Having Scoliosis + Spinal Fusion Surgery

Diagnosis

When I was 12 I experienced severe aches in my lower back to the point where I couldn't go out and do normal things like shopping.

I went to my GP with my mum for advice. The first thing she asked me to do was to try and touch my toes. I couldn't do this. Immediately she told me she was 99% sure I had very mild scoliosis. She could tell as soon I bent because one of my shoulders was higher than the other and you could see the slight curve of my spine! I had no clue what scoliosis was, at which point she explained the things mentioned in the previous chapter and referred me to have an x-ray and physiotherapy to help relieve pain.

I had no idea my back pain was caused by anything like that, I thought they'd tell me it was merely growing pains. Naturally as soon as we were walking back to the car I started having to fight back tears because I was in so much shock! Even though she said it was fine and only mild, it sounded so serious and scary.

When I got home I googled everything about it and of course dwelled on the worst case scenario. Just researching it was enough to make my back ache! Thinking about surgery even now makes me feel funny. I'd watch YouTube videos of surgery and people's experiences from living with scoliosis and I'd end up getting so emotional and scared just thinking about it, even though I was told I had nothing to worry about.

After I had my x-ray I went to speak to my consultant at my local hospital about what it told us. This man was awful. AWFUL. He told me that it wouldn't get any worse and if I did have surgery they'd "stick rods" in my spine and I'd "never be able to move normally again" I'd have to "stand straight permanently and never bend". This was 100% false. This consultant was disciplined and sent for new training. We accepted what he said as truth because he was the expert, it wasn't until a few months later in physiotherapy that my physiotherapist told me I should get a second opinion. My god am I glad I did.