I was diagnosed with scoliosis in June 2018. My doctor sent me to see Marlies Cabell (Dankmeyer CPO) and I got my first Wood Cheneau Rigo (WCR) brace in September 2018. It was pretty cool because it looked like carbon fiber. I come back every couple months so we can make adjustments as I grow. That way any spots that bother me can be fixed. It took some getting used to, but now it’s just part of everyday life & part of my daily routine.
I got my second WCR brace in July 2019 because I had grown so much that I needed a new one. This time I choose arctic camo as the design! We went to see the orthopedic in October 2019 and he did X-rays. They showed I had grown a little more than 3” in just one year’s time and there was no change to the curvature of my spine! This was great news because we knew the WCR was doing what it was supposed to be doing.
I wear the brace almost all of the time, but I am still able to play the sports I love. I currently play football (#92), basketball, and rugby. I wear the brace for the time I’m supposed to and choose to take a break to play sports. I put the brace back on after my practices and games are finished. It’s all about managing when I’m allowed to take breaks.
My dad has scoliosis too and just had spinal surgery. This helps me to understand the importance of wearing the brace because I don’t want to end up having surgery like he did. Wearing the brace is really not that big of a deal because it has become part of my normal routine and now I don’t really even notice it. Now that I have had a brace for a year and a half I think it’s pretty cool because it makes me different and I like that! - Casey Hill
