Scoliosis Surgery: What I Wish I Knew 5 Days Before 💙 | Severe Cerebral Palsy PT #12

🌟 What I Wish I Had Known Before Scoliosis Surgery — Meet Jack 💙 Pediatric Physical Therapy I’m so glad you’re here. Please meet my wonderful co-instructor Jack 👦🏼. Jack is 13 years old and has spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy (GMFCS Level V). Jack also has a seizure disorder, cortical vision impairment, scoliosis, and complex medical needs. He wears a cochlear implant and hearing aid and receives all nutrition through a G-tube. Jack has had previous orthopedic surgeries including femoral derotation and heel-cord lengthenings. And most importantly — he is truly delightful. ✨ Jack is scheduled for scoliosis surgery in just a few days. In this video, I share what families often say they wish they had known before going through this surgery. Many parents are surprised by how significant the recovery is. While the hospital stay is typically about 5–10 days, the overall recovery often takes 6–12 weeks, with several months needed to fully adjust to new positioning and routines. After surgery, children are often much straighter — sometimes gaining height — but the spine is no longer flexible. This means families must relearn many daily care activities, including transfers, dressing, bathing, and positioning. Another common surprise is how much equipment needs to change. Wheelchairs, seating systems, and supports often need to be modified to fit the child’s new alignment. Pain and fatigue are also important considerations. Even with good pain management, the first week can be difficult, and fatigue may last for several months. This is also a stressful time for families. However, research and parent reports consistently show that most families are very pleased with the outcome. Improvements are often seen in sitting balance, comfort, positioning, ease of care, and breathing. One of the most important things families share is this: they wish they had known earlier that scoliosis is very common in children with more severe cerebral palsy. In fact, 70–90% of children with similar involvement will develop progressive scoliosis. If you are preparing for scoliosis surgery or supporting a child through it, I hope this video helps you feel more informed and prepared. 🕒 Video Chapters 0:00 Introduction & meet Jack 0:25 What families wish they knew 1:10 Recovery expectations 2:00 Changes after surgery 3:00 Equipment considerations 3:40 Pain and fatigue 4:20 Family stress and outcomes 5:00 What parents wish they had known earlier 🎯 Key topics discussed 🦴 What to expect before and after scoliosis surgery 🪑 Changes in positioning and equipment 🛠 Adjusting daily care routines after surgery 🫁 Improvements in comfort and breathing 📈 Realistic recovery timelines 💙 Parent perspectives and experiences 🌍 Who this video is for This video may be helpful for: 👨🏽‍👩🏼‍👧 Families of children with cerebral palsy 👩🏾‍⚕️👨🏼‍⚕️ Therapists working with children at GMFCS IV–V 👩🏽‍🏫 Educators and caregivers supporting children with significant motor needs 🧑🏾‍🦽 Anyone preparing for scoliosis surgery ⚠️ Important note This video is shared for educational purposes only. Every child with cerebral palsy is different. Please speak with your child’s physician or therapist before making medical or therapy decisions. 📚 My Children’s & Professional Physical Therapy Books “P is for Poop and Pee Accidents” https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BLSRJ483 “A is for Anxiety” https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09LXQ3W6V “A is for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder” https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08QH9H5HR “C is for Cerebral Palsy” https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088TSJCYP “D is for Down Syndrome” https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079P8HH49 “A is for Autism” https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071F4FFTB “Pediatric Physical Therapy Strengthening Exercises for the Hips” https://www.amazon.com/dp/0998156736 “Pediatric Physical Therapy Strengthening Exercises for the Knees” http://www.amazon.com/dp/0998156760 “Pediatric Physical Therapy Strengthening Exercises for the Ankles” https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08TX2ZCFD ✨ Watch More Videos with Jack Jack’s Playlist → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAkJbMrHyKjM8cf4VN1tDJr3WVctwiPSI My email: amysturkey@gmail.com Please remember I cannot provide treatment recommendations for a child that I have not personally evaluated. 🌍 Captions I review and correct all captions for accuracy. To turn captions on or change the language: CC → Settings → Subtitles/CC → Auto-translate If captions cover important parts of the video, they can be turned off using the CC button. 👉🏽 Don’t forget to subscribe for weekly videos and tap the 🔔 so you never miss an update!