Beyond the Spine
scoliosis awareness

Once the curve reaches 30 or almost 30 degrees, health care professionals will consider bracing after the x-rays show that the curve is getting worse. First, they will recommend that the patient should wear a backbrace which feels like a corset made out of plastic. It uses pressure points to push your spine up straight while you wear it, especially when you sleep since that when you grow. Someone with a brace would wear it for the best amount of time from 16-22 hours a day. You would wear the brace until the end of your growth spurt since the spine can't drastically curve after that time. If the spine continues to curve, surgery might have to be an option. Surgery costs around $50,000 to $150,000 without insurance so it's really important that you try bracing first. Bracing would only cost $5,000 to $10,000 without insurance. Bracing and surgery are both painful especially if you would have to wear a brace for years but in the end it is worth it. It may not eliminate the scoliosis completely, but it still prevents long-term effects like chronic back pain, reduced mobility, as well as potential respiratory and cardiac issues from rib cage compression.