Brooke’s story: Looking back on my scoliosis surgery
I was diagnosed with scoliosis in April 2009 when I was 7 years old. An x-ray confirmed my family’s worst fears: I was growing a crooked spine. I had a 30-degree curve in my thoracic (upper) spine and a 15-degree curve in my lumbar (lower) spine.
My scoliosis brace
My family and I tried many alternative treatments, such as a chiropractor and an osteopathic doctor, in the hopes that I could avoid wearing a back brace, but my curves were large and really needed bracing.
When I was wearing my brace as I was supposed to, my upper curve would go down to somewhere between 20 and 30 degrees. But I wasn’t able to adjust to the brace, physically or emotionally. I did not put in the hours wearing my brace that I should have.
Luckily, I wasn’t in any pain. But my curves were progressing. One shoulder was much higher than the other, and I was developing a large rib hump coming out of the right side of my back. You see, with scoliosis, the spine does not just curve laterally, but it actually twists and rotates, so that the ribs begin to protrude either in front or in back.
On November 15, 2012, when I was 10, it was time for a follow-up appointment with Dr. Hresko. I had a feeling it wasn’t going to be good news because I hadn’t been wearing the brace.
From bracing to surgery
After my x-ray, my mother and I learned that my upper curve had progressed from 38 degrees one year prior to 67 degrees and had passed the point where bracing would be successful. Dr. Hresko informed us tha...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Guest Blogger Tags: Orthopedics Our patients’ stories scoliosis Source Type: news
More News: Back Curves | Back Pain | Blogging | Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery | Children | Hospitals | Learning | Nursing | Orthopaedics | Pain | Pediatrics | Physical Therapy | Scoliosis | Sports Medicine | Teachers | Universities & Medical Training