Scoliosis, My Journey...

If anyone reading this blog knows me well enough to have gone to the beach with me, seen me in underwear, or had the opportunity to speak with me on more than 3 occasions,  they may remember I am the young woman with the "S" shaped spine. Yes, I am that 1 kid in gym class that didn't make the cut during scoliosis check-offs. Yep, that's me, 1 in 1,000 is what I have heard. Wouldn't you know, the uptight, anxious individual, constantly concerned with worry gets the SCOLIOSIS diagnosis...this is what is so interesting about life.

I received my severe diagnosis at the age of 15, measuring at 50 degrees. I never had pain, just a sports bra that wouldn't fit right. After adjusting it over and over I finally realized it was "me" that did not fit the bra...and I am not talking about my boobs; although, this unfortunate truth still stands current.

After my diagnosis, I finally understood why I felt the need to tighten just one backpack strap a little more, why I NEVER could stick a back walkover on the balance beam...

 and lastly, why my body felt like it was 85 years old at the age of 15-20 when I tumbled in gymnastics & cheer leading. So yea...maybe I had pain, but I just felt it came with the territory, commitment is commitment. Poop or get off the pot, I figured pooping was way more fun!

After my diagnosis, I proceeded to do what anyone would have done, visit various doctors with my parents. The doctor's advice was to "watch" the curve. If progression of my curvature continued (progressions are predicted with severe cases), fusion of my vertebrae was the only option. The doctor also proceeded to tell me he had no idea how I was blessed with this lovely S-shaped curve & nicely sent my family and I on our way to make a decision.

Ewww...doesn't this decision making process sound lovely? Vertebrae fusion or pulmonary dysfunction? To make things even more exciting, the surgery entailed a recovery period, minimum of 1 year. The doctor informed me, I could start swimming at the 3-month recovery mark...or wake up paralyzed after surgery, and possibly have to under go other surgeries down the road to adjust my ever-so changing curvature. Are you kidding me?!

If I chose surgery I would have to deny a nearby college that invited me to cheer on their Nationally Ranked team...not to mention lose my source of income that included flipping children, some equivalent to the size of myself. Totally changing my life-plan to get a metal rod placed on either side of my spine sounded like great idea but I would rather NOT have screws drilled into my vertebrae, thank you very much.

So as you may guess, I denied the surgery. Hello, my name is Ali. I am stubborn, I have a hard time listening and I like things done my way, my parents would agree. I also wanted to seek a method of treatment that did not include re-arranging my entrails in less than 12 hours. I was determined there was a different plan for me, my spine, and the rest of my organs. I decided to step outside of my rule-following, structured thinking, organizational-planning self, & take the risk. I opted out of a free surgery at the age of 18. At the time I was on Peachcare, a government health care program that would have paid for my surgery in full, no co-pay, no nothing... 100% free.
Four years later, I started my research, I don't know why I waited this long, I guess I was in denial. I actually went back and edited this blog after rehearsing this experience through my head and realizing how long I really waited.

One day, in 2005 while searching the Internet, I found a therapy called The Schroth Method. At the time, this therapy was not offered in the states and I was a nursing student without health insurance. I continued my research, hoping for the right timing. 6 years later with health insurance & an adult-job I finally stumbled upon a location in Georgia where they offered the Schroth Method.

I decided to start this blog to educate and share my experience with others as I embark on this journey. I also wanted to bring awareness of this non-surgical method for parents & individuals who may be going through Scoliosis.

I started my sessions on July 18th 2011. I plan to blog as often as possible to update everyone on my curvature, the unique breathing exercises and life changes that will soon take place from my new commitment. I also plan on including a blog that goes into to further detail about this therapy and what it entails; however, until then, I included this video: The man's voice you hear is my doctor, Dr. Deutchman. The exercises he explains is what I will be doing in my living room, it's hot. Especially when I make the hissing breathing noises.

So, here I am today with a 70 degree curve in my spine at 28 years old, wondering what the heck I am going to do when Peter and I decide to have children and I have carry a child around in my uterus for 9 months; however, I am still denying surgery. If you care to join me on my trip to recovery, read on! If you or someone you know has scoliosis, maybe you will learn something new!

Until then, enjoy the gross pictures, because hopefully, one day these photos will not look like the backside of Gumby.

Day 1: My Back

 Day 1: My Brace. Yea, go ahead & laugh, dumbest face ever, I know...& I totally walked around this guy's office for 6 hours like this, classy...I know. This lovely attire, corrects me 5 degrees & is meant to reinforce my new & improved posture, that I will learn & must apply to the rest of my life on earth, literally.
Here goes nothing.