need to know what to do now

My daughter was diagnosed with scoliosis in Febuary 2009. Her doctor prescribed a boston tslo brace for her back. I went to an orthotist and her brace was made in March 2009. In April she saw her doctor and an xray was taken in her brace and it was making beautiful adjustments, fitting her well and I was told the brace was well made. On the 21st of May I returned to the office her brace was made because it needed new velcro straps(simple change). The gentleman that did her measurements and her brace wasnt in, he said just leave the brace for the straps to be replaced. The office personnal said the orthotist on had to see her to make sure the brace was fitting right. When he came in he immediately started saying things were wrong with her brace and asking her if places hurt her or were uncomfortable, my daughter said no it doesnt bother her. He said it had to be fixed any way. The brace was returned to my home late Friday night. We put it on my daughter and by late morning Sat. she was crying because of the pain in her chest. Holiday weekend so now she was out of her brace because it was too painful to wear it. We go back to the office Tuesday morning and they address only one area where she has pain which is the pelvic area where the bone is very prominent and you can see the brace rubbing. Wednesday morning I get a call her brace is again ready, so back we go. Now they have added a padded cup like thing to protect the bone and inform me she needs to see her doctor. Wednesday night Im at the doctor and her skin on her hip is all red and irratated from this new extension to her brace and she is having pain in her chest. The P.A at her doctors office told her take that thing off your in too much pain because anyone could see how much it hurt her. The orthotists office calls me while in the doctors office and says I can come in Thursday morning 10am to see yet another orthotist. I go there only to get the same man plus another man telling me that the adjustments were necessary and they need to speak with her doctor before they can or will do anything further. I drive back home and my phone rings they want me to bring her back again to put the brace back where it was. I drive all the way back they try to undo the original adjustment and tell me there all fixed. They put my daughters brace back on and I bring her home and in two hours the chest pain starts and I release the straps a bit. In four hours both bones in her pelvic region are hurting. Again they refer me to her doctor. When I call his office Im told these people were told either fix it or redo the brace. Now its Friday May 29th and they say they cant start redoing the brace til Tuesday. I said my daughter is losing time on her treatment and was told that was my choice. How do I make a 12 year old wear a brace 22 hours a day that causes enough pain to make her cry and at this point I dont even know if the brace is supporting her right. Now it will be next week before a new brace is started and it takes 5 to 7 business days to make the new one. The first one took two weeks. so she will lose almost a month of treatment. My daughter has a 27degree curve and a 17degree curve it forms an s with her spine. This curve formed in less then a year. They also tell me I cant see the gentleman that did the brace originally for some reason they wont say. Im afraid of what the next brace will be like and that they dont listen to the fact that my daughter wasnt in pain and wore her brace without complaint prior to this so called adjustment he had to make when all myself and my daughter asked him to do was change the straps.. Can someone please help me and advise me on how to proceed. I stated I didnt want to see the gentleman I saw the first day of this nightmare and was told by him I have no choice he is the head practioner there and its not up to me.

You are a paying customer---you can see whomever you want.

If you are not satisfied, fire the whole lot of them and start over with someone more reputable. Ask for recommendations. Do you have insurance and there is no other provider?

Is the treatment supposed to be uncomfortable? I mean---I know the dear child cannot be in continual pain, but often times things such as braces are uncomfortable for a short period of time. Are they telling you this is expected? ( I don't mean improper fit, I mean fitting properly and working effectively).

I have a special needs child as well so I know how you feel watching them hurt or suffer. My heart goes out to you.

I don't see that your problem is malpractice---just classic red tape baloney. Frustrating, but not really illegal.

Good luck to you and your daughter.

I have insurance but it only pays so much per year for the braces she needs and he has already billed for more then half of my allowance for the 2009 calender year so it prevents me from going elsewhere. I am a mother of 5 and we live on one income so I can be home to raise and care for my children. He wants to bill for a second brace because he messed up the first one. I contacted my insurance company they have to pay for it even tho he made it so it cant be worn. I would love nothing more then to go elsewhere but I dont feel I should have to pay for another brace this one is only 10 weeks old

the treatment can be somewhat uncomfortable as a child adjusts to a brace but she had gone thru the adjustment period already and was happy wearing her brace. Also chest pain is never an acceptable discomfort which is what she has