One of the reasons behind setting up this website was to encourage me to learn more about my own scoliosis. I was diagnosed when I was about 14 and operated on at 15. At that time I guess I was fearless, I didn’t think too much about the possible consequences of my surgery or the impact it would have on my future. I just knew it was the right thing to do at that time, the best option available to me.

Before my surgery I didn’t focus too much on my scoliosis. I’d had it for years and not known about it; until I was diagnosed it had had absolutely no impact on my life and I wanted to keep that way for as long as possible. I kept up with my sporting and active lifestyle and didn’t let my new found scoliosis stop me. In a sense, I was burying my head in the sand.

As a result, I didn’t bother to do any research on scoliosis, the surgery I was about to have, or the impact it would have on my life; I just went with what the doctors told me and carried on. Also, and believe it or not, 17 years ago when I was diagnosed with scoliosis, I didn’t have the internet at home and therefore did not have the easy access to information that we know enjoy. Even if I’d wanted to know more, I’d have found it extremely difficult to find it.

Fast forward to now and my attitude has changed. I want to know more about scoliosis, in general and my own specifically, and want to encourage people share their experiences to help others who are going through the same things.

So, as part of my own scoliosis journey, I finally decided to get a few questions about my scoliosis answered; and here’s what I’ve found out recently.

I’ve always known that I have an S-shaped curve – it’s kind of hard not to notice that!!! – and that I have an idiopathic scoliosis, however, what I did not know (couldn’t remember, wasn’t interested in at the time) was the degree of my curves. Now I do.

To the left I have a 59 degree thoracic scoliosis from T6-T11, and to the right I have a 57 degree lumbar scoliosis from T11-L3; both curves falling in the severe category of scoliosis, leading to a diagnosis of Adolescent Idiopathic Double Structural Scoliosis and ultimately to Posterior Spinal Fusion from T4-L4.

I’m now a little wiser about my scoliosis but there’s still a lot to learn, especially about managing pain and maintaining a strong back; but I’ve made progress by learning a little bit more and will continue to learn more as I go along my scoliosis journey.

One other thing I learnt this week about my scoliosis is that due to the way my back curves it pushes my stomach forward a bit on my right hand side meaning that side on from the right I look like a fat b*stard! Yet from the left I look quite slim. This was not something I’d really noticed until it was kindly pointed out to me, and to be honest, it has affected my body confidence a bit. Again though, this is just something that I’ll have to overcome. As we like to say, I’m bent, not broken.