by Laura, 15

I was diagnosed with scoliosis at the age of 14, with a thoracic curve of 54 degrees and a lumbar curve of 39 degrees.

Different ideas

I am English but I am currently living in Germany as my father works for the Army, and out here a very different approach is taken to scoliosis. Instead of getting spinal correction surgery, which is what I would of had if I was living in the UK as I have severe scoliosis, I was told that I needed to attend physiotherapy sessions twice a week to help correct my spine, which I have been doing for over a year now.

I have also attended a rehabilitation clinic here in Germany for four weeks that is for people of all age ranges with scoliosis or hyphosis. There I did six hours of physiotherapy a day and got regular massages and breathing therapy to help me cope with my increasingly curving spine.

Back brace

I also wear a back brace, which I have to wear for as long as I can during the day. It is very uncomfortable as it reaches from my collar bone down past my hips and is made of hard plastic and metal!

I'm now 15 and have been dealing with my idiopathic scoliosis for a year now, and, yeah, it has caused me some emotional stress and back pain but I'm striving for a straighter spine as the prospect of getting an operation on my spine pretty much scares the life out of me to be honest! But my treatment is helping and I am just waiting for the day I can be a proud owner of a straight spine :) Without an operation. lol Laura x

This story may have been edited by Children First for Health for editorial and confidentiality reasons only.

For more help and information:

• If you would like more information or advice on curved spines ask your doctor.
• You can also get in touch with Scoliosis Association (UK).
• Check out Strongbones Children's Charitable Trust.

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