Why not brace after surgery?

[titaniumed]

They keep calling all the time, and I sometimes run out of room, due to limited space...

Ive aged a little. LOL
Ed

[rohrer01]

Ed, you're too funny. You really do make this forum, eh em... entertaining!

Thanks for the smiles!

[naptown78]

Hi...

If you want to wear a brace 24/7, I suspect that could be arranged. ;-)

I can tell you that after surgery, your nighttime movements will be far less active than they are now. Everything changes. I can't remember ever hearing that someone's movements during sleep caused a problem with the implants.

Many surgeons have stopped bracing because they feel it causes atrophy to the core muscles. The newer implant systems are so secure in the hands of a really skilled surgeon that the amount of movement to dislodge anything is beyond what a normal postop patient would even attempt. Also, some of these surgeons are using a brace for just a few months,

I think it's really rare that a surgeon tells a patient to wear a brace 24/7.

Regards,
Linda

I wore a brace 24/7 after my revision surgery for about 3 months , yes even while sleeping! I got used to it after awhile...I think the reason was because my surgery was so complicated, and I had a hx of an area of non-healing from the first surgery. It did help with pain control too.
Amanda, Linda is right, your sleep movements after surgery slow down. I padded myself with so many pillows, there is no way I could really move much! A bed rail is really unecessary...don't buy stuff you don't need.
Ed...I'm upset I didn't get a cool brace like yours!

[titaniumed]

Thanks.

I have a very fast laptop, but working off an air-card. In order for me to respond quickly on a roll, I cannot make any mistakes!

I also have a million icons on my desktop, which is insane. You guys are lucky Im not posting engineering specifications. At work, the computers are lightning fast, but Im not there today, and dont usually post from work if Im busy.

Ed

[golfnut]

Ed,
Loved the tinman picture! I cracked up and then went one to see the next picture where you house the women of your life. I'm so glad this forum has people that have a sense of humor!

[Back-out]

Amanda, Linda is right, your sleep movements after surgery slow down.

My God, even my SLEEP movements are going to be slow? Egad!! Is that because pain wakes us up subliminally and we stop rustling around? No kidding. What's the mechanism?

[leahdragonfly]

Amanda,

I'm guessing it's a combo of pain and the effects of narcotics (rather than exposure to rhBMP).

[Confusedmom]

For those of you who have had surgery + a post-surgical brace as well as wearing a brace as a teenager, does it feel kind of like the teen-age brace?

FWIW, I have had 2 docs recommend full-time bracing post-surgery for me and one (Bridwell) saying it's not necessary. Dr. Gupta in Chicago said he prefers to brace long fusions even though "it is a bit old-fashioned." So, I guess the surgeons are just deciding whether it's more important to give every possible protection to the fusion or to preserve the muscles from atrophying. (Mine did atrophy with the adolescent brace, so I know what that's about. It's not a totally bad thing--I had the smallest waist back then because it was literally skin and bone. Hmmm, maybe I'll ask for that brace again! )

Evelyn

[Back-out]

For those of you who have had surgery + a post-surgical brace as well as wearing a brace as a teenager, does it feel kind of like the teen-age brace?

It's not a totally bad thing--I had the smallest waist back then because it was literally skin and bone. Hmmm, maybe I'll ask for that brace again! )

NON small waists are that way because of an excess of muscles? I think NOT.

Never mind. I think I know what you mean. Recently was examining some gravures of corseted females from way back when. Talk about hideous spinal (and breathing and other) problems induced from wrongly managed postural problems! We have it easy today. No wonder middle and upper class women then had a much shorter lifespan than working class. Giving birth was like forcing the baby through a funnel!

[kennedy]

Ed your so funny you make me laugh

[LisaB]

I'm having surgery with Dr Bridwell Aug 31 from T3 or T4 to my sacrum. He said that I won't need a brace. As Linda said in her comments the new hardware they use is very secure apparently. I'm just glad I won't have to wear one.

[Susie*Bee]

Ed-- after seeing the pic of your little place... I'm kinda glad it didn't work out for you to stop by that time you were out this way for a wedding. You might have felt uncomfortable at my house by comparison... http://farm1.static.flickr.com/219/4...56bc88.jpg?v=0 BTW-- Is your last name Hearst? (not that I would recognize that place...) Of course, you know it would have been fun to get together and chat if that had worked out. Hey, do you remember seeing the pics of Ginger's brother's place, in her blog??? When she hosted Dr. Boachie for breakfast that one time? Pretty classy! Take care, mon ami!

[Susie*Bee]

I'm having surgery with Dr Bridwell Aug 31 from T3 or T4 to my sacrum. He said that I won't need a brace. As Linda said in her comments the new hardware they use is very secure apparently. I'm just glad I won't have to wear one.

Lisa-- that's great. I'd be willing to bet you are fairly young too, with a good strong spine, even if it's scoliotic. You'll be that much ahead of some of us, so that's great. I bet you're anxious to get your surgery over with and be on the road to recovery! Best wishes!

[LisaB]

Thanks SusieBee, but I'm actually one of the more mature girls. I just turned 56 in June. I probably need to add that to my signature. And I have to start on Forteo because actually my spine bone density isn't so good even though the my hip and wrist/forearm are normal. Dr B doesn't seem to think that's an issue as long as I go on Forteo and stay on it for the 2 year time period. So I'm working on getting that set up. But at this point they are still saying no brace. We'll wait to see what happens in surgery.

[golfnut]

I'm another "mature" girl and will be 60 when I have the surgery. Dr. Lenke's office has said I probably won't need a brace, so it must not be based on age. I will also have a long fusion, so that must not be a major factor either. That's fine with me as long as I don't make a wrong move getting out of bed or forgetting when doing something and accidentally twist or bend . . .. Apparently the pain helps remind you not to make those moves! Not looking forward to the pain, but it's to be expected. I started this post and I appreciate the answers. It just seems weird that some surgeons currently require braces post surgery while others don't recommmend it at all.