Re: Enlightening -CIVIL WAR

[Guest guest]

My dad is a civil war buff too.

--- Rasche

<feistyfounder@...> wrote:

> Dear Carol,

>

> Just a note to say that oh, yes, I know about that

> summer heat at Gettysburg! My brother is a huge

> Civil War buff, although not a reenactor. He goes

> back to Gettysburg again and again and stays for

> several days at a time. The year we took a family

> trip to Myrtle Beach, all of us in my brother's car,

> his only request was that we all spend half a day at

> Gettsburg en route. For him this was almost nothing,

> but I think I came close to some kind of heat

> prostration -- must have been 102 that day. I know

> this is a deeply moving site, and I get choked up

> just thinking about the battle and President

> Lincoln's address, but still, an endless walking

> tour of this and that milestone or stretch of grass

> was just a little much for me in that kind of

> weather!

>

> Best,

>

>

> Irish539@... wrote:

> Hello Lynne,

> That is so interesting about your participation in

> the Civil War

> Reenactments. . My husband is a Civil war buff too

> and we often go to

> Gettysburg PA. A few years ago he stood out in 100

> degree heat to watch

> the reenactments. I wasn't that much of a die hard,

> I was feeling faint

> in that grueling heat. so my sister and I went

> back to the air

> conditioned hotel. Good move on my part I think.

> Although I was

> disappointed to have missed the battle. : )

> Those reenactments can put a strain on you for sure.

> But Reenacting

> history is a fascinating hobby I think. That is

> probably what my husband

> will be doing in his retirement. I am from New York

> and that's where we

> live now but he is a Southerner by birthright. He is

> thinking of buying a

> Confederate officers uniform next time we go to

> Gettysburg. He has a

> muzzle loader too and goes target shooting every

> weekend.

>

> I don't blame you for not jumping into surgery. I

> have exhausted all my

> options so at this point I am seriously entertaining

> the thought of

> making the dreaded call for revision surgery. I

> think I may be a little

> further down the road than you at this point. My

> pain levels are becoming

> high and my quality of life is nill at the moment.

> . I have been a

> hold out for about 5 years since I was diagnosed

> with flatback. I had

> finally broke down and got a handicap sticker for my

> car about 4 years

> ago, it still took me a whole year just to get used

> to the idea of

> actually using it. Now I thank God I have it and I

> use it regularly. It

> is very hard sometimes to adjust to all the changes

> we have to go

> through. Everyone is different so the pace of these

> changed are different

> for everyone too. Alot of different factors go into

> it.

>

> I tried some of those cloth stretch braces for a

> while. You you can get

> from Chiropractors offices and even over the counter

> at some drug stores.

> Maybe even on-line now for all I know. They do help

> a little. At least

> for doing housework, carrying groceries and such. A

> few years ago I even

> went to a sports store (namely Models), with my

> husband and bought one of

> those stretchy spandex type -lumbar wrap around

> belts. This type of belt

> is really meant for weight lifting. That is why my

> husband was getting

> one. When I saw it there it looked perfect for

> lumbar support so I

> bought a " His and Hers " version of it. It is more

> figure conforming

> than the slightly more cumbersome " white cloth back

> brace " . You can fit

> it under your clothes easier without any bulge. I

> liked it because no

> one could even tell that you are wearing it. It

> actually helped me for a

> little while. Last year I finally threw in the

> towel and bought myself

> what I consider to be a really cool walking cane.

> It is a metal " fold

> up " cane from the local drug store. It is very

> helpful to me. It is no

> bigger than a fold up umbrella. It snaps into place

> just that quickly

> too. Amazing I thought. It folds up small enough to

> put in your purse.

> You can pull it out when you really need it and put

> it away just as

> easily so it is not cumbersome at all. I never

> thought I would eventually

> need a cane. But here I am at that point. It really

> helps a lot. I even

> use it when I walk my dog around the block. It is so

> convenient to be

> able to fold it up again if you are at the movies or

> sporting event and

> such. Good Luck with everything. Hope this helped a

> bit.

> Carol

>

...........................................................

>

> >Hello,

> >I have just signed on to this group a few days ago.

> I

> >need to know if what I am experiencing is typical

> or

> >not? I am going to a Dr Cohen of s

> Hopkins

> >Hospital of Baltimore land on Tuesday. Does

> >anyone have any information on him? Does anyone

> have

> >any information on any Baltimore/Washington

> doctors?

> >I appreciate all the imput on what to ask & when. I

> >may be looking throught the rose colored glasses,

> but

> >I am hoping for a brace of some sort to help my

> back

> >take the load when I am doing something that I KNOW

> >will cause pain, spasms, etc. I have been involved

> in

> >American Civil War re-enacting for about 14 years

> and

> >have worn a corset a LOT. It was a challange to get

> a

> >corset that fit me properly, but I found a

> seamstress

> >that is excellent. With her expertice & my

> knowledge

> >of my body we were able to come up with a corset

> that

> >is not only comfortable to wear, but supports my

> back.

> >I am more comfortable than most who wear a corset

> in

> >the hobby. Sometimes I wonder if it isn't beacause

> I

> >wore the Milwalkee brace for so many years. I am

> NO

> >WAY jumping into surgery until I exhaust all other

> >avenues. I also have another MAJOR hurdle, I am on

> >prednisone for lupus, so I have osteoporosis. I

> broke

> >the bone behind my baby toe the beginnign of April

> >2005 & it has hardley healed at all. They actually

> >want to start me in an daily injectable drug for

> >osteoporosis. I am holding off on that too. I am

> >rambling. What other options have been offered to

> >help support the back to decrease the muscle

> strain?

> >Has anyone been braced post harrington or in adult

> >stage of life for any of there problems? If so,

> did

> >this help. There is probably an archive on this, so

> I

> >am off searching.

> >Thanks,

> >Lynne

>

>

> Support for scoliosis-surgery veterans with

> Harrington Rod Malalignment Syndrome. Not medical

> advice. Group does not control ads or endorse any

> advertised products.

>

>

>

>