June is Scoliosis Awareness Month, and after sharing the inspiring stories of other scoliosis warriors, I’ve decided to share my own journey to spread the message behind Scoliosis Support and Research’s early awareness campaign.
My scoliosis diagnosis couldn’t have come any earlier at just three years old. But it was picked up completely by accident. In 2004, I fell ill with a severe cold.
Concerned about the possibility of pneumonia, our family GP sent me for a chest x-ray. While I didn’t have pneumonia, the x-ray was shocking; instead of being a straight line, my spine twisted in an ‘S’ shape, almost perfectly symmetrical, making it invisible to the naked eye.
Without that cold, it may not have been picked up for years due to the invisible nature of the condition, and my family’s limited knowledge of scoliosis.
Typically, scoliosis is diagnosed between the ages of 10 and 15, and in most cases, including mine, the cause remains unknown. However, early detection opens up more treatment options and provides more time to correct the condition without resorting to invasive surgery.
The ABCD method developed by Scoliosis Research can help identify early signs of scoliosis even at home. I was ticking all four boxes, indicating that my condition wouldn’t improve on its own as I grew.
Given that both my curves were already well over 20 degrees, the only viable treatment option was a spinal brace. Before I even turned four, I was fitted with my first brace; a vibrant orange corset adorned with farm animals, made of rigid plastic and metal that encased my torso from hip to shoulder.
The race was on to see if this brace could keep my curves in check long enough for me to finish growing. For nearly a decade, I wore a brace 23 hours a day, seven days a week. My childhood was largely consumed by doctor visits, physiotherapy sessions, x-rays, and brace adjustments.
Despite my deep loathing for the brace, the excruciating pain of not wearing it was an unbearable alternative. Unfortunately, by 2013, my scoliosis was gaining the upper hand.
My top curve had exceeded 80 degrees, while my bottom curve was nearing 70. To put it into perspective, most surgeons recommend surgery around the 40-degree mark.
I recall the moment my orthopaedic surgeon declared it was time for surgery, I was overcome with joy, but the euphoria was short-lived. He quickly started talking about the risk of waking up paralysed, the chance of accidentally severing my spinal cord or complications arising during recovery for inexplicable reasons.
Looking back, I don’t think I fully grasped the gravity of what they were saying, and I’m thankful for the blissful ignorance of my younger self. Thankfully, my surgery proceeded without any complications, and I spent my 12th birthday recuperating.
Relearning how to walk was the most challenging task I’ve ever undertaken, but I know I’m stronger for it and still walk today because of it. There are still aches and pains, clothes don’t always fit properly, and sometimes I need assistance or aids, but my life is relatively normal despite the odds I was given at three years old.
For those currently wearing a brace, I can’t promise it gets easier. The stares, getting stuck in chairs, ruining your favourite shirt – it’s all difficult, particularly when you’re young, but it doesn’t last forever, even if it feels like there’s no light at the end of the tunnel. One day, you might even forget how challenging stairs used to be.
For parents, implementing the ABCD method with every child in your life could potentially detect a life-changing diagnosis before a brace is even needed. If you notice that clothes never quite sit right, you experience more back pain than your peers, or you have other signs of scoliosis, Scoliosis Support and Research offers a range of services to help.
