Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine. Mine is in the shape of an “S.” Sounds scary right? It kind of is. I was diagnosed probably sometime before high school started when I had to get an annual physical exam. The nurse told me to bend over and touch my toes. I figured out something was wrong when she had me doing this for like 5 minutes. She told me my spine looked a little curved and said I should get an x-ray, so I did. And that was when I was diagnosed with scoliosis. It’s not the worst thing in the world, but there are definitely downsides to it.
1. Lots of back pain
Okay, I know this one’s obvious, but it’s true. The back pain isn’t on and off, it’s 24/7. From the moment I wake up with a stiff back until the moment I fall asleep, it hurts!
2. Being told what exercises we can and can’t do
Recently I got a gym membership and thought it was the greatest thing, I even told my doctor! But my doctor informed me that some exercises can hurt my back and even gave me a list of exercises that were good and not good for my back. Now I have to say goodbye to the treadmill.
3. Hearing other people complain about back pain
Look, I know you’re in pain, but my spine is curved in an “S” shape. I’m the one in pain here, let’s be real.
4. Being told to straighten our postures
Yes, I know I slouch a lot, but you don’t understand how hard it is to adjust my posture. I’ve been slouching since I can remember. It’s not something I can fix that easily.
5. Feeling like an elderly person
No offense to the elderly, but isn’t back pain supposed to start when I get older? Thanks to my scoliosis, it came earlier.
6. Fearing the “S” word
If you have scoliosis and have NOT had back surgery already, then “surgery” is definitely circling the back of your head, haunting you. If your spine curves to a certain degree, the doctors may suggest getting surgery to straighten it. This procedure terrifies me. Steel rods in my back? No thanks, I’ll stick with my curved spine.
7. Not being able to walk for long periods of time
I’m a girl who loves shopping, but my back disagrees. I can only walk around the mall for a certain amount of time before my back is screaming for me to sit down. I always have to keep medicine on me whenever I go out.
8. Heating pads are your best friend
Whenever the pain medication doesn’t take the pain away, I pull out my heating pad. When I can’t sleep at night, I just put it right on my lower back or wherever it hurts and that (usually) does the trick.
9. Trying every pain medication
Let’s face it. Advil just doesn’t seem to cut it. Finding pain relief medicine that relieves the back pain is challenging. Plus, the medicine can’t fix my curve right?
10. Having uneven hips
This doesn’t apply to everyone with scoliosis, but the bunch of us who can relate, HATE it. I’m always looking in the mirror and finding one hip to be higher up than the other. I can thank my spine for that one.
