Scheuermann's Disease Support Group

Hiya guise! 17 more days!!!!!!! THE ANTICIPATION IS KILLING ME!

anyway...as I read this packet DAILY i understand there is a brace involved after surgery. It also mentions that there may be a variety i either choose from or will be given due to body type etc.

will the brace be provided by the hospital? what type of brace is it? Can i find any info on the net about said brace? I have been reading that it is extremely difficult to put on and i will most likely need help puting it one for awhile. Can i get some input from people who have had the surgery in regards to this brace and any pointers that you guys can give? Any info i will need about the brace and puting on of said brace is greatly appreciated!

also i made a diary entry this morning some might find a good read tell me what you guys think. it was just some inner feelings i was having this morning that i had to get out.

Hi Licia!

*waves* Hiya

A company contracted by the hospital will provide the brace. The doc/hospital orders it and they measure you for it pretty quickly, I think the day after surgery. They measured me for my brace when I was still in ICU. I don't remember much because I was still heavily medicated and sedated but I think they lifted me up and made me lay on this thing to take an xray at that same time, but I don't know if that has anything to do with the fitting. They actually brought my brace while I was still in ICU too (I was there two or three days before I went to a regular room). Mine was sort of like this: http://www.soospine.com/images/1tlsoB.jpg except it had a metal piece in back that came up to my shoulders and velcro straps that came over my shoulders and attached to the front. It is impossible to put on by yourself until a few weeks after you get home since it is two or three separate pieces that are connected with velcro straps. If you leave them connected on the side where the elastic straps are it's a bit easier, but you still need someone to help you put it on since you won't be able to reach the straps or even hold it up by yourself. I actually found sitting in a chair with my brace on much more comfortable than lying down and often slept that way in the hospital. They had to put it on me while I was laying down at first.. which really isn't a good idea because it tends to warp it.. the best thing is for you to sit on the edge of the hospital bed while someone holds it up and connects the straps for you. The people that fit you for the brace will come back after a day or two to make sure it's working for you so be sure to tell them if you have any problems with it, because you probably won't see them again lol. It's crucial that you wear it any time you're not laying down. If you're going to be up (even sitting in a chair) more than ten minutes or so, you need to wear it. I wore mine for about a month and a half.. maybe not even that long.. the recommended time is three months though. I know that's hypocritical for me to tell you it's crucial to wear it but I didn't wear mine long lol.. but I could support myself and it felt like more of a hindrance to wear it. I think it's just the same as everything else regarding this surgery; everyone has a different experience with it.

Hi Memphis. Yes, you will probably need to where a brace to help keep your spine in position until it heals and can support the weight by itself. My brace was pretty was pretty simple and not too complicated. It was essentially like a turtle shell with hard front and back plates held together with a lot of Velcro straps. For me, it was not too uncomfortable to wear and made it possible to stand up and get out of bed a few days after surgery, which I found to help really relieve the pain from lying on back constantly.

As far as ease of operation, I had no problem putting it on all by myself, as long as I kept one of the suspenders attached so I could slip it over on arm. That will hold it up and give you two hands free to snap the other suspender on. Once that's done, tightening the Velcro straps around your waste is easy. After you tighten those up, you're standing upright and your trunk will feel nice and solid. Mine was also great for taking the pressure off my lower back. Mine was made by Ortho Lux (http://hopeorthopedic.com/spinal_ortholux.html), the one pictured on the right with the sternal extension; but I suppose your doctor may use something else.

It's been three months since my surgery, and now I only wear my brace as I need to; and that's usually near the end of the day when my lower back starts to ache or when I doing something that may be strenuous. Relax, it will be over soon!