Life with Scoliosis

My Weekend in London

Posted on October 24, 2011April 13, 2020 by Louise

Ok so I'm now 1 year and 3 months post scoliosis surgery and I'm (almost!!) back to normal! I really can't believe all the things I can do now, I work full time and study for a Marketing diploma in the evenings as well as doing my exercises. Despite that though, this weekend was a huge milestone for me and a bit of a challenge!I went to London to visit a friend and it was the first time I have been...Read More

Physio this week – Scoliosis Gym Ball Exercises

Posted on September 17, 2011October 5, 2020 by Louise

Scoliosis Gym Ball Exercises - Post Surgery This week I saw my physio and she gave me some gym ball exercises. I bought a gym ball a few weeks ago as I've been getting a lot of lower back pain after walking or sitting and my lower back generally feels very weak. I think because I have three discs that aren't fused at the bottom of my spine they're really feeling the pressure!! I feel a bit sorry for them...Read More

Scoliosis Surgery – Extended Recovery

Posted on August 29, 2011April 13, 2020 by Louise

I really wanted to write this blog when I was actually going through my recovery to document my thoughts and feelings. I haven't gotten round to it until now but I found some forum posts that I wrote whilst going through the extended recovery period and just thought they might be interesting to read.... Scoliosis Surgery Recovery - 3months post op check upJust got back now and everythings fine - phew! I got to see my surgeon himself which I was...Read More

Preparing for Scoliosis Surgery

Posted on August 29, 2011October 5, 2020 by Louise

I thought I'd write a post about preparing for scoliosis surgery, as I know that before my surgery it was something I was worried about. It was difficult to know what I should be doing and how to prepare. Firstly, I recommend that anyone facing this surgery, as well as their close friends/family members should read Scoliosis Surgery: The Definitive Patient's Reference (3rd Edition). It's a really easy to read book that is written from the perspective of somebody who...Read More

Post Scoliosis Surgery… Physio

Posted on August 23, 2011April 13, 2020 by Louise

I've been having physio ever since my scoliosis surgery just over a year ago but I'm still not 100% there. My lower back feels very weak and starts to hurt at the end of the day or if I've been standing or sitting for some time, although lying down provides relief. When I'm at the gym or walking I often feel like holding my lower back for support. My surgeon has said this is normal as I have such a...Read More

Scoliosis Surgery Recovery

Posted on August 23, 2011April 13, 2020 by Louise

Scoliosis Surgery Recovery - Introduction Recovering fully from scoliosis surgery can take up to a year or sometimes two depending on how old you are when you have the surgery. The spine takes about a year to fuse and during this time it's important not to do anything that may damage the fusion as it takes such as impact sports or heavy lifting. The problem with scoliosis surgery recovery is that it is very slow and it's easy to get...Read More

Post Surgery: Hospital Experience

Posted on August 23, 2011April 13, 2020 by Louise

Waking up from scoliosis surgeryWhen I woke up from my scoliosis surgery I remember feeling no pain, I felt as light as air (thank god for morphine!) and I actually remember thinking 'I've had hangovers worse than this.'I was in ICU, (intensive care unit) I had tubes all over me and was attached to several machines that were monitoring my heart rate, blood pressure etc so I could hear these beeping. I could also hear nurses talking at the other...Read More

Scoliosis Surgery: Now or Never…

Posted on August 7, 2011April 13, 2020 by Louise

This part is all a blur, sometimes I wonder how I got through it at all.I had to be at the hospital at 3pm on the 28th July 2010, that morning I was surprisingly calm and a little excited. I knew it was something I had to deal with and I think after waiting a year I was keen to get it over with and excited to finally deal with it and move on with my life.When we arrived and...Read More

Scoliosis Surgery : A Difficult Decision…

Posted on August 7, 2011April 13, 2020 by Louise

In January 2009 I was referred to a scoliosis surgeon by the spinal specialist that had been monitoring me all these years. He could tell I was confused about what to do and suggested I had a chat with a scoliosis surgeon to see what could be achieved. I was nervous about seeing an actual scoliosis surgeon; it made it all more real. Would I would be told I needed surgery? How would I cope with this?! I went to...Read More

My Scoliosis Journey: A Secret Struggle

Posted on August 7, 2011April 13, 2020 by Louise

After the initial diagnosis of my scoliosis at 14, I was monitored by an orthopaedic specialist over the next few years – thankfully my scoliosis didn’t get any worse. But the psychological damage did. You would be surprised at how much having a twisted back affects your self-esteem, especially as a teenage girl. I felt ugly and deformed; I spent all my time in large, baggy clothes – wearing a size 12 when I was a size 8 to hide my...Read More

My Scoliosis Journey: The Beginning

Posted on August 7, 2011April 13, 2020 by Louise

I thought I would just backtrack a bit and write about when I first diagnosed with scoliosis when I was 14. How I felt and what I went through in the 10 years between my initial diagnosis and my scoliosis surgery last year. So...here goes. It all started when I was 14. I was a normal teenage girl, obsessed with Ben from A1, falling out with my parents, hanging out with friends. Like many teenage girls I felt self-conscious and...Read More

Scoliosis Surgery – All restrictions lifted!

Posted on August 1, 2011April 13, 2020 by Louise

Today I had my one year post op check up and was relieved to be told that all looks ok with the fusion and that all restrictions are now lifted! Woohooo!My surgeon said I can now do anything I like including rollercoasters and bungee jumping!! (I don't think so somehow...) It's amazing that after all I've been through I can now just do anything and go back to normal, I think it's truly amazing how the body recovers and what...Read More

Scoliosis Surgery: One Year Post Op

Posted on July 29, 2011April 13, 2020 by Louise

Today I am one whole year post op from my scoliosis correction surgery and I honestly can't believe how far I've come and what I've been through in just 12 months. This time last year I had not long woken up in HDU from the extensive 10 hour scoliosis surgery where two rods and 21 screws were inserted into my spine to correct my severe scoliosis curvature and change my life forever. I will never forget that room, the sounds...Read More