My story put basically, to give a positive and hopeful perspective on surgery to anyone who may need it. Do not hesitate to message me for any more details or questions!
I was diagnosed when I was 13, after a year of doctors visits and physiotherapy. I noticed that only one of my hips was growing and that both of them clicked and cracked very painfully. The doctor said my hip bones were growing faster than the surrounding muscles, causing more cracks and ignored the visible symptoms I mentioned. He put me on physiotherapy for six months.
It wasnât until my release appointment when my parents complained that I was told to touch my toes and had my spine checked for curves. Lo and behold they sent me for an x-ray and the rest is history.
What degree(s) is/are your curve(s)?
Pre-Surgery â 42 degrees moved to 48 degrees
Post-Surgery â something near 17 degrees if I remember right?
Did/do you need a back brace?
They didnât recommend a brace since they believed it would be ineffective and my curve wasnât worsening to the point it could cause damage.
Have/will you need surgery?
They did however offer me surgery, since I was experiencing hip and back pain and was having trouble with feeling confident in my body. It was definitely the right choice for me, regardless of having only a moderate curvature (despite what some ignorant people like to think.)
It is now two years and a week since my surgery and I wouldnât change it for the world. Although they couldnât guarantee it would relieve my pain it definitely did and as a performer it has given me new awareness and control over my body.
I have no friends with scoliosis but have worked with my local hospital to contact other scoliosis kids on the other side of surgery to share my experiences.
On a scale from 1-10, how is your pain? (10 being the worst)
Before surgery I would have daily aches around 2-5 with the occasional episode of 7-8
After surgery I donât get daily pains but if itâs been a long haul day or Iâve been dancing/active the episodes can return at 4-5.
(gross->) My surgery didnât go down my back but along my side, removing a rib and deflating my left lung to access the front of my spine instead of the back, to keep my bottom vertebrae flexible. I would say I get more weird discomfort from my missing rib than pain anywhere else.
How has scoliosis changed you?
Weirdly itâs done a lot for my confidence. Before scoliosis I hadnât been to a hospital as a patient before. I am still afraid of needles and vomit and general sickness so choosing to accept a surgery date at age 16, right after GCSE exams and right before starting college was a massive leap of faith for me. I now love my scar and joke around that itâs my âshark biteâ. I wouldnât cover it up for the world.
What is the best part about having scoliosis?
The triumph you feel with every small victory post surgery. Sitting up at 45 degrees without nausea. Turning over in bed independently. Sitting up 90 degrees. Regaining balance on your feet. Being made to walk for your meals. The first X-Ray visit where you see your new spine. Being wheeled to the car and surviving the bumpy road home. The stairs. The high cupboards. A walk around the block. A trip to the cinemas. Starting school/work. Your first dance show/sport event. Your first year post-op check up.
What is the worst part about having scoliosis?
For me personally it was the whole hospital, blood tests, anaesthetic kind of stuff since I was really inexperienced and afraid of that stuff. The nurses were really accommodating though. They let me come in before hand to visit my ward and ask really silly questions to put my mind at ease. They gave me gas to put me out instead of a needle, respected my choice to avoid morphine when it made me feel very very sick and kept my lung drain out of sight of me and my squeamish parents for the whole 5 days it was in.
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