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What's this talk of BRACES after surgery??

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  • What's this talk of BRACES after surgery??

    Everyone needs to wear them?

    What are they like and for how long?

    What's it like to put them on? Does one need help? What can you wear over (or under) them? Are they hot? ETC...



    Thank you for any help.
    Not all diagnosed (still having tests and consults) but so far:
    Ehler-Danlos (hyper-mobility) syndrome, 69 - somehow,
    main curve L Cobb 60, compensating T curve ~ 30
    Flat back, marked lumbar kyphosis (grade?) Spondilolisthesis - everyone gives this a different grade too. Cervical stenosis op'd 3-07, minimally invasive

  • #2
    Not everyone has to wear braces. In fact my doctor doesn't normally have his patients wear braces at all. I requested one simply because I am a single mom of two rambunctious boys, and I'm also very independent and typically tend to overdo things. So I thought wearing a brace would prevent me from twisting too much etc. So a lot of doctors don't typically put you in a brace these days.

    What are they like? It's kind of like a turtle shell Mine has three velcro straps on each side, on one side I keep them closed, and just open and close the other side to take the brace on and off. At first it felt kind of awkward, now it feels very easy. It feels like it helps to hold me up, whereas when I'm not wearing it I find it seems harder to hold my back up for some reason, maybe because my back muscles are still building back up from being torn at surgery. I wear a t-shirt underneath it, and yes it can get hot especially when you live in Florida - however I'm always cold maybe due to my meds, and I love the heat (which is why I live in Florida), so being hot is not a problem for me . Hope that helped.
    Lynette - 44 years old.

    Pre-surgery thoracic 55 degrees
    Pre-surgery lumbar 85 degrees

    Post-surgery thoracic 19 degrees
    Post-surgery lumbar 27 degrees

    Surgery April 1st 2010.

    Posterior spinal fusion from T9 to sacrum.
    Dr. Cronen at University Community Hospital - Tampa, FL.

    Comment


    • #3
      Hope that helped
      It sure did! Thanks so much!!

      (Can't believe you're posting so much today. Hope that's a good sign...)

      Take care,

      Amanda
      Not all diagnosed (still having tests and consults) but so far:
      Ehler-Danlos (hyper-mobility) syndrome, 69 - somehow,
      main curve L Cobb 60, compensating T curve ~ 30
      Flat back, marked lumbar kyphosis (grade?) Spondilolisthesis - everyone gives this a different grade too. Cervical stenosis op'd 3-07, minimally invasive

      Comment


      • #4
        Amanda -- My doctor has told me I won't have a brace after surgery. Have no idea what determines who does and who doesn't.

        Glenda
        Glenda
        Age 66 Georgia (63 at time of surgery)
        Bi-lateral laminectomy 2006
        Kyphoscoliosis, approx 38* lumbar scoliosis, stenosis, disk herniations, lower back and hip pain, w/radiating pain, stinging and numbness in legs.
        A/P fusion (T10-S2) 5/17/10 and 5/20/10
        Dr Yoon, Emory Orthopaedic and Spine Hospital, Atlanta, GA
        Pleased with outcome

        Comment


        • #5
          I didn't have a brace post-op.
          Surgery March 3, 2009 at almost 58, now 63.
          Dr. Askin, Brisbane, Australia
          T4-Pelvis, Posterior only
          Osteotomies and Laminectomies
          Was 68 degrees, now 22 and pain free

          Comment


          • #6
            I didnt have one either. I asked the same question...to me, it almost seems with such a long fusion, one would be nessary....but, from what I have been told since, is that the 2 rods and screws installed, is like a permadent brace...keeping your spine/torso from twisting and turning. Perhaps different levels of fusion, surgeons opinions, etc, is what makes or breaks that deal?!




            Lynn
            Lynn -30.... something
            DxD @ 8 yrs old: 10* curve-no brace-no nothin'!
            At age 26: Thorasic 48*/Lumbar 50*
            At age 34: Thorasic 58*/Lumbar 60*
            Posterior T5-L4 Fusion Jan 14th, 2009 w/Dr Tribus
            UW Madison, WI Hospital
            **AFTER: less than 10* Thorasic/15* Lumbar**

            Comment


            • #7
              no brace for me!
              Age 25 at time of correction
              Sergery March 6th, 2009
              T4 to L4

              Comment


              • #8
                My Brace

                Amanda,
                I wore a brace with my first surgery and now with this one too. This brace I am wearing now fastens in the back with 3 velcro straps so I need help putting it on. I wear it 24/7 and Doc said I would have it for 4-6 months post-op. I had a complicated revision and he thought it would be better if I wore a brace. Not all patients wear a brace , and I think it depends on the surgeon, age of the patient, and type of surgery. I wear soft tops underneath mine. It does tend to hold heat in but I too seem to be cold all the time so I like the heat. My only complaint is that I wish the straps weren't in the back so I could be more independent.
                May 2008 Fusion T4 - S1, Pre-op Curves T45, L70 (age 48). Unsuccessful surgery.

                March 18, 2010 (age 50). Revision with L3 Osteotomy, Replacement of hardware T11 - S1 , addition of bilateral pelvic fixation. Correction of sagittal imbalance and kyphosis.

                January 24, 2012 (age 52) Revision to repair pseudoarthrosis and 2 broken rods at L3/L4.

                Comment


                • #9
                  I did not have one either. My surgery was posterior only.
                  __________________________________________
                  Debbe - 50 yrs old

                  Milwalkee Brace 1976 - 79
                  Told by Dr. my curve would never progress

                  Surgery 10/15/08 in NYC by Dr. Michael Neuwirth
                  Pre-Surgury Thorasic: 66 degrees
                  Pre-Surgery Lumbar: 66 degrees

                  Post-Surgery Thorasic: 34 degrees
                  Post-Surgery Lumbar: 22 degrees

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    No brace for me and I was anterior/posterior.
                    Pre-Surgery Lumbar 65 degrees
                    A/P Fusion T10-Pelvis by Dr. Christopher Good
                    Virginia Spine Institute, Reston, VA 3/17/10, 3/18/10
                    Post-Surgery Lumbar 19 degrees, and 2" in height

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      None for me and mine was all posterior. Janet
                      Janet

                      61 years old--57 for surgery

                      Diagnosed in 1965 at age of 13--no brace
                      Thoracic Curve: 96 degrees to 35 degrees
                      Lumbar Curve: 63 degrees to 5 degrees
                      Surgery with Dr. Lenke in St. Louis--March 30, 2009
                      T-2 to Pelvis, and hopefully all posterior procedure.

                      All was posterior along with 2 cages and 6 osteotomies.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        I had one. They are used as a safety measure.

                        Falls are not allowed, especially in the first few weeks.

                        On the subject of braces, I used to ski in a Copes brace 20 years ago, and the perspiration would make me freeze. It was cold while skiing, and hot in the summer. It fit like a glove and was very tight.

                        He might have gone to jail, but the man is a very experianced orthoist and made a great brace, for what its worth. I will give him that.
                        Ed
                        49 yr old male, now 63, the new 64...
                        Pre surgery curves T70,L70
                        ALIF/PSA T2-Pelvis 01/29/08, 01/31/08 7" pelvic anchors BMP
                        Dr Brett Menmuir St Marys Hospital Reno,Nevada

                        Bending and twisting pics after full fusion
                        http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/showt...on.&highlight=

                        My x-rays
                        http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...2&d=1228779214

                        http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...3&d=1228779258

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          I wore one for 6 months.
                          Aug.17,09 Anterior
                          Aug.20,09 Posterior
                          Fused T-10 to Sacral Pelvis
                          Cedars-Sinai
                          Dr.Pashman

                          Sheri 47 years young
                          Husband married 30 years
                          3 kids 29,28,25
                          4 grandkids 10,8,5,3

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Thank you all so much!
                            Mysteriously variable - just like the metal for the hardware and weight loss (and probably anything else I will think to ask)

                            Can you all also please tell me if they can be put on (easily or relatively so) by an adult living alone? Also did the surgeons who used them on you, use them on ALL their patients or was it a pt. determined decision (age, condition, length of fusion etc.)

                            Wondering how many docs have evolving methodologies of things like bracing, choice of metal, incisions sites or whether they always tailor it to the patient.
                            Not all diagnosed (still having tests and consults) but so far:
                            Ehler-Danlos (hyper-mobility) syndrome, 69 - somehow,
                            main curve L Cobb 60, compensating T curve ~ 30
                            Flat back, marked lumbar kyphosis (grade?) Spondilolisthesis - everyone gives this a different grade too. Cervical stenosis op'd 3-07, minimally invasive

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              My Brace

                              Amanda,
                              My brace was custom made after my surgery. If you are living alone, you might mention that to your surgeon before hand and also to the brace guy so they can make it so that it fastens on the side so you can put it on yourself. Mine fastens in the back and is impossible for me to fasten without help. These are good questions to ask during office visit to your doc. Good Luck!
                              May 2008 Fusion T4 - S1, Pre-op Curves T45, L70 (age 48). Unsuccessful surgery.

                              March 18, 2010 (age 50). Revision with L3 Osteotomy, Replacement of hardware T11 - S1 , addition of bilateral pelvic fixation. Correction of sagittal imbalance and kyphosis.

                              January 24, 2012 (age 52) Revision to repair pseudoarthrosis and 2 broken rods at L3/L4.

                              Comment

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