Michelle
Fused 1981
Charlotte
Fused 2013
Katie
Fused 2023
Shannon
Fused 2020
Alicia
Fused 2018
Lucy
No Fusion
Scoliosis is where the spine twists and curves to the side.
It can affect people of any age, from babies to adults, but most often starts in children aged 10 to 15.
2-3% of the UK population will have scoliosis and 10% of them may require surgery.
People with Scoliosis may notice:
- that they lean more to one side
- one shoulder being higher than the other
- one shoulder or hip being more prominent than the other
- clothes not hanging properly
- a prominent ribcage
- a difference in leg lengths
Curvatures can be extreme or not so noticeable, but this does not take away from the pain the condition can cause, both physically and mentally. Scoliosis can be fully or partially corrected by several means, most commonly spinal fusion surgery or bracing.
I wanted to focus on this subject area as I feel it is important to create more authentic material surrounding Scoliosis and those who live with it.
When I was first diagnosed at the age of 13, I was unaware that it was even possible for your spine to do such a thing.
There wasn’t anybody that I knew at the time who also had the condition, and so I felt extremely lonely, being unable to relate to anyone about what I was experiencing.
Scoliosis took over my teenage years, leaving me self-conscious and wondering if everybody around me who did not know could see that I had this deformity.
Due to being underweight, I did not have my corrective surgery until I was 19 years old. But as the years passed and I mentioned it to more people, I was often met with, “I know someone who has that”. I wasn’t alone, I just didn’t realise it until I had pulled myself through the toughest part.
To meet these people who have been so kind in telling me their stories of living with Scoliosis has been utterly incredible, and although we have all experienced pain, it has not defined us, it has simply shown us our strength.
Chloe
Fused 2019
