As I was bracing for surgery, I wasn't nervous at all. I had absolutely no idea that I should be! I was just comfortable being back in the surrounding that didn't make me feel "different" from other kids and getting to know some of the "new" kids and reacquainting with myself with my old friends. I saw Dr. Hardy and Dr. Bradbury every day and they were truly a lot of fun! They would tease and joke around with the kids, even if they weren't their patients. I remember one time Dr. Bradbury leading a bunch of kids on a hide-and-seek game until the nurse's became really mad and put a stop to it!!
Looking back, if I had known then, what I know now - I would have been nervous. Let me explain what my parents knew at the time, and that I didn't. This will be something like a little history lesson in scoliosis and some of you may be very bored with this part. Understandably so. However, when I begin to write posts on the present day, THIS is the information that will actually help you understand the position I am in today!
Scoliosis is actually an ancient disease with evidence of it's findings as far back as 4000 years ago! As far back as the 16th century, spinal curves were first treated with braces. Then surgery was introduced. By the 50's and 60's, the non-surgical treatment of choice was the infamous, Milwaukee brace. This was a full-torso device designed by two doctors from..........Milwaukee!! It was semi-custom and origionally designed for post-operative care. Braces are still the "gold standard" when surgery is not required and without doubt, the Milwaukee Brace played a very important role by laying the groundwork for the development of the more sophisticated braces used today. The brace was and still is, intended to minimize the progression to an acceptable level, not to correct the curvature. Corrective measures are only gained through surgery.
The first surgery written about was performed in 1911. By 1940 though, surgery was considered too high a risk and primarily used on the patients whose scoliosis was deemed life threatening only. This is when the need for bracing soared. These early surgeries caused such significant pressure on the chest and rib cage (compromising young patients respiratory systems) that surgeons were suggesting that the surgery came at too high a price. Those patients who did have surgery would then need to stay on bed rest for up to a year after as well! Naturally, seeing that patients being treated for idiopathic scoliosis were in the teenage years, this also impacted their emotional well-being. Surgeons started to feel that bracing was actually the better way to go instead of surgery. The next step was to brace after surgery instead of casting, like was originally done as far back as the mid-1800's. This idea was felt to maximize the correction and the patient was only on bed rest for 6 months! It was during this period (late 1940's) that the Milwaukee Brace was starting to be used for non-surgical treatment as well as after surgery, with great results.
The early known problem with the Milwaukee brace was the chin pad. It completely messed up teen's teeth and jaw development. Corrections were made in the early 70's and the issue was resolved. Interestingly, much care was truly put into the molding of the Milwaukee brace by the doctors who developed it. It is said that they "did not only develop a brace, they also developed a system of management, or in modern terms, a "patient care program." A brace by itself is useless unless it is applied for the right indications, is worn the proper number of hours each day, is removed at the proper time, and is accompanied by the necessary physiologic and psychologic support systems." Sometimes the brace was worn 24/7, other times the brace could be worn outside of school - or part-time bracing - to spare the children residual emotional harm from being viewed as "different" than their peers. A different form of the brace included a "halo". I have included a picture of a Milwaukee Brace, with and without halo, in the sideline for you to see. Please note that I never wore a Milwaukee Brace due to the fact that I was, without doubt, a surgical candidate.
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