My Journey with Scoliosis: From Surgery to Strength
Jo’s X-ray of her spine before and after her Scoliosis correction surgery
A powerful story written by one of our patients.
As a Physiotherapy clinic that strives to do things differently, having the privilege of sharing in the journey and get an insight and understanding into the patients’ perspective is one of the main reasons we do what we do. And although Jo is super complementary about me as her Physio (blushing over here), it was her strength, tenacity and open-mindedness that got her to where she is. I just helped to guide her towards the potential I knew she could achieve. So please have a read of Jo’s story of Scoliosis and how your pain doesn’t have to define you.
My Journey with Scoliosis: From Surgery to Strength
”Hey there, I'm Jo. I'm a 27-year-old self-employed graphic designer. At 14, I was hit with a diagnosis that changed everything: Scoliosis. It's a condition that causes your spine to curve, which can worsen over time resulting in pain and other complications.
Growing up with Scoliosis wasn't easy. While my friends were busy with school and fun, I was struggling with consistent back problems. Sitting through classes and carrying a backpack full of books might have been simple tasks for others, but with Scoliosis, these daily activities became a challenge of their own. And equally as taxing, was the emotional toll of looking different from everyone else. A torso that was twisted and curving, caused me to look and stand with a noticeable deformity, and as an already self-conscious teenage girl, I then had the added daily battle of trying to wear loose clothing and dress in a way that did show how ‘wonky’ I was.
By the time I reached 19, my Scoliosis had progressed to a severe 70-degree curve. Surgery became the only option to straighten things out. It was a scary decision, but one I knew I had to make if I wanted any chance at a pain-free future. So, I went under the knife for a full spinal fusion, with two titanium rods down the entire length of my spine and many screws holding it all together.
It was a big surgery, and I was very relieved that was a success, but little did I know it was just the beginning of a new chapter—one filled with its own set of challenges. Despite having a straighter spine, and growing 2 inches overnight, I still had to come to terms with a body that didn't move the way it used to. With now having rods that were fixed in place, simple actions like bending my back were now impossible, and I had to learn to adapt to a new life with reduced mobility.
Over the years, I had many ups and downs. Recovery was a long process, but after 6 months to a year, I was gradually able to do more and more. I still struggled with daily back aches and bigger flare-ups from time to time, but despite this, I was able to live a fairly normal life. Over time, I became more familiar with the things I could do easily, and the things I knew would set it off.
Fast forward eight years, and I found myself in a new place altogether. I’d had several months of severe pain which came out of the blue. I was constantly in pain and feeling lost, as no amount of rest or medication seemed to help. Having gone from living a reasonably active and healthy life, to suddenly being barely able to even sit or stand, I was confused and scared that something was seriously wrong.
After another few months of bouncing between doctors and specialists, having tests and scans, all with no answers, I was starting to lose hope. But then a hospital consultant suggested that I go and see Jen from Quay Kinetics Physio, as she’s a physiotherapist specialising in spinal rehabilitation.
I'll be honest—I was sceptical at first. I’d seen physios before with very little success, and I didn't have much faith that this would be any different. But Jen was different. From the moment I met her, I knew she understood what I was going through. In just our 30-minute session, she was able to provide me with more knowledge, reassurance and hope, than I’d had from any other medical professional I’d seen in the past 8 years.
She was able to explain that although scary, everything I’d been experiencing sounded like a reaction that would be expected after such a major surgery, especially one that resulted in life-long changes to the way your body moves. She taught me all about chronic pain, and how it doesn’t always mean there’s something wrong, and she gave me tools and encouragement to manage the flare-ups when they come.
Through a combination of targeted exercises, deep tissue release massages and plenty of encouragement, she helped me regain strength and within just weeks, I was able to come off all the heavy painkillers, return to work, and was feeling so much better.
After such a long time of being out of action, I was expecting the recovery process to be equally as long, but I was very pleasantly surprised by how quickly I began to feel like myself again. Every time I saw Jen, I was delighted to tell her all of the things I’d been able to start doing again. I could sit at my desk again without being in pain, I could walk further, I was able to Swim in the pool again, I could lean forward to pick things up without getting a sharp pain. There were still some setbacks and harder days, but Jen was there every step of the way, cheering me on and reminding me that progress takes time.
It’s now been about 4 months since I first saw Jen, and my life has been completely transformed in such a short space of time. I’m pain-free most days and back in action! I’ve continued to build up strength from the exercises and it’s allowed me to be more active and mobile in the rest of my life. I'll be forever grateful to Jen for helping me regain my strength, and for helping me get my life back on track. She truly is a miracle worker, and I can finally look towards my future with optimism and excitement for what’s to come.
Today, I'm proud to say that I've come a long way from that scared teenager facing surgery. While Scoliosis will always be a part of my life, I've learned to embrace my body for all its quirks and imperfections.
So, to anyone out there struggling with Scoliosis or chronic back pain, know that you're not alone. There are people out there who do understand what you're going through, and there is hope for a brighter tomorrow. And if you're thinking about starting physiotherapy, I’d highly recommend Jen, my only wish is that’d found her sooner! “