Hi Jessie
do you also have scoliosis?
I ask because I found chiropractic methods to be extremely painful for my back. Everyone is different of course but with scoliosis... i would just make sure that you've thoroughly researched this condition relative to this sort of treatment.
I'm glad she won't need surgery. Of course, carrying a baby and books and such is much more of a strain. The only time my curvature got above 30-deg was when we moved into a new house. I was sixteen and the ortho assured me that my epiphyses (openings at the ends of the finger bones) had closed over. This is generally accepted as the point in time when young women stop growing. But the fatigue and strain of lifting heavy boxes and carrying them up stairs and such apparently fatigued the muscles around the spine. Caused me more pain and put the curve at 33-deg (my ortho operated at
35-deg. it did "spring back" so to speak so it was temporary and caused by the physical strain only. But... this sure could be a big part of the problem.
Anyway - just passing on info by way of my personal experience. I don't know what exercise she is doing if any. Back strengthening exercises can be very helpful but they have to be consistent. I've found some of the basic Pilates stuff to do well at strengthening the "girdle" area - both front and back. These are very similar to the exercises prescribed by my doc in the 70s and 80s. basically crunches and leg stretches (where the crunch is held, and the legs alternatively brought to the chest then stretched out.) I have also found some of the *gentle* yoga poses to relieve some of the associated pain (I tend to have shooting pains through my gut, into my arms and legs that started with the scoliosis, not the lupus)
best wishes, kcat