Loneon3
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Bracing???
I'm about to be 16 and I believe I have pectus carinatum (lateral). I haven't been diagnosed with it yet, but I'm trying to talk my dad into taking me
to a doctor. I was wondering how effective braces are, especially for 16 year olds. I've attached 2 pictures of it. The first being standing normal
and the secound with my shoulders drawn back. I was wondering if any could rate my PC (mild, moderate, severe), and any information of bracing
options.
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Loneon3
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One more thing, its asymmetrical. Its on my right side of my sternum. The other side is just fine.
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withPC
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I don't see any PC or PE on your pictures. The only thing that I can see is flared ribs.
Can you take pictures top to bottom and few close ups?
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Loneon3
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I do have one flared rib on the opposite side, but it doesn't bother me. Here are some more pictures. They show it better. The protrusion starts about
at my nipple line and goes to my top rib.
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withPC
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Now I can see PC. Like you've said you have it only on one side.
You should probably contact users who had braces. You are very young and still growing so braces may help you.
I would definately try braces before even thinking about the surgery.
Read these posts. They are about the braces, I don't remember reading any other brace stories on this forum.
http://www.pectusinfo.com/board/viewthread.php?tid=6900
http://www.pectusinfo.com/board/viewthread.php?tid=6268#pid59668
http://www.pectusinfo.com/board/viewthread.php?tid=5510#pid44131
You should definately pursue your parents to do something about it. You are in the perfect age to do the bracing or if needed - surgery.
Remember, the longer you wait, harder your bones will be.
It might not bother you right now, but what if your PC progresses in the future?
Feel free to ask any questions!
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Vball
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Hey Loneon3, I have done bracing before and I think you might be too old, strong, wide, and muscular for bracing now. When you put pressure on the
protrusion is there any give? How tall are you? Do you think you are still growing? This is what a brace looks like: http://img25.imageshack.us/g/bracepictures007.jpg/
Your lats are quite thick so the brace would have to be very wide making the amount of pressure placed on the sternum less when it actually needs
more.
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Loneon3
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Thanks for your reply,
When I apply enough pressure it will flex all the way down. (I believe it's pretty flexible. As for my height I'm 6'2", and I do believe I'm still
growing. I think i hit puberty late because I just now started shaving, which i really don't need to, but I have a few little chin hairs. lol
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Vball
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Bracing is a b to say the least. I passed out in a pain shock 30 minutes after I first put it on. I wore it for 4 months about 19 hours a day. That
was all I could tolerate. I was supposed to wear it 23 hours a day only taking it off for 15 minute showers. Bracing with patients who haven't
their growth spurt is very effective as their chests are very malleable. A flat chest from bracing or surgery is not guaranteed. 6 months of bracing
at the adolescent age of 16 can be very torturing psychologically. Having been through hell served both ways I am now partisan to surgery for the
advanced age patient. Surgery was a much better experience than bracing IMO. I woke up and it was gone. Contact pectusservices.com and get their
opinion.
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junebug8
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Hello! I don't know a ton as I am still pretty new to all this, but I would definitely say pursue it now. If I had done it earlier I believe I would
have been a good bracing candidate for at least the protrusion part (don't know if I still would have needed surgery for the sunken in parts though).
But putting it off so long was definitely a mistake.
Good luck and I hope your requests to do something about it don't fall on deaf ears!
Dee
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Loneon3
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Thanks for your comments everyone, I personally doubt i would every go through surgery, because it isn't at least to me severe. If anybody else has
anymore info about it bracing, and info about what doctor do i need to discuss this with. (As of right now i'm trying to see a thoracic surgeon about
getting a brace, does anyone know what type of doctor i should see? Also I won't be able to travel far to see someone. I live around Nashville, TN and
i wouldn't be able to travel anywhere more than a couple of hours outside of Nashville.)
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Loneon3
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(As of right now i'm trying to see a thoracic surgeon about getting a brace, does anyone know what type of doctor i should see? Also I won't be able
to travel far to see someone. I live around Nashville, TN and i wouldn't be able to travel anywhere more than a couple of hours outside of Nashville.)
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PC Mom 13
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My advice is to research bracing on the internet, call the local children's hospital and they may have a bracing program. My duaghter has PC and it
did not cause her problems until she was 19, she is in a lot of pain now that her bones have fused. She also has cardio pulminary problems. We
didn't know about bracing, and wish we would have tried that. We are now looking at surgery in Germany, they can't even correct the upper portion of
her PC in the United States.
Try the bracing, have a CT scan, get your haller index and brace as soon as you can. You do not want the problems that you can have in the future.
It isn't a cosmetic issue for my daughter, this is greatly impacting her health and ability to pursue the career she is interested in. Bracing is
really worth a try.
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Loneon3
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I didn't really know mine could effect my health, thank you for your post and I will make sure to call the local children's hospital. I think i will
call Vanderbilt's Children Hospital, i believe they are one of the top children hospitals in the world.
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Loneon3
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I mean one of the top in the nation.
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PC Mom 13
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Usually you will be referred to pediatric thoracic surgery, those surgeons should be familiar with the bracing option. I wish you the best and really
do encourage you to explore your options, if bracing works for you that would be great. Keep us posted.
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Loneon3
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Okay, thankyou and i will keep everyone posted.
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Loneon3
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I'm just had surgery on my knee and when i go back for my pre-op. I'm gonna ask my surgeon, even though he is a shoulder specialist, about my chest.
Does anyone know what kind of questions i should ask?
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Randy
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General question would be all you should ask a Arthroscopic Surgeon. It would be a Great Idea to ask your surgeon who is the best thoracic surgeon for
PE and PC in the area. Then go there. Most likely your surgeon will not know any surgeons who have great experience in PE or PC repair. This Board is
the best site for information on PE and PC in the world.
Your PC is not a severe case by any means! Your physique is also looking fine. Go to the gym all you want and build some muscle, any repair you choose
for your PC will not be interfered by your exercise.
Best to you!!
Randy
well, just taking one day at a time and Praying our Great Country "Gets Back On It's Feet"
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Loneon3
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Thanks randy,
Ya, I guess you can say i'm a gym rat, i'm one of the strongest guys on are high school football team (out of about 1,500 kids in our high school). I
go to the doctor in about 2 weeks and ill find ask him about it.
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Randy
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Aint it fun being the biggest strongest guy on the team an in the school.
Your 15yo, 6'2'' and what is your weight?
I was always the skinniest guy in the school until high school, I was bigger but only 6'1'' and 180lbs where I was in the gym every day.
Randy
well, just taking one day at a time and Praying our Great Country "Gets Back On It's Feet"
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Loneon3
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i weight about 200 pounds.
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Randy
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Damn Dude
Your huge! You can pound your math teacher into next week!! 
Keep at the gym and in 2 years you will be 240, and that is getting Big!
If you like the gym you can get a PT Certificate and train people. That would be cool. You could do this for cash while in school and collage.
Are you in the 10th grade? I guess so at 16?
Randy
well, just taking one day at a time and Praying our Great Country "Gets Back On It's Feet"
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Loneon3
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Ya its got its benefits. I'm in the 10th grade. I'm actually at the top of my class in school, and i'm want to be an orthodontist. I was about 130
pounds and 5'8" when i was in 8th grade and over the last two years between growth spurts and working out pretty hard, I managed to gain 70 pounds of
muscle and grow to 6'2". I love working out and besides the normal benefits the extra muscle helps the pectus from being so prominent.
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Loneon3
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I was wondering does anyone have the same type of pectus as i have? (unsymmetrical and lateral)
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shattered3559
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I have the same exact pectus you have. I'm wondering if its possible to build more muscle on the opposite side to even it out?
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