Anonymous wrote:My daughter has a 22 degree curve and was told that they wouldn't consider bracing until 25 degrees.

Depending on her age, especially if she’s got a lot of growing left, I’d get a second opinion. There’s a margin of error in measurement up to 5 degrees I think either way.

OP, my daughter is 12 and had many of the concerns your daughter has. The social piece is really hard for her (not because of the other kids but because of her own feelings about it). We’re working on that - a marathon not a sprint for sure. We’re about 8 months into bracing. She wears a lot of oversized sweatshirts so I too am worried about what this is going to be like this summer as she also enjoys fashion which makes it extra hard. Check out the National Scoliosis Center in Fairfax and https://www.bracingforscoliosus.org/

Im in my 50s now, so things have changed.

But I had one, wore it first for just a few hours a day so I chose to sleep in it bc I did not want to wear that thing to school. Wasn’t working so they upped the hours and I had to wear it like 18 hours a day. Then it was unavoidable and I had to wear it. I wore shirts and pants too big for me; I’d fit right in by today’s fashion trends.

But then it was tougher. I still had some friends but I was never in the “in” crowd. It was hot, I felt very square and goofy and uncomfortable. To this day, I wear my clothes too big. Old habits die hard. It also didn’t work.

I had to have the surgery and have Harrington rods. I had a terrible S curve. Can’t remember the numbers now. I was 15 and I did read Deenie and I felt all the same things. I had very few people coming to see me in the hospital and that hurt. You really find out who your friends are, I will say that. But the surgery, while it was hell, was a success. It was in January, I had to brace into July. And that one I could not take off so showering and everything in it. Getting that thing off was the best day of my life.

I really wish I had kept a journal then bc I’ve forgotten so much. The only thing they told me I shouldn’t do is skydive and go horseback riding. My mother still tells me that. Part of me wants to go galloping through Montana just to spite her LOL

If your kids have to go through that, they will survive. It’s not easy, but the surgery and recovery is so much better today. I’ve heard it’s even outpatient now. I was in the hospital ON MY BACK for 15 days.

I don’t wish it on anyone. Good luck to all.

My daughter has a 22 degree curve and was told that they wouldn't consider bracing until 25 degrees.

Anonymous wrote:How long is sleepaway camp? I think you are supposed to wear those braces 16+ hours per day. Basically only having it off for sleep. This seems like it would be very problematic at a multi week sleepaway camp with the activities they day.

I’m one of the PPs who wore a brace. It’ was not problematic for most activities, and I went to sleepaway camp without an issue. I was supposed to try to wear mine 23 hours a day, but there was leeway for swimming, sports, and special occasions like dances and parties. I played field hockey and dove competitively during those years, all with my doctor’s approval and encouragement. I did end up quitting gymnastics, but my scoliosis was not the only reason for that decision.

Anonymous wrote:How long is sleepaway camp? I think you are supposed to wear those braces 16+ hours per day. Basically only having it off for sleep. This seems like it would be very problematic at a multi week sleepaway camp with the activities they day.

I am a PP who had one. You sleep in the brace.

Buy the book Deenie by Judy Blume!!
I love Judy Blume anyway but this book is about a 13yo going through this exact issue.

Anonymous wrote:How long is sleepaway camp? I think you are supposed to wear those braces 16+ hours per day. Basically only having it off for sleep. This seems like it would be very problematic at a multi week sleepaway camp with the activities they day.

I wore one in 8th grade and I was supposed to sleep in it. I used to take benadryl to knock myself out and I would still wake up sometimes and see it sitting on the floor next to my bed. I could only take it off the shower and change my clothes. My mom had soft body suit material tailored to fit me under the brace. It definitely had pressure points and it moved some of my ribs over time.

I wish I had had a brace at the right time period. Appearance sacrifices now are better than a life of misery.

I didn't have a brace and my back hurts a lot of the time doing ordinary things like walking, sitting in a chair, or standing. The only place it consistently doesn't hurt is lying flat.

The scoliosis eventually - after some years - caused a herniated disc and that pinched nerves.

It would have been MUCH better to wear a back brace and avoid all this.

How long is sleepaway camp? I think you are supposed to wear those braces 16+ hours per day. Basically only having it off for sleep. This seems like it would be very problematic at a multi week sleepaway camp with the activities they day.

As an adult my DH went to Schroth because his scoliosis was increasing and causing him disc problems and pain. It helped him even at an advanced age. His shoulders are much more level now as I notice walking behind him on trails.
There were a lot of teens there. Seemed pretty upbeat.

I wore one from 6th - 8th grade. It's uncomfortable and hot (I wore a t-shirt or tank top underneath. I was allowed to take it off to shower and then 1 hour to breath everyday. I was allowed to not wear it for special events (like when I was a jr bridesmaid in a wedding for my uncle).

I went to an all girls school and didn't have any issue with teasing (not sure if I would have had it been coed) and I took it with me to sleepovers, camp, etc. My curve is S shaped about 30 degrees.

The bracing usually works. I know it sucks, but you will be thankful you did it when it is over and you don't want to risk it moving and getting worse. The treatmens beyond bracing are much worse.

Not quite as high if degree, but my daughter's curve was 16-17 degree noticed around grade 3, and a watch and see.

She's 19 now - has gone for x rays almost every year, and her current degree is 11 or 12 (i don't remember).

She did a ton of ballet (and other dance training, often totalling 6 hours a week in studio plus home practice) and both main doctors told her that very likely helped her curve not progress through her growth spurts. So we did not get to the point of needing a brace. She just went to an extremely technical dance school and the focus on posture, alignment and core strength i believe helped a lot. Not quite the same as schroth... but was effective for us.

I wore one from ages 13 to 16. Her worries are somewhat valid . . . it’s really not fun to wear and try to dress around, and it can feel hot and clunky. However, I found that my friends, classmates, and fellow campers were really supportive, and no one ever made me feel bad about it.

Some advice—cotton camis or fitted shirts underneath help keep things more comfortable. I would also highly recommend PT. It wasn’t a thing when I was a teen, and I feel that I could have benefitted from it. I think that being essentially corseted during those years affected my flexibility and range of mobility, and PT back in the day may have spared me some of that.

The light at the end of that tunnel? The brace worked and stabilized my curves, so I didn’t need surgery. It also distributed my body fat to places where one might want it, so when I was done I had some curves to flaunt.

My 13 year has been diagnosed with a 20 degree curve in spine, she is in the middle of growth spurt so dr (Children's Hospital ortho) recommends the Boston Brace until she stop growing so at least another 18 months.

I would love to know if your kid wore one and what was the experience like? she is very self conscious of not being able to wear "cute summer clothes" without the brace sticking out (like tank tops or anything cropped). she is worried what kids at school will think and if she has to take it to sleep away camp.
Any tips or advice would be helpful. She gets measured for the brace in a couple of weeks.

Also, has anyone tried the Schroth method of therapy for scoliosis? we may that in addition to the brace.
thanks