Hi everyone,
This is my first post, so here is a short history. I am 53. (Please read on, I will get to my experience with Spinecor ....The nice part.
Idiopathic scoliosis as a child; wait and see attitude from orthopaedic surgeons until it was decided to operate. I underwent a 12 level spinal fusion in Toronto at age 38, in 1993.
Complications arose, which were finally diagnosed 18 months after the first surgery. The spinal cord itself had been affected, through a tear in the Dura Mater. The Cerebro Spinal fluid was pulsating out of the cord for 18 months, such that it bore a hole in the body of vertebra L1, and the spinal cord got stuck in there. I was in more than agonizing pain. I spent most of my days in bed during those months.
The Dural tear was repaired by a neurosurgeon in April 95, I was 40 years old. The name of this condition is called pseudomeningocele. The orthopaedic surgeon had never seen this, and the neurosurgeon had seen it only once before. The Journal of Neurosurgery at the time reported 13 cases worldwide, all with different causes, i.e. nobody had the same history.
This left me handicapped, I walk with two canes, and I own a wheelchair. My right leg is partly paralyzed. My children were 10 and 12 at the time. My husband was always very supportive. I never could go back to work. Needless to say, pain management has been a near constant occupation. I can write oodles on this and personal growth, but what might be of use here, is writing about the Spinecor, even with a fusion from T4 to L4.
I read of the brace in the Maclean's magazine. I went to see Dre. Louise Marcotte, choropractor, in Montreal on May 7th, 2008, was fitted with the brace, and have been wearing it ever since. It has increased my level of energy three times at least, because I am not always burdened with pain here and there.
It has partly corrected my center of gravity, has relaxed the muscles in my shoulders and neck (walking with canes taxes these muscles). The brace is controlling sacroiliac joint pain very well, because I stand more equally on both legs. My right shoulder is not "clicking" any more, and the referred pain I have had in my left thumb is diminishing significantly. All in all, my pain level is practically nil, the muscle stress reduced, and my quality of life significantly improved. All of this within 4 weeks. No kidding.
I don't sleep with the brace though, my goal is pain management. I do not take pain medication, and have not in the past as much as possible (it has bad side effects).
The Spinecor is a wonderful happening in my life. I am very grateful to Drs. Rivard and Collaird, for their research and ingenuity, and to Dre. Marcotte for her initiative to provide it to adults. I believe children with scoliosis have a great chance of being helped, rather than taking this wait and see attitude. I wish I would have had that chance, instead of simply getting into surgery without other options. Once a fusion is done, there is no going back. It's for life.
I hope this information was useful,
Wishing everyone all the best,
Marie
This is my first post, so here is a short history. I am 53. (Please read on, I will get to my experience with Spinecor ....The nice part.
Idiopathic scoliosis as a child; wait and see attitude from orthopaedic surgeons until it was decided to operate. I underwent a 12 level spinal fusion in Toronto at age 38, in 1993.
Complications arose, which were finally diagnosed 18 months after the first surgery. The spinal cord itself had been affected, through a tear in the Dura Mater. The Cerebro Spinal fluid was pulsating out of the cord for 18 months, such that it bore a hole in the body of vertebra L1, and the spinal cord got stuck in there. I was in more than agonizing pain. I spent most of my days in bed during those months.
The Dural tear was repaired by a neurosurgeon in April 95, I was 40 years old. The name of this condition is called pseudomeningocele. The orthopaedic surgeon had never seen this, and the neurosurgeon had seen it only once before. The Journal of Neurosurgery at the time reported 13 cases worldwide, all with different causes, i.e. nobody had the same history.
This left me handicapped, I walk with two canes, and I own a wheelchair. My right leg is partly paralyzed. My children were 10 and 12 at the time. My husband was always very supportive. I never could go back to work. Needless to say, pain management has been a near constant occupation. I can write oodles on this and personal growth, but what might be of use here, is writing about the Spinecor, even with a fusion from T4 to L4.
I read of the brace in the Maclean's magazine. I went to see Dre. Louise Marcotte, choropractor, in Montreal on May 7th, 2008, was fitted with the brace, and have been wearing it ever since. It has increased my level of energy three times at least, because I am not always burdened with pain here and there.
It has partly corrected my center of gravity, has relaxed the muscles in my shoulders and neck (walking with canes taxes these muscles). The brace is controlling sacroiliac joint pain very well, because I stand more equally on both legs. My right shoulder is not "clicking" any more, and the referred pain I have had in my left thumb is diminishing significantly. All in all, my pain level is practically nil, the muscle stress reduced, and my quality of life significantly improved. All of this within 4 weeks. No kidding.
I don't sleep with the brace though, my goal is pain management. I do not take pain medication, and have not in the past as much as possible (it has bad side effects).
The Spinecor is a wonderful happening in my life. I am very grateful to Drs. Rivard and Collaird, for their research and ingenuity, and to Dre. Marcotte for her initiative to provide it to adults. I believe children with scoliosis have a great chance of being helped, rather than taking this wait and see attitude. I wish I would have had that chance, instead of simply getting into surgery without other options. Once a fusion is done, there is no going back. It's for life.
I hope this information was useful,
Wishing everyone all the best,
Marie
Comment