Emotional Support Sisters

I made a pun, on purpose! Most of the time I don’t even realize I’ve made a pun until my husband starts laughing. But that’s not why I’m writing this post.

Braces (the body kind, not the teeth kind) have been part of my life since I was 12.  I have quite the collection of them. Off the top of my head I have 2 ankle braces, 2 compression knee braces, 3 different types of abdominal/ back braces, 2 compression shirts to help stabilize my shoulders, 3 different  wrist braces, compression socks, and compression gloves.

This summer I added a new one to my collection: a neck brace. This one has been the most emotional one for me. This summer I was diagnosed with cranial cervical instability. CCI is most likely causing my vertigo. It is also why car rides and airplane rides are so exhausting. My neck isn’t very good at holding my head up. So I have a neck brace that I can use up to 4 hours a day.  Now on days I actually use it I usually only need it for an hour or 2, but that wasn’t always the case.

This summer I also had one of the worst headaches of my life, and it lasted 4 months. Turns out I’m one of the weird ones that beta blockers make my headaches worse. It took me a bit to realize the headache started when I started the medicine because there were other circumstances that could have caused the headache. I was mostly in bed for my kids’ summer break. It was the first time that my chronic illnesses felt like a disability. Wearing my neck brace was one of the few things that brought some relief. It also allowed me to participate in life a little bit. 

But it is also very noticeable. Most of my braces are hidden, or super common so I don’t get asked questions or have people stare at me. The neck brace is impossible to hide and not something you see many people wearing. I’ve had many stares and many questions. 

Despite the extra attention it was drawing, I decided that I have ability aids to help me live as full of life as possible, so I’m going to live life.

Two activities I felt extra silly wearing my neck brace on were paddle boarding and hiking. 

Last summer I was paddle boarding standing up, taking kids on rides and really crushing it.  This summer it hurt to paddle so I decided to try the neck brace and it made it so I could paddle.  Standing up on the board took a monumental effort and ended with me in the lake swimming, wearing a neck brace.

I also love hiking.  My family has a favorite all ages hike we go on several times a year. The fastest I have ever done it was 45 minutes.  With kids on average it takes 1-1.5 hours. I refrained from going on the hike for most of the summer, letting my family go without me.  Labor Day weekend I decided to try it.  I wore my brace and made it to the falls, which is the shortest version of the hike. While we were there I wanted to document my accomplishment (we celebrate the small wins here) and took a selfie with my husband.  Right before he snapped the picture, my husband asked if I wanted to take the brace off. I ultimately decided no, I wanted to leave the brace on.  It took wearing the brace to make it, but I made it. I didn’t want to sanitize the picture because the brace reminded me of how low I had gotten, but that I was digging myself back out.

My next neck brace adventure will be accompanying a Jr High women’s choir.  I will wear it for rehearsal so I can listen better instead of focusing on staying upright. Wish me luck!