Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

New Boston Brace

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • New Boston Brace

    Hey I'm 15. I just got my boston bace about a week ago, and so far It hasn't been fun. I can barely breathe, I'm having chest pains, my ribs hurt, and it's just plain tough to deal with!! I have a 45 degree curve up near my shoulder blades and a 25 near my hips. The doctor wanted to do surgery, but I'm a full time dancer, so he wanted to leave it until it's absolutely necessary. Can anyone just share some stories or give some support? Give me some pointers on how to sit down or sleep comfortably? anything? It feels like no one else understands how hard this is.

    -- <3
    ********************
    curves:
    47 T
    25 L

    got my boston brace on Jan. 13, 2009


    i haven't had in-brace x-rays yet but I am getting them on March 4th

  • #2
    Hey~ Let me just start off with saying that I am so sorry you are going through this. It is really tough. I had the Milwaukee brace from 2nd grade-6th grade and stopped wearing it because nobody understood. I ended up having surgery in 7th grade (my curves doubled in 1 year from not wearing the brace), which was now 14 years ago, I am 26.

    I am not totally familiar with the brace you have but the bottom of it is the same as mine was. I wish I could tell you a comfortable way to sit right now, but there really aren't any. Eventually though, your body will get more used to the brace and adjust so that you really don't even notice it. If you kind of sit leaning forward a bit, I do know that helps. It at least stops the brace from pushing up in the back.

    Your hips and ribs and everything will get better as the brace does its job and starts to move things the way they should be. You might start to notice that your skin gets rubbed raw a bit, especially anywhere around the edges of the brace. You can get this stuff called "Mole Skin" or something similar that is like a bandage. We used to stick it right onto the brace where it was rubbing and that really helped. Also, they used to say that you should use rubbing alcohol on your skin to help calus it up where the edges of the brace were...I am not gonna lie to you. It really hurts but it really works. It will help to build a tough layer so your skin doesn't get irritated as much. It eventually goes away when you stop, but takes a few months (so its not perminent).

    I really feel for you. When I first got my brace I couldn't eat, sit, lay down or do anything. Trust me though, it will get easier. I know the surgery part seems scary too, but it was the best thing I have ever done and 14 years later, I don't have any problems to report.

    Comment


    • #3
      Thanks

      its so great to hear from someone that has gone through the same thing. All I've been hearing is "I wish I could help you but I can't". I know they're all trying to help. But it gets annoying
      ********************
      curves:
      47 T
      25 L

      got my boston brace on Jan. 13, 2009


      i haven't had in-brace x-rays yet but I am getting them on March 4th

      Comment


      • #4
        Hang in there, T Nizzle. My daughter started wearing her brace last February and I remember her in tears the first few days. But after a few weeks, her body adjusted and she got used to it. My daughter's largest curve was a 48 degree right thoracic curve (near the shoulder blades, as you mentioned) too. She finds that sleeping on her left side helps, maybe because then gravity is pulling her thoracic curve in the same way that the brace is pushing it? My daughter is also 15 and is a competitive swimmer. If you would like to contact her, send me a PM and I'll give you her contact info.

        Comment


        • #5
          I know! Everyone tries to help and comfort you and tell you how sorry they are but until they have gone through it, they really don't know. I am sure that people are just trying to be there for you and let you know they care and support you.

          How many hours a day do you have to wear it?

          I had 3 curves and while I was in the brace they remained the same, top 30s, middle 40s, bottom 20s. When I went in for my surgery my top was 60s, middle 80s, and bottom 50s. I Know it really stinks to wear it but they do work.

          Forgot to mention, I always slept on my back. I had to "poles" that went along my whole back and one on the front and a hoop around my neck. Ugh thinking about it makes me feel like I am wearing it again.

          Hang in there!

          Comment


          • #6
            the brace

            Right now I only have to wear it 12 hours a day. They told me to do 20 hours at first, but after about 2 days of wearing the brace my back started bruising and fluid was building up in my back between my ribs. So for now we're sticking with 12 hours a day! So I've just been wearing it at home and when I sleep. I wore it to school today. It went surprisingly well. I had to take it off after about 4 hours because sitting and carrying my backpack became a problem. But I'm pretty proud of myself !!!
            ********************
            curves:
            47 T
            25 L

            got my boston brace on Jan. 13, 2009


            i haven't had in-brace x-rays yet but I am getting them on March 4th

            Comment


            • #7
              Yeah! That is so great that you wore it to school! How did it go? 4 hours at a time is so great! Did they say you should try to do 12 hours in a row or can you break it up?

              Are you getting a lot of questions about it? After my surgery people were asking me so many questions it was crazy! I ended up doing a presentation about my surgery to a bunch of different health classes to make up for not being in school for over a month. It actually worked out great because then nobody asked me about it! LOL!

              Comment


              • #8
                school

                it went pretty well. It's just the little things I didn't think of that were hard. Like sitting in my brace in the chair then having to bend over to get a pencil from my backpack. I didn't even think of those things!! I've been getting SO many questions. Mostly people asking if they can punch me in the stomach lol. I consider myself pretty lucky to be in the boston brace though. I looked up pictures of the Milwaukee brace and it looks HORRIBLE!! I would go insane.
                ********************
                curves:
                47 T
                25 L

                got my boston brace on Jan. 13, 2009


                i haven't had in-brace x-rays yet but I am getting them on March 4th

                Comment


                • #9
                  Hi

                  I will also soon be in a brace as of this tuesday. Uh-oh im really scared i need help on whay to wear anyone got tips?????\



                  36 degree top
                  28 degree lower
                  scared to death
                  help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    starbinky!!!

                    HEY!!! I got mine 13 days ago!! Ask me about anything!!! It would be great to talk about some stuff. I'll send you a personal message!
                    ********************
                    curves:
                    47 T
                    25 L

                    got my boston brace on Jan. 13, 2009


                    i haven't had in-brace x-rays yet but I am getting them on March 4th

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Oh I was going to tell you too... I know I was reading on here that people are wearing bodysuits under their brace. I am not sure what you are wearing, but I always wore a wife beater tank top. I would get a smaller one than I should have. The material was thin so it didn't bunch up and I didn't have to take everything off to go to the bathroom.

                      Star-
                      What kind of brace are you getting? Everything will be ok! Just give the brace and your body time to adjust to each other. If you have any questions, let me know!

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        yay!

                        Haha i'm proud of this thread. It's full of love now.

                        Heather-- THANKS!! We kept getting shirts that were too big because they're longer. But they bunch up which is really uncomfortable. I'll try for the wife beater thing.

                        Star--I have a boston brace, so if you get one of those, I'm becoming an expert at what to do with a new one
                        ********************
                        curves:
                        47 T
                        25 L

                        got my boston brace on Jan. 13, 2009


                        i haven't had in-brace x-rays yet but I am getting them on March 4th

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Originally posted by t nizzle View Post
                          Hey I'm 15. I just got my boston bace about a week ago, and so far It hasn't been fun. I can barely breathe, I'm having chest pains, my ribs hurt, and it's just plain tough to deal with!! I have a 45 degree curve up near my shoulder blades and a 25 near my hips. The doctor wanted to do surgery, but I'm a full time dancer, so he wanted to leave it until it's absolutely necessary. Can anyone just share some stories or give some support? Give me some pointers on how to sit down or sleep comfortably? anything? It feels like no one else understands how hard this is.

                          -- <3
                          t nizzle,

                          I came across your message and had to respond. I am 36 years old but wore the boston brace when I was approx. 11-13. I had an "S" curve and can't remember exactly what my curve measurements were but the doctors wanted to do surgery. We lived in New Hampshire and I was seen at Boston's Children's Hospital 3 hours away. Back than it was a much more invasive surgery and technology couldn't even compare to today. Also, I would have been in a body cast for a very long time. My parents decided to go with the brace and I wanted to die! I absolutely hated it. I had to be in it for 23 hours/day. My skin use to blister and after the first year I use to take it off and hide it. Because you can hide it under your cloths my parents never checked.....at first. They eventually caught on and they would say "you will regret this someday!" That didn't mean much to me back than. I can promise you it's all I hear in my head now. For the past five years I have been having a great deal of problems. I was a competitive body builder and 3 weeks before a show I herniated a disc. Come to find out it was because of my scoliosis and not from any injury. That was just the beginning of the problems. I know have a 50* lumbar curve and all the disc's have herniated. There are other problems as well, but I won't bore you with the details. I will say this, try and stay strong and hang in there. I often wonder if I had worn my brace the right way would I be where I am now. I read your other post about going to a rehab facility. I can completely understand you not wanting to go. I know how hard it is to look down the road to the future but try and do all you can to take care of your curve now. That way you can look back and say you did all that you could do rather than question if you should have done things better. I am planning on having surgery toward the end of March or beginning of April and can tell you I am not looking forward to it. Knowing what I know now I would have kept that god awful brace on every minute of the day! Good luck and remember you are stronger than you think you are!
                          Susan

                          Diagnosed at 10, Boston brace from 11-13 yrs old.
                          50* Lumbar w/ 5 centimeter shift to the left and slight rib hump...
                          Surgery Date: April 15 and April 22, 2009
                          X-LIF approach for disc repair L5,L4,L3,L2
                          Posterior Approach for fusions L5-T5
                          Dr. Fox @ Naval Medical Center Portsmouth
                          Nice and straight now!!!!!

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Understand

                            Hey, my name is Katelyn and I am 13 years old. I just got my boston brace 2 weeks ago, and I can relate to you totally. I still have the troubles of not breathing, chrushing ribs, and all the other symtoms. Tonight is my first night wearing it to bed and i am soo scared, for lack of a better word. I wish you luck.
                            I have been told that it gets better, but i am just waiting for that day to come. I hope you have beter luck in your brace then I have had so far. I wish you the very best with everything.
                            Try not to tear your brace to sreads like I did. Believe me it doesn't work, it's to hard. When I get out of my brace for good, my parents and I are gonna burn it in a fire that we have everynight in our back yard. I can't wait for that day.
                            wit loads of concern, and hope
                            Cat Eyes
                            Katelyn
                            Katelyn Caralle
                            14 9th grade
                            Curve out of brace:decreased to 15
                            Curve in brace: 0
                            Boston Brace

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              ...

                              yeah I don't plan on not wearing the brace as much as i should. But it does reeeeeally suck.

                              cat eyes:: the brace actually isn't that tough to sleep in! I thought it would be, but it isn't. Once you find a comfy position to stay in, it's fine. The only really annoying thing is when you have to change positions, because you're all stiff and such. And also, if you're a belly sleeper (like me) you're going to have to train yourself not to sleep on your stomach. It's just really awkward. hard feeling to describe, but I definitely don't like it lol.
                              ********************
                              curves:
                              47 T
                              25 L

                              got my boston brace on Jan. 13, 2009


                              i haven't had in-brace x-rays yet but I am getting them on March 4th

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X