For no reason at all, I’ve never really discussed my scoliosis online, so I thought I’d open up about my experience of having double curvature of the spine.
What is scoliosis?
Scoliosis is where the spine twists and curves to the side, I have a minor double curvature. This means that my spine is curved at the top and the bottom, but it isn’t severe enough to get surgery. I have been diagnosed with this since 2013 when I finally decided to go to the hospital for my constant back pain, I was 18 at the time. Usually, people find out they have scoliosis as a child when it’s easier to help, but mine didn’t seem to really start bothering me until I went to university.
The most public case of scoliosis was Princess Eugenie, who recently got married in a dress that displayed her spinal surgery scar. I watched the live broadcast of her wedding and it was very encouraging to see a segment dedicated to scoliosis. It’s never really something that is talked about, so this was all very refreshing to see.
What are the symptoms?
From the NHS website, the symptoms are:
- a visibly curved spine
- leaning to one side
- uneven shoulders
- one shoulder or hip sticking out
- the ribs sticking out on one side
- clothes not fitting well
This can be the extreme side of things though from my experience, personally, I have one shoulder slightly higher than the other and a slight hump in my back if I’m bent right over. If you look at me, you wouldn’t know that there was anything different about my spine.
How does this affect my life?
When you mention you have back pain people react in one of two ways; they either ignore it and think you’re being dramatic and it can’t be that bad, or they know how much that can hurt and try their best to accommodate you. I have experienced a lot of both types of people, which is tricky. I know a lot of people have a lot worse back pain than me, but the kind of pain I have is pretty much a constant aching that goes from bearable to not, very easily.
Things that set off my back pain are standing still for long periods of time, carrying any kind of bag (no matter how light), sitting down for too long on an uncomfy chair, washing up and hoovering. Of course, there’s a lot more than that, that makes my back hurt, but this is a summary. You can imagine the last two raise some eyebrows, I’m used to hearing that my back pain is very ‘convenient’ if it means I struggle when washing up. I will still do these things of course, but it just makes my back hurt.
In my day-to-day, I have to ask for special chairs at work, I try to break up long car journeys and I do exercises to help my pain. I’m very lucky I don’t have a worse form of scoliosis that would result in very serious surgery. I feel like sometimes my pain is a lie because some people feel it so much worse than me, but then I notice one shoulder being higher than the other and I feel my back hurting in situations when others are fine. I have to remind myself to stop comparing my pain to others.
So that’s my story and maybe a fact that you didn’t know about me!
I’m so glad to see you’ve posted something like this. My mom has come across both types of reactions to back pain but it’s usually the latter–if she’s having a particularly bad day in regards to it, she gets scoffed at because she is “too pretty” to be suffering any pain and if she is it’s probably not “that bad” and it’s so frustrating. (Although, she doesn’t have scoliosis, she had discs in her back dissolve and put pressure on her back and nerves and all that jazz. Different pain, but still experiencing similar treatment and reactions from people.)
Anyways, I really enjoyed hearing you talk about scoliosis. Mainly because it’s so personal and I feel like a lot of people don’t talk about these types of things very much. At least, not the people I follow? And it’s just really something I admire: people being able to talk openly about health issues and the like.
Also, very tiny side note, Princess Eugenie looked so gorgeous on her wedding day.
Thank you for sharing your story.
Thank you for your comment Jessica and for sharing your mum’s struggles too. It can be really tricky to deal with, a lot of people don’t take it seriously.
She does, doesn’t she?!
Thank you for sharing and I’m sorry to hear about the pain you go through. I have fairly bad back pain, which has been manageable through fitness, especially yoga, and massage … so I can’t begin to imagine what your pain is like.
Thank you for sharing too Jenna. Massages and yoga are definitely an aid for me too!
My mom suffers from scoliosis and degenrative disc disease. She was a nurse for ten years before having to leave her career after collapsing at work. I’m so sorry you are having to go through it. But it takes so much strength to keep fighting and to share your story!
People dont realize the unseen pain that people are suffering everyday(whether it be physical or mental). It takes so much just to keep going everyday. God speed.
I’m so sorry your mum had to go through that Susan. It’s horrible when it is unseen, I wish people would take it more seriously!
Thanks for sharing this. I had no idea there were degrees for the severity of scoliosis. It’s a relief that you don’t need to have surgery..
It certainly is, I know I’m very lucky with it!
Beth, my mom has scoliosis and I also have a curved spine but it’s not serve enough for me to be diagnosed with it. Thank you for sharing your story. I often get back pain but I just ignore it.
It’s amazing how people also have it, I hope you can find a solution to your pain Hannah 💛
A really interesting read! I’m so sorry you have to go through this pain Beth!
Thanks Lauren, I think it’s something that I’ve just got used to having now to be honest.
Thank you so much for writing this! I have a very, very mild form of scoliosis, and because of that, when I experience back pain, I often feel like my pain is a lie too, because compared to others, it’s not nearly as bad. Cleaning and standing for long periods of time are some of what makes my back hurt as well. I really appreciated this post and hearing your perspective on things! 🙂
It’s good to hear someone else feels like this too. I’m sorry for your pain Theresa, it’s annoying that it’s isn’t taken more seriously at times. I wish I felt more valid with it, but I know so many have it worse. I should probably stop thinking about it like that though.
It’s great that you shared this!
I suffer from scoliosis too and I have one at the top and another one closer to the bottom! I totally understand your pain! Even sitting on a chair for a while hurts and my back hurts so badly during certain times of the month! It’s also really uncomfortable for me to sit still on a chair because my tailbone is so uncomfortable when that happens!
I got mine diagnosed as a child, but it wasn’t major enough for me to need surgery or use any brace.
I totally understand your pain and know that you aren’t alone! Let’s stay strong!<3
Opening up about this online has shown me how many others suffer from scoliosis so thank you too for sharing your story Michelle.