During a long summer down at the beach, my mum noticed when I was in my bathers that my back looked a little skewed, to say the least. After a couple of trips to the doctor and a few x-rays later, I was diagnosed with Scoliosis when I was 14yrs old. I was fortunate enough to be blessed with two curvaceous curves, one at the top (40 degrees) and one at the bottom (29 degrees). We, and I say we because my mum was with me at every stage of the journey, visited a number of doctors for different opinions which would determine whether to op, or not to op?
The decision was made to go with the Boston Brace. And it’s only now, 9 years later, that I’ve realised the enormity of wearing a brace at such a sensitive and vulnerable age. I remember crying and crying, asking my mum why me? I was just starting to meet boys, exploring make up and fashion, when I was hit with probably the ugliest fashion accessory. It’s difficult to work an outfit around a massive piece of fibreglass amour that covers half of your body and makes you look like you’re part of the Australian Swimming team.
At the time I remember feeling like the most unlucky person in the world. But I was once told that ‘you must always compare yourself to someone who is less fortunate than you’. And that’s what I did. I could have let my back get the better of me, cracked the sh*ts and refused to wear the it, but I didn’t. I accepted that it was a part of me, and realised that there are millions of others worse off than me and to just suck it up! I was also fortunate to have family and friends who embraced the brace too.
Although the curves reduced significantly while I was wearing the brace, since then I am back to where I started. This was always the plan - to maintain it from getting any worse. It’s now up to me to manage it, which is why I need your help. Hopefully you can inspire me to get up and do those stretches, and in turn I will be able to give you some advice from my personal experience.
So whether you are wearing a beautiful brace, or those who have been there, done that...and come out the other end, may that be after surgery or the back brace, let's share some info cause it isn’t all that bad.
Besides, straight backs are boring!
