by Sarah

Over a year ago I went to the doctors as one of my friends noticed that my right hip was further out than the other. I was referred to a specialist who diagnosed me with scoliosis.

I was amazed when I saw the x-rays and didn’t understand how I hadn’t noticed anything - I had a 60-degree curve at the bottom and a smaller one at the top that my specialist thought would straighten out with time.

Within four months I was in hospital for an operation to straighten my spine - it was the most terrifying day of my life because I didn’t know what was going to happen.

The day of my operation I went down to theatre at 8am and was in intensive care by 6pm. For the first few days I was in the high dependency unit.

I don’t remember that much because of how strong the painkillers were - I was on morphine and had a local anaesthetic as well. I had lots of tubes in my hands and I had a chest tube to drain any liquid from my lungs. The chest tube got very painful but after x-rays they told me that it was time for it to come out.

I went up to the ward the next day after the chest tube was removed, and I often think about the nurses and doctors who looked after me - they were so nice.

I was sick for a few days, but by the seventh day I was determined to start walking around the ward and by the 10th day I was sent home. I have gone for checkups and now all I have to worry about is whether the metal they put in my back will stay.

I sometimes do things without thinking and it hurts my back - but I’m going for another check-up in a month so I suppose I’ll know if everything is OK then.

Looking back on my experience I really think it changed me, and even though I was upset at the time I almost miss the nurses bustling in and out and the sounds of the ward. If anyone is having this done its best to get it done as soon as possible – it’s not as bad as you think it will be.

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

For more help and information:

• The Scoliosis Association
• The Institute of Child Health
• The British Scoliosis Society

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