I Put the S in Spine

A spine should be straight, however, that is not the case for mine. Around 2 years ago, I was diagnosed with scoliosis. Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine, and it occurs most often in adolescent girls. The spine can curve into these three shapes: the letter C, the letter C backwards, and the letter S (two curves). Idiopathic scoliosis, is the most common form of scoliosis, occurring in approximately 2% of the population. It is not caused by activity such as exercise or sports, nor is it caused by one's sleeping position or posture. The cause of scoliosis, in most cases, is unknown.

Generally, the curvature of the spine does not cause pain, but ever since I was diagnosed, my knees have popped out of place many times. Scoliosis is detected through a physical examination, and if the doctor believes you have scoliosis, you will be asked to get an x-ray and go for additional examination. My scoliosis was first indicated by the Adam's Forward Bend Test, in which you bend from the waist as if you were going to touch your toes. Some physical signs of scoliosis are: one shoulder appears to be higher than the other, one side of the rib cage is higher than the other, one hip is more prominent than the other, the waist is uneven, and the body tilts to one side. The physical appearance of my back has become worse within the last 2 years. I always wear loose clothing because my scoliosis is quite clear if I don't, and I can never find a comfortable way to sleep or sit because of the uneven feeling in my back. Although my spine does not actually hurt, the look of it causes a feeling of pain.

There is no cure for scoliosis, but there are treatments based on two factors: how much more the patient will grow and the degree of their curve. A treatment option is observation in which a physician will measure the curve of your spine on a regular schedule. Another treatment option is wearing a back brace. Typically, a brace is not used for adolescents who are already or almost mature. The brace does not straighten the curve. It prevents the curve from growing, and once the brace is taken off, there is a small chance that the curve will progress. The last option is surgery, in which hooks and screws are applied to the spine to anchor rods. These rods are used to hold the spine while bone is fused, and once the bone is fused, it holds the spine in place. Recently, I have been feeling pain in my upper back, so I went to get another x-ray. I will be seeing a spine specialist soon to talk about getting surgery, and I will be going to physical therapy to strengthen my knees. With future surgery and the support of my doctor, family and friends, I know I will get through this and my spine will be stronger than ever.