Re: how are your providence-bracer's doing?

[Guest guest]

Abigail,

(who is 11 yr old) has been wearing the Providence brace for 3

years. He has the kind that is only worn at night(for 10 hours) because it is

the

bending kind. His curve has stayed at 35 degrees for over a year wearing this

brace. Hope this has helped.

Gloria

**************Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape.

http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489

[Guest guest]

What is the difference between the Providence and the TLSO and why do

they recommend one over the other?

________________________________

From: infantile_scoliosis

[mailto:infantile_scoliosis ] On Behalf Of zimmyshine

Sent: Monday, January 28, 2008 2:01 PM

To: infantile_scoliosis

Subject: how are your providence-bracer's doing?

Hi. We are nearing the post-cast era! Dr. Khoury has recommended

Nadia, who is nearly 3.5 years old, move into a Providence brace

instead of a TLSO. I know there are several families with kids in the

Providence brace. Thanks so much for writing in the past. Would you

mind updating on how it's going? Any ideas to help with the

transition? When getting measured how did it go? Also, Nadia has

been very difficult to x-ray when not under general. Any

suggestions? Obviously it doesn't hurt, but she hasn't held still- I

think she gets scared with all the big equipment or something. Thanks

a million!!!! Best, Abigail

[Guest guest]

replying to two messages here:

1) the tlso is worn most of the day. the providence brace is a bending brace

and worn only at night. the choice is up to the orthopedic surgeon based on the

kind of curve, i think.

2) regarding your 11 yo son... were they hoping to hold him at 35 degrees or

decrease the curve at all? do you know if these kinds of braces can decrease

the curve? thanks.

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[Guest guest]

Thanks for that info--do you know what type of curve they use the

providence for--is your daughter more flexible?

________________________________

From: infantile_scoliosis

[mailto:infantile_scoliosis ] On Behalf Of Abigail Schein

Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2008 12:05 PM

To: infantile_scoliosis

Subject: Re: how are your providence-bracer's

doing?

replying to two messages here:

1) the tlso is worn most of the day. the providence brace is a bending

brace and worn only at night. the choice is up to the orthopedic surgeon

based on the kind of curve, i think.

2) regarding your 11 yo son... were they hoping to hold him at 35

degrees or decrease the curve at all? do you know if these kinds of

braces can decrease the curve? thanks.

---------------------------------

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[Guest guest]

i may have missed something, but does your daughter wear both?

or just the providence at night? if so at what point did her doctor decide on

night only?

thanks,

tasha

Abigail Schein wrote:

replying to two messages here:

1) the tlso is worn most of the day. the providence brace is a bending brace

and worn only at night. the choice is up to the orthopedic surgeon based on the

kind of curve, i think.

2) regarding your 11 yo son... were they hoping to hold him at 35 degrees or

decrease the curve at all? do you know if these kinds of braces can decrease

the curve? thanks.

---------------------------------

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[Guest guest]

again responding two at once, to christine...

i believe the providence bending brace is for thoracolumbar curves (ie, lower

back) that are not too high in cobb angle (i don't know what the magic number

is). her curve used to be very flexible, but i think less so now (see her

numbers below)

and tasha...

nadia has not gotten any brace yet. actually her local orthopedist seems to

want her to transition into a tlso. dr. khoury had wanted her in a providence.

we liked the idea of the providence (night time only), but we just want what's

best for her. i don't know what that is. so our local orthpedist and dr.

khoury are going to " battle it out " (just kidding). they are going to discuss

it.

do any of you (and thanks, deshea, for weighing in on this before), have any

ideas about whether a tlso or a nightime only would be better? nadia is 3.5

years old. her last supine out of cast xray was 6 degrees. she has minimal

rotation. she is being held in cast right now at 1-2 degrees.

thanks everyone!!! abigail

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[Guest guest]

Abigail,

Nadia's numbers are GREAT! It sounds like she is ready for a brace.

All we know is the TLSO brace. went from a cast into that. We have not

had any issues with it. Thank God! He is very good about keeping it on. I

would think with Nadia, since she has been in casts for so long she would not

have an issue either. BUT every child is different. And I think with , he

knows he does not have a choice in the matter.

I would LOVE for him to be able to wear a brace only at night. His doctor

actually mentioned that a couple of weeks ago at his check up. has

improved in his brace. He went into it in Sept. with a 15 degree curve and a

couple of weeks ago it was 8 degrees! Out of brace. Anyway his doc said after

consistent improvement we would talk about a night time brace. I am not getting

too excited.

In Nadia's case I suppose let the docs battle it out. They will know what is

best.

Good luck. I love the brace compared to the cast. Real hugs and a real bath!

Keep us posted on what they decide for Nadia.

Take care,

Tasha

Mommy of twin boys- and 33 months

Fort Worth, Texas

Abigail Schein wrote: again

responding two at once, to christine...

i believe the providence bending brace is for thoracolumbar curves (ie, lower

back) that are not too high in cobb angle (i don't know what the magic number

is). her curve used to be very flexible, but i think less so now (see her

numbers below)

and tasha...

nadia has not gotten any brace yet. actually her local orthopedist seems to

want her to transition into a tlso. dr. khoury had wanted her in a providence.

we liked the idea of the providence (night time only), but we just want what's

best for her. i don't know what that is. so our local orthpedist and dr.

khoury are going to " battle it out " (just kidding). they are going to discuss

it.

do any of you (and thanks, deshea, for weighing in on this before), have any

ideas about whether a tlso or a nightime only would be better? nadia is 3.5

years old. her last supine out of cast xray was 6 degrees. she has minimal

rotation. she is being held in cast right now at 1-2 degrees.

thanks everyone!!! abigail

---------------------------------

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[Guest guest]

Hi Abigail, I believe we have talked before. I am sorry I am so out of the loop

with the group, so busy with changing houses, work, three kids, etc etc..

Anyway, I mentioned prior that Santi is using a providence brace and for me it

is the best that he has used so far. It is incredibly comfortable, adapatable,

and in the morning he doesn´t even want me to take it off right away. The

creation of the brace is incredible, the molding type of machine with a computer

is used. They take all the numbers first off of a table that your child is put

on, that is it!!! As simple as that, no wet pasting, no neck elongators which

Santi was exposed to once, was the worst thing I have seen used yet in making a

brace. I had my doubts but upon investigating more, I found that it is real

acurate, because the machine makes it specifically for the numbers that are

given, so it is more customized. Most braces are made with the child moving,

the molds are bent while taking them off the child

etc. thus the degrees can be less accurate, etc. The providence doesn´t have

that problem, it measures the back with a special pole, every corner of the

back, in the straight position, the child is normally relaxed because he is just

spread eagle on a table with holes in it. I haven´t seen Santis back look

better, it is incredible.. I know that the swimming and PT are doing most of it,

but it is maintaining so well. He has a lower curve, lumber but turning into the

thoratic it appears from the latest x-rays, but he is maintaining so well..

I have tryed a lot of braces, the boston, the charleston, a specialized

elongation one, and this is the best. The casting of course is by far the best

to stop the progression, but for maintainence, the providence has been for us

great. I am not afraid to try what I feel is best, you need to do what you are

most confident with and what you know is best for your child. It is so

overwhelming, every doc has an opinion, an idea, and they are always sure

their´s is right. Let your motherly instinct guide you, nothing is more

powerful then a mothers instinct for her child. You might end up like me trying

several different methods, but in the end you will find the right one for her...

Good luck, I know it will all work out well for you both,

Kelli and Santiago

Abigail Schein wrote:

again responding two at once, to christine...

i believe the providence bending brace is for thoracolumbar curves (ie, lower

back) that are not too high in cobb angle (i don't know what the magic number

is). her curve used to be very flexible, but i think less so now (see her

numbers below)

and tasha...

nadia has not gotten any brace yet. actually her local orthopedist seems to want

her to transition into a tlso. dr. khoury had wanted her in a providence. we

liked the idea of the providence (night time only), but we just want what's best

for her. i don't know what that is. so our local orthpedist and dr. khoury are

going to " battle it out " (just kidding). they are going to discuss it.

do any of you (and thanks, deshea, for weighing in on this before), have any

ideas about whether a tlso or a nightime only would be better? nadia is 3.5

years old. her last supine out of cast xray was 6 degrees. she has minimal

rotation. she is being held in cast right now at 1-2 degrees.

thanks everyone!!! abigail

---------------------------------

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[Guest guest]

hi kelli and santiago, thank you so much for your note. it is so nice to hear

from you again. i really hope we can do the providence. (you reminded me why.

thanks so much for sharing your experiences again!!!!) hopefully the orthopedic

surgeons will agree on that. if not, we'll cross that bridge when we get there.

but it could get complicated because i can't imagine our local orthopedic

surgeon doing something he doesn't want to. and i guess i wouldn't want him to,

but i am not sure where that would leave us. anyway, i guess i am putting the

cart before the horse at the moment. we'll see how it goes. and i'll keep you

all posted. best, abigail

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