Diaper Swappers

Mama_K · 02-18-2013, 06:03 PM

Does anyone have experience with a baby who is diagnosed with a tethered cord? I just had a baby three days ago and the pediatrician says he may have a tethered cord. We are having a ultrasound tomorrow but I am just really sad and worried about what this could mean for him.

thtr4me · 02-19-2013, 03:14 PM

No personal experience, but I do know a mama who's DD has very very severe tethering. Most kids have a very normal life following de-tethering, especially if caught before symptoms become too severe.

Has your pedi given you reasons why he believes the cord is tethered? Hoping that you are getting the best news possible during your U/S today, and lots of hugs and love to you and your new little wee one.

mekat · 02-20-2013, 01:53 AM

I wouldn't get too freaked out just yet. Chances are if they are just basing their concerns on a deeper then normal dimple or something superficial things will be fine.

If by chance he does have tethered cord then treatment will depend on the type of tethering and the degree of tethering. I will give you two warnings though.

1. At this young of an age the cord could be tethered but not restricted enough to show up during testing. If in a year or so symptoms show up do what ever you need to do to get someone to take it seriously and order a follow up MRI to double check. Yes, this personally happened with my son.

2. Even the lowest risk tethered cord surgery comes with 5% risk and the risks only get higher the more complex the surgery needs to be. I tell you this because parents of children with tethered cord tend to place emphasis on the risks of leaving things be but no one really talks about the dangers of neurosurgery. You need to make sure you go into this informed about both sides of the problem.

Mama_K · 02-20-2013, 10:50 PM

The ultrasound came back showing no tethering but it does show a small cyst which the pediatrician says we will evaluate further at six months of age.

thtr4me · 02-21-2013, 02:40 PM

So glad you got good news at the ultrasound!

mekat · 02-21-2013, 09:01 PM

Is this the type of cyst they found? http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17024492 If so prognosis looks promising and definitely a problem more easily dealt with then a tethered cord.

I'm not really up on cysts my son has a several spinal abnormalities but cysts are not one of them.

02-18-2013, 06:03 PM	#1
Mama_K Registered Users Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Nebraska Posts: 167 My Mood:	Tethered spinal cord? Does anyone have experience with a baby who is diagnosed with a tethered cord? I just had a baby three days ago and the pediatrician says he may have a tethered cord. We are having a ultrasound tomorrow but I am just really sad and worried about what this could mean for him. __________________ Jesus loving, SAHM married to the man of my dreams since 11/10, mama to dear son born 07/11, new baby boy born 02/15/13 (always missing my baby boy of 20 weeks 12/09)

02-19-2013, 03:14 PM	#2
thtr4me Registered Users Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 2,080 Ratings: 36 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Re: Tethered spinal cord? No personal experience, but I do know a mama who's DD has very very severe tethering. Most kids have a very normal life following de-tethering, especially if caught before symptoms become too severe. Has your pedi given you reasons why he believes the cord is tethered? Hoping that you are getting the best news possible during your U/S today, and lots of hugs and love to you and your new little wee one. __________________ Cristina, Mama to Michael 03-16-06 , Nathan 01-16-11, and an angel 01-20-09 Go with your gut, follow your heart. Mosaic Moon Yarn Co-op! Open thru May 29 http://hyenacart.com/phpbb/viewtopic...er=asc&start=0

02-20-2013, 01:53 AM	#3
mekat Registered Users Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,612 Ratings: 2 Feedback: 100%	Re: Tethered spinal cord? I wouldn't get too freaked out just yet. Chances are if they are just basing their concerns on a deeper then normal dimple or something superficial things will be fine. If by chance he does have tethered cord then treatment will depend on the type of tethering and the degree of tethering. I will give you two warnings though. 1. At this young of an age the cord could be tethered but not restricted enough to show up during testing. If in a year or so symptoms show up do what ever you need to do to get someone to take it seriously and order a follow up MRI to double check. Yes, this personally happened with my son. 2. Even the lowest risk tethered cord surgery comes with 5% risk and the risks only get higher the more complex the surgery needs to be. I tell you this because parents of children with tethered cord tend to place emphasis on the risks of leaving things be but no one really talks about the dangers of neurosurgery. You need to make sure you go into this informed about both sides of the problem. Last edited by mekat; 02-20-2013 at 01:57 AM.

02-20-2013, 10:50 PM	#4
Mama_K Registered Users Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Nebraska Posts: 167 My Mood:	Re: Tethered spinal cord? The ultrasound came back showing no tethering but it does show a small cyst which the pediatrician says we will evaluate further at six months of age. __________________ Jesus loving, SAHM married to the man of my dreams since 11/10, mama to dear son born 07/11, new baby boy born 02/15/13 (always missing my baby boy of 20 weeks 12/09)

02-21-2013, 02:40 PM	#5
thtr4me Registered Users Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 2,080 Ratings: 36 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Re: Tethered spinal cord? So glad you got good news at the ultrasound! __________________ Cristina, Mama to Michael 03-16-06 , Nathan 01-16-11, and an angel 01-20-09 Go with your gut, follow your heart. Mosaic Moon Yarn Co-op! Open thru May 29 http://hyenacart.com/phpbb/viewtopic...er=asc&start=0