Looking back

 Hi everyone,  I recently celebrated five years post op. That feels kind of strange to type. I almost can't believe that my spinal fusion surgery was five years ago, the experience still remains fresh in my mind. Scoliosis has taught me so much about myself and every anniversary makes me stop and reflect on how far I have come and how much things have changed. Whilst I type this all I can think about is how this condition shaped my life in more ways than I ever thought possible. Spinal fusion surgery is no walk in the park but it makes you appreciate things that are often taken for granted. For instance, I remember being taught to walk again and how difficult it felt to do something I've done my whole life. The surgery makes routine things such as walking, showering, and stretching more difficult to carry out. However, whilst the surgery was a daunting and challenging experience, five years on I can still say with confidence that I do not regret having the surgery. This may so...

Hi everyone,  Once again  it has been awhile since i last posted on here but i thought that my 4 year post op was a good reason to post again. Today is officially my 4th year since my spinal fusion in 2016 and i wanted to update you on how i am doing in regards to scoliosis 4 years on. The answer is pretty positive in all honesty. Since my fusion Scoliosis has become a much more manageable aspect of my life!  Whilst Scoliosis was once a huge part of my life it is something i no longer worry about, i suppose one of the greatest benefits of having the surgery for me personally, is this eradication of worry. In retrospect i remember often worrying about when my inevitable surgery will be and if my curvature had progressed and the implications of both these things upon my life going forwards. Whereas now i feel secure in the realisation that in my own mind my Scoliosis is "fixed." Whilst i realise that i will never be free of Scoliosis i have come to accept that it is a part ...

Hello everyone, As I am sure you are aware I often blog about a condition known as Scoliosis. I wanted to break down what Scoliosis is and hopefully help spread awareness to anyone who may click on this post completely unaware of the condition. Hopefully this blog post acts as a social catalyst to spread the word about the condition. Scoliosis simply is the abnormal curvature of the spine, in pretty much any direction e.g. you can have S shaped curves like mine which mean you have essentially an S shaped spine which has two counteracting curves on either side. An S shaped curve can consist of two or three curves in the spine, the most common is two curves creating the stereotypical S shape. The other type of curvature is C shaped, this curvature consists of one curve that can be to the left, right or forwards (often creating a hunched back) Scoliosis can occur at any age, however it occurs more frequently between the ages of 10-15 and is usually idiopathic (the cause is unknown...

Hello everyone, It’s been awhile since i have posted anything on here as I have been busy with exam season. However,   June 14th was my official 3 year post op spinal fusion surgery anniversary. I have always posted for my anniversary and it is something I wish to continue in the future. I can’t quite believe it has been 3 years since my operation, to be honest it feels like just yesterday. Whilst the surgery was one of the most daunting experiences of my life, it was well worth it for the outcome I received. My back aches and pains whilst still prominent are less frequent than I could’ve ever imagined. Scoliosis is, and will always be, a big part of my life. But, with the back pain slowing fading in memory my life is almost back to normal. Sure there are some things I can’t do and will probably never be able to do again, but if someone was to ask me whether it was worth it, my answer will always remain the same, yes! I am constantly researching developments in scoliosis...

Hello everyone, I haven't posted anything to do with scoliosis for a while now and I wanted to share some new information regarding scoliosis flexibility. As scoliosis curvatures progress many patients begin to lose flexibility. However, there are simple ways to regain this movement through light exercising such as yoga and Thai chi. These slow yet core building exercises help to contract and relax the muscles more frequently helping with movement and strength. They allow for muscles in the back to be stretched. However, spinal fusion surgery the main treatment for scoliosis correction limits flexibility and muscle movement in the back. The rods and bolts hold the spine in a fixed position enabling correction but this does mean that movement is reduced. Exercising and stretching can help to regain some of the previous muscle memory.  Spinal fusion has been proven time and time again to be very effective but the reduction in mobility is still prominent. There is a clinic ...

Hello everyone, When you have Scoliosis it can be hard to know what you can and can't do. I spent a lot of my time when I was first diagnosed not knowing what was good for my back and what could cause me more pain. However, I now know from experience that there are certain things that cause me aches and pains. 1) Carrying heavy objects This causes anyone to have back ache as it puts strain on the muscles. However, if you have scoliosis it can make the already existing pain much worse. For example, the muscles in a scoliosis patients back are already out of line, so heavy lifting adds more strain to the back. 2) One sided sports/ impact sports Some sports can cause more problems for scoliosis patients than others. Sports that involve collisions such as rugby or football, can have a high impact on the patients back. Golf, tennis and badminton are all one sided sports which can put strain on one side of the body and back. Both contact sports and one sided sports can caus...

Hello everyone, I talk a lot about scoliosis surgery and recovery here on my blog, but I sometimes forget that not everyone is aware what the surgery entails. So, with that in mind I wanted to talk about what a spinal fusion is and what the process of spinal fusion involves. Spinal fusion surgery entails …. - A surgeon dissects 5 layers of spinal muscles, surrounding ligaments and tendons, and the spine's entire posterior joint system. - 3 inch screws and hooks are inserted on both sides of the spine on all required levels. - Solid metal rods are run through the hooks on both sides of the spine along the entire length of the curve. A spinal fusion surgery is designed to stop the motion at a painful vertebral segment, which in turn should decrease pain generated from the joint. There are many approaches to lumbar spinal fusion surgery, and all involve the following process:  - Adding bone graft to a segment of the spine. - Set up a biological response that causes t...

Hello everyone, I recently had my 2 year check up appointment for my scoliosis. I never thought I would be sat writing this post. It feels very strange to say the least. I have been officially signed off from all planned appointments; in some ways this almost feels like an end to an era. Scoliosis has been a massive part of my life for a good 4 years now and it probably always will be. It feels so surreal to be saying, that this is finally the end of the road. No more appointments. I’m so relieved that everything has worked out so well, but it’s weird knowing that I can finally move on. Scoliosis no longer controls my life. It will always be part of me but it is something I have overcome . I’m pretty proud of myself to be honest. I have so many memories from my appointments the bad and the good. Scoliosis has been an emotional rollercoaster, it’s had it’s dips and it’s highs but as cheesy as it sounds it’s time for me to get off the roller coaster. My early teenage years ha...

Hello everyone, I honestly cannot believe I am currently writing this post. I am officially 2 years post op spinal fusion surgery. It certainly doesn't feel like it has been 2 whole years. When I think about how my back used to be and the pain I used to have to deal with it's honestly incredible. A spinal surgery is a big deal, and to think I have come so far since mine honestly blows my mind. I rarely have back pains anymore. I wasn't really expecting the back pain to ever go away to be honest, but i am so lucky that it has. The back pain was always one of the worst things about having scoliosis for me, besides the uneven shoulder blades and hips. I began to see the pain as normal and after my surgery when the pain had gone away it felt really weird. I no longer had to take co- codamal daily, or stretch my back all the time just to relive some of the pain and aches. I do get the occasional aches and pains like anyone else does, but I don't complain about them as I ...

Hello everyone, I don’t know if you remember but I did a whole month of  blog posts dedicated to scoliosis month in June of last year. Scoliosis month is something I always like to talk about on my blog, as I have scoliosis and I want anyone here who also has scoliosis to be able to relate, and help spread the word when it comes to scoliosis awareness. Scoliosis month is basically a month dedicated to educating and helping others to detect their scoliosis early, so a quicker solution or treatment can be put into action. By spreading awareness, scoliosis will become a more well known condition and people will begin to know the signs and how to look for the spinal condition themselves. Awareness will hopefully help to reduce the amount of people having spinal fusions, as earlier treatements can be put in to place first. So what is scoliosis? Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature or twist of the spine. It can affect people of any age from babies to the elderly. It is most prom...

Hello everyone, It feels like I haven't done a scoliosis blog post in a while, so I thought I would talk about some of the disadvantages of fusion-less scoliosis. I would be lying if I told you I never thought what my life and back would be like if I didn't have the fusion surgery. However, after thinking about it for a while I know I made the right decision for me personally. Having a spinal fusion is completely individual, your consultant can recommend the procedure, but at the end of the day it's you who decides whether to have it or not. I had my spinal fusion surgery nearly 2 years ago now and I was really happy with my results. The procedure was 7 and a half hours long, but well worth it. Spinal fusion is no walk in the park, but the results can be amazing. However, like any operation they are pros and cons. I had some nerve damage in my leg and numbness on my back, but I thought this was a small price to pay all things considered. Having a spinal fusion not o...

Hello everyone, Today I wanted to talk to you all about some of the long term effects of having  spinal fusion surgery. So far I have had a really positive experience, however like any surgery there are often long term effects that occur post operation. I wanted to talk about these issues and address them in the hope that I can educate people who are awaiting scoliosis surgery and help spread awareness of the negative effects of this particular type of surgery I.e. fusion. In my experience, the positive  effects have strongly out weighed the negatives, but they are still issues I have to live with on a daily basis. 1) Numbness This is something I was aware of pre operation and I was told that I could potentially have numbness due to nerve damage after the operation, however I do believe that it is a small price to pay for a straight spine! The numbness is hard to adapt to but as most of the numbness is on my back it’s not something that effects me significantly, it...

Hello everyone, Unless you have scoliosis, it can be really hard to sympathise with someone who has the condition. The physical pain of Scoliosis can be severe, however some lucky people do not suffer at all with pain. The curvature of the spine is not always the direct source of the pain; however it can cause pain to arise in other ways. For instance, back pain can be caused due to the curve putting pressure on the spinal discs, ligaments, nerves and muscles. Severe Scoliosis can also cause misalignments of the hips,this can cause the persons gait to be affected (the way in which they walk). Over time this can lead to leg pain as the muscles over compensate for the lack of balance. Serious cases of Scoliosis can lead to even bigger problems such as cardiovascular/ breathing issues. This is because the curve of the spine progresses so much that it begins to twist the rib cage, which can reduce the amount of space your lungs and heart have to work properly. The emotional side of S...

Hello everyone, I hope you have all had a great 2018 so far. Today I wanted to talk about some of the struggles people with scoliosis deal with regarding sleep and share some of my tips and tricks on how to get a better nights sleep! Scoliosis can cause ache, pain and discomfort especially at the end of a day, therefore sleeping can be a real issue. I remember before my surgery experiencing quite a lot of problems regarding sleep due to my back pain, so I thought by doing this post I could share with you some of the tips and tricks that worked for me. 1) Pillows - Pillows add comfort and the bonus is you can place them around the area in which you are experiencing pain. They provide support and can sometimes help to relieve some of the pain. Another important factor regarding pillows, is how many you sleep on. This may sound weird, but sleeping with too many or too high pillows can put pressure on the neck and spine causing even more pain and discomfort so make sur...

Hello everyone, When I had my scoliosis surgery I felt as prepared as possible, however they were several things I was unaware of post surgery, I thought I would share these and if any of you reading this are going to have the scoliosis spinal fusion surgery then maybe this could be useful to some of you. 1) Sneezing !! I had know idea that this would be a problem, but sneezing was very painful! post surgery you will feel very sore and weak and trying to get a sneeze out is very tasking. unfortunately this isn't something that can be prevent we just have to deal with it, on the bright side this discomfort does disappear after a few weeks. 2) Balance and coordination imagine spending your entire life balancing to one side of your body and then having to try to re balance yourself so you walk straight, everything is so much easier but it does take some serious getting used to. I expected it to come naturally but it was quite a shock to be honest. 3) Flexibility I was aware...

Hello everyone, The most common procedure for scoliosis is spinal fusion, however there are other operations and treatments available. For instance, the use of magnetic growth rods is becoming more frequently used. The magnetic growth rods procedure is fairly new, it has been developed to improve the traditional growing rod procedure. This new procedure, only has a short follow up time post op. Magnetic rods aim to grow with the child, rather than stop growth like a spinal fusion would do. The procedure consists of single or dual titanium rods that contain a magnetically drivable and lengthing mechanism. The rods are placed in the areas in which the spinal curvature is worst. Patients who choose this treatment are required to undergo a post op procedure (distraction) after the initial surgery has been completed. The post op procedure is not very invasive, however patients are also required to attend follow ups for up to 6 weeks post op. An external remote controller is placed ove...

Hello everyone, I'm sure many people with Scoliosis often wonder whether the condition can be prevented before it occurs. Scoliosis can not generally be prevented. Most cases of scoliosis (80%) are idiopathic, which means that the cause is unknown. Idiopathic scoliosis usually develops whilst a child is growing up or in times of rapid growth spurts. Since the curvatures cause is unknown, it cannot be anticipated and no preventative action can be taken. Scoliosis can also occur as a symptom of numerous other conditions, such as - - Osteoporosis - Chiari malformations - Marfan syndrome - Neurofibromatosis Some of these underlying conditions can sometimes be prevented - for instance, excersise and a diet rich in vitamin D and calcium can help to reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis - but others are passed on genetically, making it difficult to prevent these conditions and the spinal curvatures that they can cause. There are many myths about scoliosis prevention and...

Hello everyone, Within the abnormal curvature of the spine condition known as scoliosis , muscular imbalacement is very common. The muscles located at either side of the spinal curvature are heavily impacted by the condition, in most cases one side will be weaker than the other. The reason why this occurs is due to lack of use of certain muscles down one side of the back, consequently the stronger side is normally due to an over use of these muscles which is due to the curvature this side is having to work harder to help support the curve and back. Both the under used and over used sides of the back can cause problems regarding pain. An example of muscular imbalancement would be, if a patient has a spinal curvature which leans to the right this would cause the muscles on the right hand side to become stronger, these muscles will be used more frequently and will become more stretched out. However, the left hand side of the back the muscles will become weaker, this is because the musc...

Hello everyone, Hydrotherapy also known as aquatic therapy, can be used to help influence body alignments.  There are 5 key features which help with the treatment of hydrotherapy, Buoyancy, the upwards pressure of the water eases stress on muscles and joints, soothing the aches and pains that scoliosis can cause. The warm water within a pool can help to relax the muscles and body. viscosity, the thickness of the water prompts gentle resistance from the muscles and turbalance can also help with scoliosis because when a body is placed within water it naturally moves in order to balance consequently excersising the muscles. The last factor in which contributes towards Hydrotherapy is known as Hydrostatic pressure which provides a natural relief for joint swelling. Hydrotherapy is good for scoliosis patients, as it can help with flexibility and movement it can also help to reduce the pain and aches within the muscles. Hydrotherapy is often suggested to patients who suffer with pai...

Hello everyone, I was looking at new scoliosis news and i stumbled across two new treatments which are currently being developed in Philadelphia right now! The fact that new operations and treatments are constantly being developed  is really interesting and can help new patients with scoliosis as they now have a choice and to some extent control over the flexibility maintained post surgery and of course the procedure which suits them. For patients with progressive moderate scoliosis, (less than 45°) who are still growing (girls up to age 14 and boys up to age 16), inter vertebral body stapling of the convex (outer) side of the anterior spine may keep the curve from progressing. With the convex growth plates held in place, continued development of the concave (inner) growth plates should stabilize the progression and may allow some slight correction of deformity as the child grows. This concept has been used in children with bowlegs and knock-knees for some time. Using stap...