are not recognized by the Florida Chiropractic Board due to the fact that they are not 300 hour diplomate level courses*
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