How do I get my back brown with Kyphosis?

[fraid]

As I am bent forward, cannot lay flat or sit with back to sun for more than a minute I am tanned on front white on tother side, i.e half toasted. Any tips how to get to get brown on both? Would help my skin, spots, itches, rashes and self esteem greatly! Thanks. 😎☀️

[Mavary]

I can’t lie in the dentists chair without something to hold my neck. I had my coat there last time. I just can’t put my head down.

[FrogLeg]

My engineering mind wants to help. But I have only a basic sense of the general mechanics and difficulty associated with your condition. It might help to elaborate on why you cannot sit with your back to the sun for more than one minute. In day to day life, how do you sit or position yourself comfortably? How do you sleep? Try to elaborate in more detail. Think and convey how support helps enable you to do more (like pillows, nearby chairs in various positions, braces, other people, etc). Can you lie on your side with your back to the sun? I wish you well.

[fraid in reply to FrogLeg]

Thanks. I have 6 vertebral fractures T13 through to L5, kyphosis means I am bent to the tune of 6" loss in height. I cannot sit up straight nor lie on my side or front, have to sit and sleep banana shape with legs up in adjustable recliner. None of that sounds very hopeful I know so perhaps I'll just get someone to fake tan the rear view! 🤷‍♀️

[FrogLeg in reply to fraid]

Can you walk?

[fraid in reply to FrogLeg]

Only a few minutes then have to sit re pain.

[FrogLeg in reply to fraid]

I can imagine creating a chair that allows you to sit in the inverted position, 180 degrees flipped over from your current recliner position. It might be unusual looking, sort of like a massage chair, but would provide essentially the same support so that your body could remain in that exact same position (just flipped) and little pressure would be applied to the spine.

I can also imagine using transparent inflatable cushions to mimic your current chair’s support in a tanning room or bed. The UV could reach your back from below in this way. The material of course has to be transparent to UV (not just visible light). Alternately, the same thing could be crafted at home coupled with a mirror to reflect the sun’s rays from above onto your back. Or a more solid chair could be created from transparent material, coupled again with a mirror below.

I am also interested in the possibility of exploring various supportive setups for laying on one’s side. I am not saying it is necessarily possible, or that you haven’t already exhausted yourself trying various things, but I can imagine it being a non-trivial problem. To be convinced that there is no solution available to allow laying comfortably on one’s side, I would have to understand where the forces are being applied in the spine in that position and where the associated nerves were being compressed or agitated. This would make it clear that in principle it is impossible. Good luck to you.

[fraid in reply to FrogLeg]

Wow, thanks for all the thought you put into that! But, from a practical point of view, if I were flipped over 180 I would still be on my front, blood would rush to my head if it was down, cannot lie on side which would further contort my crumbling spine creating more pain. So I agree with you it is impossible, so all I need now is an oil boy! 🤭😎

[Sunseaandsand in reply to fraid]

I’m a little confused there isn’t a T13.

The thoracic are T1 to T12.

I would love to know how you even manage to tan your front and if you have found a good chair to do this in please let us know what make it is.

It is brilliant that you are able to achieve a tan on your front, and who is going to see your back??

I now have severe Kyphosis and more recently Scoliosis I have been unable to see my own back for quite some time now and would not want to openly display it even if it was tanned.

As you can see from my title I have been a sun worshipper all my life so do understand the lift having a tan gives us, especially if like myself you can miss whole summers by being unable to even get outside because of the fractures.

I was in that position in lockdown and also two years ago, and it destroyed my mental health not even being able to get outside for any fresh air.

Just looking at the lovely colour in your face will make you feel good about yourself ( that is if you can see through a mirror.

All the mirrors in our house and bathrooms are now too high for me🤣😂

Enjoy what good weather you can while you can. xx

[beckyiswell in reply to Sunseaandsand]

I have a T13. (fractured)

Dr said I have an extra thoracic vertebrae.

[fraid in reply to beckyiswell]

Crikey that is rare, shame it wasn't helpful.

[fraid in reply to Sunseaandsand]

Looked it up, was Robert Dyas website, Glendale luxury sun recliner thing, now on sale, £92, still more expensive than when I bought it ? 3- 4 years ago, still going strong. 😎

[Sunseaandsand in reply to fraid]

Oh thanks, I will take a look now it may be worth a try for myself as feeling pretty miserable at the moment ( bought so many different chairs some cheap some expensive and either given them to family or sold at a big loss

Hope you are getting some more 🌞 whilst it lasts and topping your tan up xx

[fraid in reply to Sunseaandsand]

Sorry you're feeling ploppy, it does get you down sometimes, on top of other ploppy things. Hope your sunbed helps, it does me, even when the sun evades I can still sit out in the fresh air awhile. 🤗 Funny how sun disappears as soon as I put on my shorts...🤔 You deserve a bit of sun ☀️☀️☀️😎

[fraid]

Sorry, typo yes T12-L5 inclusive. I got a great sun recliner, manual, from Dyas , think it's William, years ago, so comfy, more so than lounge one but latter is electric. Only problem is I have to get X to drag it in and out as still gets damp with plastic sheet over it. 😕

My sun want is not just vanity but helps my skin re spots, rashes, itches though do find fake tan helps a bit too. Plus you never know who's going to pop round 😉😂😂. Hope you can find a comfy recliner so you can get some sun when it stops bloody raining! Yes, everything is now too high, got a grabber thing and have perfected standing on tip toes without falling over now I'm officially short. 👍

[Southerngirl2787]

I live in southeast Texas, in an abundance of sun...it makes you feel so good. I don't lie out in it, I am so bored just lying there. I walk with minimum clothes, using hiking poles, morning sun...which lifts you up, standing straighter. Work in garden, in the sun....walking and rotating around to get sun. I have found to help straighten the back, I started on the couch/bed, and simply lie flat on back, then roll to lie on stomach, with tucking the chin, forehead on a very small towel. I also back up against the wall, feet at wall, buttocks on wall, and push head against the wall...hold as long as you can. These were hard at first, but gradually over a year, I have straightened out to a small kyphosis curve. I can hold head against the wall, and rest of body for 2 minutes. My surgeon told me it was very possible to fight gravity, move spine, but it's a fight! I also never ever wear sunscreen, defeats the purpose of getting Vit D! I don't burn either, since I gave up sugars, grains, seed oils and starches...it's the seed oils that cause the skin to go bad and burn.

[fraid in reply to Southerngirl2787]

Well you're obviously a lot more mobile than me! You don't say how many spinal fractures you have but I have been warned that another one could paralyse me, so am careful, besides pain stops me doing much. I agree that sun block stops you getting Vit D you need but do use a lighter one after 10 mins or so, I tan easily but we don't have the sun you do in Texas! I don't eat seeds and don't believe they cause sunburn, too much strong sun does! Enjoy your walks you lucky thing! 😎

[Southerngirl2787 in reply to fraid]

I have 10 spinal fractures with 4 of them fracturing twice or more! This has been happening since Sept 2023. I have 4 spinal fusions, cervical, lumbar down to tailbone. I have 3 thoracic, 3 more lumbar failing, two are bone on bone, and currently L1-2-3 are compressing nerves....my SI joints are also fusing, due to AS. It's not the seeds that cause sun burn...it's seed oils, that damage the mitorocondria in the body, cause oxidative damage, which is in our vessels, skin, keeps inflammation up. Seed oils worst first, soybean oil, canola oil, safflower oil, rapeseed oil, any trans fat oil, sunflower and cotton seed oil. These are not human consumption oils, they were made first for machinery lubrication...but they are cheap. I eat nuts and seeds, reasonable amounts, not to many, they have good nutrients...higher in Omega 6 than 3, but we need some of both. When you get in the sun daily, if you have it, you build up protection, and eventually when your oxidative damage and inflammation is lowered, you have healthy skin that absorbs well and you don't burn. Anyone not used to being out in the sun, especially in southeast Texas, will burn, it's all about gradually increasing it, starting in the morning. If anything, recent studies have shown that a lack of sunshine on our skin is not healthy.

[fraid in reply to Southerngirl2787]

Wow, that's a lot of #s but seems you had some fixed with cement, dox refused to do that for me saying would make more vertebrae fail plus found out too late. Over in dark old GB we are constantly warned to cover up re rising numbers of skin cancer cases. I believe we need sun for Vit D, why so many are on tabs, it's the sun overdose that causes damage. Re seed oils, don't believe they do as much damage as strong sun on say, a pale skin eg gingers, dark hair types, depends on your genes too. That's us, the beetroot colour Brit staying out in hot sun it's not used to, hanky on head, toes in the sea, deckchair collapsing.....😂😂 😎

[Southerngirl2787 in reply to fraid]

Yes, all but two have kypho....I tried the natural healing, but I kept having edema in the spine, due to Lupus and AS. The kypho was a game-changer, the pain was much improved, as well as muscle strength. My neurosurgeon is extremely careful, but yes, it's a risk for some. I have spasms 24/7 when fractures hit, and kypho is the only thing to stop them. Those things can render you useless! My poor step-father was covered head to toe in the sun...he had a dermatologist who was so sad, convinced the sun was our enemy. God made the sun for life...not to cause skin cancer! He finally got a new dermatologist who told him that the most skin cancers are in places that never see the sun, and in countries with low sun! It was amazing how much better he felt, and moved, he had severe arthritis, after he allowed himself to enjoy the morning sun! It's "new" science that is showing us how powerful foods are for us, good and bad. But it does depend on genetics too. I'm a red-blonde, at 63, little gray, but with medium olive skin tones...and as long as I build daily in the sun, I'll not burn. Sudden over exposure is not good, burning is never good either! My mother and grandmother were pure gingers, with medium skin tones, but always got to the garden in the mornings! They were all Irish/UK...I have the addition of French and Mediterranean. So that likely influences my skin tones as well.

[Posy-White]

Hello Fraid,

I was quite physically fit before spinal fractures (8 including T12) this was 6 years ago, I have severe Kyphosis and a Scoliosis, loss of 12cm in height, I also cannot sit up straight nor lie on my side or on my front for more than a minute or two and then need help to get into and out of the position. I do physio daily and try to stay as strong as possible, but am limited.

However I have worked out a short5 -8 minute way to sun bathe with my back into the sun. I have a fairly stable sun recliner chair with a duvet on it and a couple of pillows for my neck and head. To sun my back- I (or my husband) put all the pillows on to the seat, and partly pull the duvet on the floor; I face the chair, standing on the duvet; then holding the arms lower myself on to my knees so I can lean forward on the front (leg part) of the chair; I then make a nest of pillows and duvet on the front of the seat part under my tummy and chest, this leaves a 'hole' for my neck and head to lean into (so that I can breath!). The next bit is the really complex bit as I wear a brace, so with help I take it off, I then hold my arms fairly close to my body supporting my trunk. AND for the next 5-8 minutes have the delights of sun on my back. (Okay may not be pain free, but is worth it for me) The art is not to do it too long so as to get stuck and unable to move out of the position.

Would it be possible for you to lean forward on to 'something' with a nest of pillows and duvets if you cannot get on to and back from your knees - Perhaps a table, sitting on a stool with a load of pillows supporting your tummy and chest but leaving room for your head and neck to fall forwards into there natural curved position ? Your back would get some sun even if your legs didn't.

We all know our personal limitations, this isn't for everyone but I understand your 'need' for sun and the wellbeing feeling, I only hope you might be able to come up with something that works for you to get a bit more in the sun.

I loved the inflatable cushions idea and the oil boy! - food for thought!

Good Luck

Posy White

[fraid in reply to Posy-White]

Wow, that sounds a right palaver but glad it works for you. I don't get any help and the worst thing for pain is leaning forward. I used to able to straddle a chair for a few mins but can't safely do that now either, if I fall down I can't get up, like a turtle flailing about to right itself. 😂 Shall just try sit with back to sun for a minute a time so should be nice and brown by Xmas, that or frozen. 😂 Sun is out, shall experiment later, if you don't hear from me again I'll be trapped in the folds of the sun chair, send help! 😂😂😂😎

[Posy-White]

I had thought it might not work without having someone to help if needed and yes it is a right palaver but one tries alsorts to get the sun and the pleasures it brings - hope you don't get trapped in the sunchair.

Posy White x

[walk21]

I am not worried about sun on my back, but have another problem with my altered shape. How do people wash their backs? The bath brush will not go round my hump and I can't reach very far! Mostly I stand under a hot shower and rub with a towel. Can't see how clean it is anyway!

[fraid in reply to walk21]

I tried several shower long handled brushes, even one you could bend but none seemed to reach the parts you can't. So I now use a jumbo car sponge, takes 1/2 the time and gets most of it, I think, another reason I want sun on my back, clears up my skin!

[emersee]

Sit on a bench or a chair without arms with your back to the sun. That is probably the answer.

[fraid in reply to emersee]

Yes, experimented on Sunday, tried allsorts but sitting sideways on patio chair with cushions and parked next to recliner to lean on to help me get up worked for a few minutes, so shall try that now and again. Thanks for all the suggestions everyone.