How I came to embrace the brace

By Chloe Conway Chloe Scoliosis is and always will be a struggle for me. The pain plagues me, both in and out of my brace, and can make it difficult to concentrate and even run some days. But I will not let scoliosis stop me from doing anything. I have learned to love my spine. It makes me unique and defines who I am, and I am a stronger person because of my brace—emotionally, mentally and physically. My brace is both my best friend and my worst enemy. In August 2012, I first discovered I was crooked. My high school cross-country coach noticed that I ran tilted, with one shoulder much higher than the other. When I finally saw the doctor, he told me I had scoliosis. The next two years were filled with many doctors’ appointments and endless poking and prodding to my back. I had an 18-degree “s” curve, which increased to 24 degrees in December 2012. By April 2013, I learned that my upper thoracic curve and lower curve had increased to 32 and 25 degrees, respectively. Running free I knew that I would eventually need a brace, but when the doctor showed me that horrible piece of ugly plastic, it was a whole different story. I turned into a statue. When my brace was ready for me to wear, the orthotist who makes the braces showed me an assortment of patterns—Scooby-Doo, butterflies, tie-dye, rainbow, pink and white—but I chose flesh-colored, the most inconspicuous of them all. Chloe wears her brace at concert My brace stretches from over my hips, with the left s...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: All posts Orthopedic Center orthopedics scoliosis Source Type: news