Skip to content

livingtwisted

“The scoliosis saga”

Monthly Archives: January 2011

27/01/11 A Week in the Brace

Today I had my one week follow up with the orthotist, Gez. The week of bracing started out pretty rough, but it got easier quickly. The pressure point pain got a lot better and I’m able to contract the convex side to pull it away from the brace. I can definitely see and feel differences in my back already, and my husband, the skeptic, sees it too. I realize this doesn’t mean its permanent, but at least there’s hope for someone at the old age of 30. Seeing the results makes the pain more bearable.

Gez seemed to be pretty encouraged too. He said my back had loosened up a lot and he tightened the top strap a good two inches, which is encouraging, but it also means I have to start all over in terms of adjusting to the pain. I was hoping he would say he could shorten the extension on my right hip, but he thinks its adding leverage that is helping and wants to keep it, at least for now. Hopefully at least tightening it will keep things in the right place so it doesn’t rotate so much and jab me in the wrong places.

The hardest part of it though is the breathing. I still get winded and tired very easily in it. And Gez said that wouldn’t get better for a long time, if at all. He said my husband can massage the concave side to stimulate movement, but I’m hoping Beatriz will have some advice too. I’d like to start walking the dogs while wearing it to get a little exercise, but right now I don’t think I would make it back up our hill. But I’m not too worried about sleeping in it because already I’ve found my breath getting shallower if I get comfortable on the couch, and the next thing I know I’m asleep.

Well I’ll have another follow up with Gez in two weeks. I’m supposed to get up to 6 hours this weekend, and then start sleeping in it too. I ordered a 3 inch memory foam topper for the bed because the mattress is pretty hard so hopefully it will arrive in time. And he said after another week, I should try tightening the straps a little more. Yikes!

Tags: , ,

25/01/11 Schroth by the Book

I’ve finally had time to make it through the Schroth Textbook. I can’t say I read it cover to cover, but I read everything that pertains to my particular brand of scoliosis. I don’t feel comfortable selecting specific exercises and training myself on them. But the book did give me a better overall understanding of the general principles and approach. What I found most interesting is that on a very stripped down level there is a pattern to the Schroth method that is very similar to that in the CLEAR method. The specifics of the treatment are different but the three key phases that CLEAR focuses on and uses to market their treatment are also present in Schroth…

Schroth vs. CLEAR

  1. lengthening / mobilization vs. Mix
  2. shaping exercises vs. Fix
  3. isometric strengthening vs. Set

This makes a lot of sense to me and I’m excited to learn more, but what I found most helpful for the present were some general guidelines for daily life. These are much easier to put into practice right away and I’m really glad to have a set of rules to follow instead of making up what I think is good or bad for me. Here is a list of things I am trying to stick to.

  • Never lie on my rib hump (right) side. Even with a pillow under it to push the curve toward the center, it is causing the rib cage to widen under the pressure.
  • When sitting cross legged, place the leg from the concave side (left calf) on top of the leg of the convex side (right calf). This is the opposite of my usual pattern, but when I switch it I can definitely feel my concave side open up.
  • When standing, shift my weight to the concave side (I tend to carry my weight on the convex side)
  • Avoid bending or rotating the rib cage in any direction. Even bending or twisting in the direction against the curve will still result in exaggerating the present hills and valleys. All stretches should elongate and shift, but not bend.

This is in addition to a few other postural changes from Beatriz and Gez…

  • When standing, shift my hips to the right, keep my ears over my heels, and keep my right shoulder down and back.
  • When sitting, rest on the left arm rest.

The only exercises I have adopted from the book for now are for my feet. Beatriz had pointed out that I have a bunion forming on my left foot and that I need to stretch my big toe every day. I have been doing that and I also bought toe spacers. But there are two easy exercises in the book that strengthen the arches and alleviate hallux valgus so I’ve been incorporating those as well.

I was hoping the book would go more into proper breathing with a brace. I think I’ll reach out to Beatriz and see if she has any new tips for me for the brace until I get up to see her in March.

Tags: ,

20/01/11 Holy brace!

Today I picked up my brand spanking new Cheneau brace. Over the last few weeks I went back and forth debating whether or not to get it, or what type to get, but in the end I just went for it. Because that is what this phase of my life is about. Whether it works or not, at least I can say I tried. And the reality is even if everything stays just how it is now, that just might mean its working. I have to accept that I may not ever know what the right choices are, but I still have to make them.

The fitting was about what I expected, except that the brace was actually pretty comfortable. I tried it on, Gez made a few adjustments, and then taught me how to get it on and off. It was a little uncomfortable in my left armpit and front rib, but surprisingly fine on my right hib hump. Gez was great, and I walked out feeling confident and excited to put it back on at home.

I was told to start with just an hour at first, a very painful hour. Maybe it’s just the difference between the morning (when my appointment was) and the evening (when I tried it on by myself) caused by the usual compression throughout the day, but my right rib hump was killing me. Or maybe it was the stress from not being sure if I was doing it right combined with restricted breathing. It’s good that I’m going back in a week to make sure everything is ok because suddenly I have a lot of questions. How can I keep it from rotating without tightening it more than I was told to? Is my left shoulder really supposed to be that far forward? Are my floating ribs just getting pushed further inside my body? But toward the end of the hour I did find some relief from trying to breath into the concavities and move with the brace instead of fighting it. Hopefully this will start to come more naturally with practice.

The biggest change I didn’t expect is how wrong it all felt. For some reason I thought there would be some sort of relief from being put in a more right position. But it actually just felt all wrong. I was suddenly more clumsy than usual, and beyond just the awkwardness of the brace. I also had a hard time concentrating on anything — whatever I tried to do was just too hard because I couldn’t get beyond how to move my own body. It actually felt a lot like the frustration I experienced when I switched my mouse to my left hand. I assume this all has to do with proprioception. Maybe relearning the “right” way to view the world is more important than squished ribs, unfortunately it seems I have to squish my ribs to see it.

Tomorrow…two hours! And I’ll post pictures when I can.

Tags: , ,

15/01/11 Rolfed etc.

It’s been a long hectic week for me so I have some catching up to do on cataloging my every feeling. I had my second Rolfing session last weekend. It focused on the “root of the tree,” otherwise known as the legs and feet. And again, it was excruciating. But unlike a deep tissue massage, I’m not sore at all the next day. In fact, I felt good walking out and it lasted for the next day or two. The overall effect is pretty impressive despite the fact that she barely touched my back. It just shows how everything really is connected. It was also a good reminder about proper walking. The idea is that all it takes is a slight shift of your weight forward and your legs will follow automatically with very little effort. But if everything isn’t in alignment the muscles in your hips, legs, and feet have to work extra hard to compensate. In my case, it is just about balance within my incorrect alignment, not that I have to have a straight spine to walk properly. And I also need to be careful that the shift in weight comes from my center and that I don’t lead with my shoulders as I tend to do.

So I started the week feeling good and as it went on I tried hard not to loose sight of that. But I was going into a particularly stressful shoot Thursday and Friday and so on Wednesday a massive headache — the kind that takes over my whole body — was in full effect. We also had out of town visitors arriving late Wednesday night so maybe between doing a quick whirlwind cleaning and the stress of not knowing how available I would be to entertain, it all added up to more than I could handle. But with Advil and heating pads I was able to get a good night’s sleep and woke up feeling good and ready for the shoot. Typically the combination of physical and mental stress from a shoot can push me over my limit and by the end of the day I am completely destroyed. But I approached it with a new awareness — stick to my diet despite all the bad options I’m presented with, drink lots of water, use the time on my feet to stretch and walk around more than I typically can in the office, sit with awareness despite un-supportive chairs, and don’t let anything get to me. The result was a first — I made it through both days (14 stressful hours and all) virtually pain free!

Sometime mid week my Schroth textbook arrived (hooray!). I’ve only started to get into it but plan to spend some time with it this weekend. And my brace isn’t ready yet which means it will be sometime next week (eek!).

Tags: , , , , , , ,

08/01/11 When you need it most

Well, it was really easy to stay focused and pain free in December when I wasn’t busy. Work was slow, plus I had lot’s of time off with no traveling at all. I got used to having a lot of time for my daily routines. And having no stress made it easy to keep my posture in check all the time. But it’s when I’m physically and mentally torn in a million directions at once, that I need to remember to release tension and do things the right way. That’s when I need it most.

So I started last week in pain because I let the stress take over. But after a couple days, I learned how to do both. I found the balance between the high stress, fast paced world I live in and constantly checking in with my body. Am I hunching or clenching? Could I be shifting my torso? Is my head over my heels? Then I successfully made it through several activities pain free that would normally send me into 24 hours of pain. I just have to keep reminding myself to check in. And maybe some day some of it will become automatic.

I’m also not losing sight of the bigger plan…

  • Healthy diet and daily supplements
  • Inversion table and the start of some Schroth, including breathing exercises and postural corrections throughout the day
  • I’ve ordered my brace which should be ready as soon as next week. I have to say at the moment I’m accepting that it will be painful and almost looking forward to it. Never before have I experienced the sensation of being pushed toward straight while standing up. I’m sure I will feel differently later, but I’m keeping this attitude as long as I can.
  • As soon as my sister settles in San Francisco we’ll pick a weekend for me to go to see Beatriz. Aetna denied my request for in network coverage, but I’ve written what I hope is a pretty convincing appeal. And if that doesn’t work, I’ve decided this year I’ll invest my holiday bonus in myself.
  • I have another Rolfing appointment tomorrow
  • And I’m continuing with regular therapy appointments (not to mention that writing this is therapeutic too)

I’m covering all the bases — approaching from the inside and outside, active and passive, structure and flexibility. My goal is the straightest, most pain free me I can be now and in the future.

Tags: , , , , , , ,