Can someone who has scoliosis or knows a lot about it give me advice?!


Question: Can someone who has scoliosis or knows a lot about it give me advice!?
I have a 36 degree curve and I don't always take it serriously, but I have before!. I get really emotional sometimes because of it!. I am supposed to wear it 20 hours a day!. When i first got it i always wore it, day and night usually!. But latley i've been slacking off and only wearing it at night, sometimes not even that!. I don't understand enough about scoliosis because it doesnt bother me one bit, but i still have to wear the back brace!. I really don't want to get surgery!. I just need some advice on what i should do to prevent it and how serrious it can really be!. Thanks ! :)Www@Answer-Health@Com


Answers:
First some facts for you, and then some knowledge froom presonal experience!. It's long but hopefully helpful:

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is the most common form of scoliosis!. If the curve is small when first diagnosed, it can be observed with routine x-rays and measurements!. If the curve stays below 25 degrees, no other treatment is needed!. If the curve is between 25-40 degrees, a brace may be recommended!. If the curve is greater than 40 degrees, then surgery may be recommended to prevent heart or lung problems or problems carrying a baby!.

At 36 degrees you need that brace until you stabilize!. It may not hurt now, but if it continues to worsen, it will!. In addition, if the curve is gets to be >40 degrees, it is likely to continue to get worse by 1-2 degrees each year for the rest of the your life!.

Wearing a brace you have to have a strong sense of self and not let it mess with your idea of body image!. It's clunky and you don't look/feel like everyone else, but keep in mind why you are wearing it!. You want to keep your body as healthy as you can and try to correct your back!.

Here's a few things that I did:

In 1984, I was diagnosed with scoliosis when I was 12 during one of those junior high screenings!. I wore a Wilmington brace from under my arms to just over my hips for 10 mo!., then had surgery shortly before I turned 14 (1985)!. My top curve was fused using stainless Steel Harrington rods and bone chips from my hip!. I had to go back into a brace about a year after my surgery for 10 mos!. because my bottom curve was not completely stabilized!.

Liking your brace!.!.!.The first few nights, it was hard too fall asleep in the brace!. Once you get used to it, sleeping wasn't too bad!. But now, some days if I'm feeling a little achy, I miss it!. You could be lazy and let the brace do the support work your muscles usually do!. Try and remember why you are wearing it!.!.!.kind of need that heart and those lungs to function as well as possible!.

Clothes!.!.!.Braces are so figure flattering, not! You'll have to adjust your size!. I wore loose flowy tops in the warm weather, and sweat shirts and sweaters in the cool!. With some style tops you can just go up a size or two!. Also check out plus size or maternity clothes!. Designers make great styles for both these departments nowadays!. Target and JCPenny are good places since you can shop both types of clothes at one store!. Pants and shorts with elastic you can go up a size!. Draw string waists are great options!. For zipper pants you can uses one of those expand a waist button extender things!.

Hot weather!.!.!.I was only allowed out an hour a day!. I stayed inside as much as possible (our AC broke one summer, ugh!)!. Read, go to movies (it's always freezing in our local cinemas), the library, shopping, etc!.
-On mild days, I laid on the floor in front of an open sliding glass door, the breeze would blow in a little between the brace and my skin



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