any experiences of scoilosis and wearing a back brace (also posted in health...)

[harpsichordcarrier]

I just had a phone call from my dsis telling me that dniece (previously diagnosed with scoiliosis/curvature of the spine) will have to wear a back brace for the next five or so years while she is still growing before having surgery.
She is incredibly down about it. dniece has severe physical and learning difficulties (she has ds, mobility restrictions,is fed through a tube among other things). In particular, dsis is really down about the continued restrictions on mobility - dniece can't walk but can shuffle around on her bottom and even get downstairs if she wants to which has been a real relief for dsis as carrying her around has been a real strain on her. She is worried that the brace will stop her independent movement altogether.
I am trying to stop her googling but in any event lots of the information out there is pretty general.
Does anyone has any experience of living with a brace? I know there are different sorts of braces - is it worth swapping around to see if different sorts suit her better? anyway, thanks for reading if you got this far.... I have posted this in health too, so sorry if anyone sees this twice TIA

thanks fio, yes she is really down about it. I think it is just a Last Straw thing. she is normally very positive but finding it hard to find something positive today I think.
we talked about trying different braces until they find one that will suit and she just sounded so weary about the time and energy that will take.

I suppose what is praying on her mind (and mine as well) is that the people we know with braces are very severely restricted in their movements and I think we both associate back brace = no mobility. which isn't necessarily the case of course.
sorry I am just rambling now. It is just fear of the unknown. I just wish this wasn't just one more thing to get used to.

I wore a back brace for scoliosis during my teenage years. Late '70's onwards - they weren't that keen on operating in those days.

The type of brace (Boston brace) was quite new then - it was a plastic shell moulded to fit your body, with a kind of foam inside which had extra padding made out of something similar to polystyrene (hard to remember what it was after all these years! lol). The way it was padded pushed and held your spine in the correct alignment.

It wasn't that restricting to movement - the front came to just under bra level, the back was slightly higher and the sides went up to just above waist level.

Obviously, being a teenager, I was self-conscious about it, but to be honest the brace probably wasn't even noticeable to most people.

Looking back, I think that psychologically it probably led to me keeping people at a distance somewhat.

I am now having to watch out for my daughter as she is at risk of getting scoliosis, as it can be hereditary - my mum had it and they didn't treat it at all when she was younger

Sorry this reply is so long but you did ask!

You could try SAUK

Both my dds have scoliosis, and older one has been wearing a Boston Brace (but she does not have other special needs) - she is able to do most things except perhaps bending down can be a bit awkward - but she gets people to pick her things up if she drops them! The brace will give your niece a good shape while wearing it and possibly make her more comfortable. Can be a problem in the heat of the summer but my dd stayed out of midday sun and we bought a fan for her bedroom. Haven't had problems with rubbing etc. Your niece will need lots of the extra long type vest tops to wear under and over it (wish we'd bought more in the summer as can't find so many now). Does your niece worry about clothes and her looks? - my dd has lots of advice about what to wear with it as she is very fashion conscious. Really, it wasn't as bad as we thought it would be. My dds like the site 'spinekids', which is for parents too.

thanks everyone.
dniece is starting to be self conscious about her clothes and about what she wears.
I was thinking about the summer and that she might be uncomfortable.

My dd has just said that her tooth brace was a lot more uncomfortable than her back brace.
BTW she is very glamorous and does not like baggy or sporty type clothes. The brace doesn't really show from the front through clothes, but the velcro straps at the back are quite wide and tend to show through. She wears tight jeans, low waisted so the brace bottom edge sits just on top of the waistband, a long strap top, then another top over that which can be shorter. Those wide belts now in fashion worn on hips are brilliant for hiding the bottom edge of the brace. The back of clothes is the main problem - hoodies are good, as are wool jumpers, and darker fabrics or ones with a picture on the back - these disguise any bumps.

Hi my daughter is 10 years old and being fitted with boston brace just wanted to know if anyine else has had this brace and was it successsful in stoping the curve in spine thanks in advace