You ask, and I write! A few days ago, I asked on Instagram what you'd like to read here on the blog, and I received some great suggestions. One of them was about how I deal with my curved spine and what my main difficulties with scoliosis are. In some Instagram stories, I've already talked a bit about this, but I think it's worth a blog post. So here we go!
Use of the Milwaukee brace
My biggest challenge with scoliosis was the period when I had to wear the Milwaukee brace, which nowadays isn't even recommended anymore. For me, it felt more like a medieval torture device than anything else, but it was the most appropriate treatment for my case at the time. I know my parents did everything and explored every possible alternative to spare me from using the Milwaukee, but there was no way around it, and I had to face wearing the brace for four years, 23 hours a day. While it did help me prepare for the surgery years later, it was a period of considerable suffering for me, with many crying spells, insecurities, and low self-esteem. The trauma is so significant that even today, I have difficulty wearing high-necked tops that touch my neck. Scarves are not my best friends either. Anything that reminds me of the brace brings back difficult memories. Today, I'm delighted to see the progress of medicine in recent years, which has brought much more modern, adaptable, and less uncomfortable brace options for patients. In most conservative scoliosis treatments, wearing the brace is essential for the case's success, so it's essential, folks! With a lot of commitment, resilience, and responsibility, everything will work out in the end. And there's more: wearing the brace showed me how strong I am and gave me the courage to face life with determination. This is a lesson that no one can take away from us. We can't deny that it's challenging, but wear it and take the positive side of this journey with the brace. There's always a bright side!
Esthetics: Crooked Spine
I get nervous about asymmetrical things. Ironically, I grew up crooked, with very different sides in my spine and a hump on the right side - the famous gibbous. This has always bothered me a lot, and I fought against the mirror for a long time, especially because I have been vain since I was little, and appearance has always been, and still is, a fundamental factor for me. My image matters: my hair, my teeth, my skin, and my body in general. So, dealing with a deformity is one of my life's challenges. Some may look from the outside and not see the same thing I see, but at the end of the day, it's just us with ourselves and a big mirror at home. The fact is that we need to feel happy, and there are things about ourselves that we cannot change. However, the tip here is: to focus on the positive points and love yourself the way you are. Self-love is something we gain over time, but once it appears, it's impossible to let go. Ah, I have a crooked spine... okay! I do. Do I like my back? No, not at all. But what do I have in my body that's good and that I can emphasize and value? Several other things. So, full focus on that!!! When I realized the importance of strengthening the points in myself that I like, everything changed, and my self-esteem increased a lot. You should try it too!
Post-surgery
Many of you ask me what my life is like after the surgery. It's wonderful. I have no restrictions, neither in mobility nor in types of physical exercises. I also don't have any back pain. So why is this a topic in a post about difficulties? Simply because the days and weeks following the surgery were quite challenging for me. Starting with the first 48 hours in the hospital when I couldn't move properly, let alone get up. Not to mention the pain that only eased with morphine. Someone asked me on Instagram if I needed a blood transfusion, and yes, I did. Two units in the first days post-operation. And when I could finally get up, all I saw were dizziness, bruises, and swelling. But as every dark period has its bright side, it was during those days that I found inspiration and began writing my first book, "The Girl with the Crooked Spine" sharing everything I was going through and providing information to help those who would face that phase. Today, things have changed significantly, and medicine has advanced tremendously. We now have less invasive surgeries and, consequently, less pain for the patient. So don't be alarmed if you have to undergo scoliosis surgery. This was my experience and it may not necessarily be the same for others because each body reacts differently, not to mention the progress from the year 2000 - when I had my surgery - to today. Every minute of pain was worth it because I knew that my quality of life with progressive scoliosis would have been not only very poor but also dangerous due to future respiratory limitations. So, everyone, it's just a phase, it passes, and it leaves important lessons for life. If you have to face it, go for it with determination!
These are the three main challenges I faced with my scoliosis. How did I overcome them? With a lot of support from my family, and friends, and self-discovery through psychotherapy.
And you, how do you deal with your scoliosis?
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