Tethered Cord? What the Heck?

Bean is now 14 months old and what a ride it has been.  Part of the reason I haven't been able to blog is all we have been going through since her premature birth.  She is a fighter though, and not just any kiddo could come home at 3lbs 13oz! She may be tiny (still just 18 lbs.) but she is mighty!

Our latest dealing has been with the neurosurgeon.  It turns out that after her pediatrician, to whom I refer to as Doogie Howser, or actually her former pediatrician finally got it right.  Doogie has sent us to specialist after specialist, because apparently in medicine, the equivilent of crying wolf is sending their patients to every known specialist JUST in case. So after replacing said Doogie, and going on our fifth specialist, there was finally a diagnosis, for something Bean had no symptoms for save for two small dimples on her tookas.

Those dimples lead to the referral to see the Neuro who recommended an MRI.  Now an MRI for a baby is no small deal.  Bean had to actually be generally sedated.  Can you say scary????  I have seen Grey's Anatomy enough to know that some people do not wake from Anesthesiology for no known reason sometimes.  Well Bean did wake, and much to my relief didn't have any of the side affects of anesthesia at all.

After the MRI came back, we have the diagnosis of Tethered Cord Syndrome.  This is no small deal either!!!  I had no idea there was anything out there like this.  You know unless you go through most things in life, we are blissfully ignorant of the possibilities.  So to break it down easily I am borrowing from the website from Boston Children's Hospital Neurology:
  
The term tethered spinal cord refers to any condition in which the spinal cord is attached to an immovable structure. Normally the bottom of the spinal cord, called the conus medullaris, floats freely within a pool of spinal fluid. There are, however, an array of pathologic conditions that cause tethering of the cord. This leads to abnormal stretching with growth and movement, which over time can lead to the characteristic symptoms of tethered spinal cord, including muscle weakness, sensory loss, change in bowel or bladder control, and orthopedic deformity. 

We are indeed blessed, because of these dimples, Bean will have the surgery next week, on Veteran's day.  She will be going in, and will be in the ICU.  I hope to be able to get more information out about tethered cord syndrome.  It is treatable, and early detection, can save you from disastrous damage later.  Have a look at the website.  If you or anyone you know has any worries, ask your pediatrician to refer you for a Neuro consult.  In Bean's case, barring anything going wrong, she will go on to have a normal life, with no ill effects.  Finding out later, or ignoring Doogie's hundreth referral, could have posed life long challenges for Bean.  Be proactive in your health and that of your children!