The unfortunate year of the back brace

Kaelie is a little trooper! Dance competition season this year was pretty scary. We had 3 competitions this year all pretty close together. About a month before the first competition, I picked up Kaelie early from dance because her hip was hurting and she could barely walk. We iced, soaked in epsom salts and she got a little better. She got through the first competition but it was painful. Her hip quit turning out and so we went to chiropracters and doctors who helped her get her hip unlocked through the Graston method. The 2nd competition was frustrating. I ended up taking her to the emergency room because she couldn't walk. A back x-ray came out normal and they told us to follow up with ortho if it didn't get better with rest. We went to hte hip ortho who told us to just rest. We missed the last competition, and totally went to physical therapy and doctors almost every day. It took thousands of dollars and 2 months to finally diagnose that she had 2 fractures in her L5 along with a disc bulge at L4. She wore a brace for 2 months and totally quit dancing. Life totally changed for Kaelie. She was one dedicated dancer who couldn't dance. Her attitude has been great. One dr. told her it may never heal and after that appointment when we got in the car she said " I don't care what that Dr. said, I'm going to heal." I just love her positive outlook! She missed the Headliner show at school along with her dance recital. Now...the brace is off and national dance competition is in 2 weeks. She had to give up all of her flexy dances and will be competing only 3 numbers. But she is doing well as we have been taking ballet classes for physical therapy and she is slowly getting back into the swing of her normal lifestyle...dancing all the time. Here's hoping she can dance to her hearts content again!!!