Anyone familiar with unloader braces?

[atlantiqueen]

I finally saw the famous Dr. Brown last week.
Definitely a torn meniscus from last February's tumble down Right Stuff (I am such a good diagnostician:D) He wants to do a scope as soon possible.

However, I have a "condition" which prevents any surgical intervention for the next several months - it also means I'm not allowed to ski this season ! (Any guesses?)

I will have the scope sometime late next summer or early fall (plenty of recovery time for next ski season). So I have to live vicariously through the forum until then!!

The doc has suggested medial heel lifts and an unloader brace until I can have the scope. Anyone have experience with either of these??

AQ

 

[Jilly]

Congrats on that!! Let us know the outcome on both "conditions'!

 

[cyn]

AQ I'm thinking of you.
PM me if you are in the mood to commiserate.
I am out until January at the earliest.

 

[WildKitten]

Hi Atlantiqueen,

I am the owner of a CTI un loader brace and I've had a very positive experience with it.

In late summer 2007 I had bilateral meniscus repair. I'd lost a lot of meniscus according to the doc, 75% outside and 50% inside and he said I'd require knee replacement down the road. :(

About two months after the surgery I was still unable to perform aerobics without pain and was very disillusioned about the surgery.

I went back to the doctor and told him I wanted to be able to ski and if I couldn't do aerobics without pain there was no way I'd be able to ski without pain.

I told him I wanted physical therapy (which he didn't feel I needed right after surgery) and I told him I wanted a brace (I'd been doing a lot of reading about them). He suggested the injectable joint fluid Supartz.

I had six weeks of physical therapy, which helped me. I went to the brace store. When I told the guy I was a skier he measured me for a brace instead of giving me one off of the shelf. It wasn't cheap, around $1100, but the insurance covered all but about $300 of it.

To answer your question, the un loader brace is a dream. It's sleek (I was able to choose the color) and comfortable. I had my best season of skiing last year. No knee pain and no weakness at all. I felt stronger and more in control.

I don't wear it around the house too much anymore. I've modified my exercise routine so I don't abuse my knees (elliptical machine instead of aerobics). I get 4-5 Supartz injections every 6 months and feel they help too.

But I know if it wasn't for my brace I wouldn't be able to ski.

I would definitely suggest an un loader brace to you and I wish you well.

 

[SueNJ]

I have a custom unloader brace that I use on my arthritic knee. I used it regularly early on after my diagnosis and cartilage debridement surgery (2 years ago), but I rarely have to use it at this point, unless I have a flare-up of arthritis. It's very comfortable and really worked wonders when I had ongoing knee pain.

 

[atlantiqueen]

thanks WildKitten & SueNJ - I'm being custom fitted tomorrow

 

[Severine]

If your "condition" is what I think it is, CONGRATS!

No experience with the brace but I hope it works out for you!

 

[atlantiqueen]

I got fitted for the brace today - $1100 !! Fortunately I have a great insurance plan and 100% is covered (phew!)

I could have had the graphite cadillac for $1300 but as my weight will be fluctuating over the next several months, I opted for the flexible brace that will grow and (hoprefully) shrink with me.

Thanks for all the info

AQ