Scoliosis: Life, Support & Friends

Braces and Plaster Casts Orthotic management of spinal disorders dates back at least to the Middle Ages. Some of the concepts underlying those primitive devices, notably three-point forces, remain valid today. Fabrication materials have progressed from metal and leather to light weight thermoplastics allowing many new designs and a new level of comfort for the patient. Braces help control the curve as you or your child grows. These braces are sometimes prescribed post surgery, along with plaster jackets. I had a plaster cast for 7 months after my Harrington Rod surgery. They are designed to protect the back while the tiny bone ships used for grafting fuse to form a solid bone mass. Unfortunately for me my bone chips have not all formed a solid mass and I now have terrible problems with my donor site. There are many different braces in use today, however, they all present similar problems in finding clothing that is both comfortable and trendy! The Milwaukee Brace Developed by Drs Al Sc...

I'm still counting down - 75 days left. Things to look forward to after surgery, other than pain relief: 1. Having a bra that fits properly. 2. Wearing any pair of shoes I want, without having to get an expensive lift put on. 3. Not having my legs fall asleep all the time (hopefully). 4. Sleeping better! 5. No more limping! 6. No backaches from doing the laundry or dishes, showering, or anything else that requires standing for long periods. 7. Better posture. Things to dread: 1. The insane medical bills. 2. Changes in my ability to bathe, dress, and move. Other than the money ($50,000 and up), everything else I can deal with. At least, I think so. I'm currently fused from T10-L3. It's going to be revised and continued, from T4-S1. Does anyone out there have a fusion this complex? I really want to know what it's like to be fused this much, so I know what to expect. Comment me here or hit me up on Twitter, @oddcupcake.