As disciplined as I am, I have done everything, ever since I discovered my scoliosis at the age of 11. I swam 2,000 meters a day, five times a week; I underwent aquatic physiotherapy; I wore the Milwaukee brace 23 hours a day for four years – which left me traumatized for a long time – and followed all medical recommendations to the letter. All of this was an attempt to stabilize my curves through conservative treatment, in other words, without surgery. Unfortunately, sometime after I stopped wearing the brace, around the age of 16, we discovered a progressive scoliosis that would never stop growing and was already at 60 degrees.
My only alternative? The complex scoliosis surgery that I tried so hard to avoid.
Like me, I know that many children, teenagers, and their parents try everything to avoid surgery, but they end up at a dead-end because of the cunning scoliosis that does as it pleases. And when that happens, it's time to prepare physically and psychologically for a long, painful, and somewhat risky surgery. A lot has indeed changed, and medicine has made significant advancements in this regard, but it's still not something we wish to go through, right? Moreover, our options are limited: getting in line with the public healthcare system (SUS), which is extremely slow with a waiting time of at least two years, trying to have surgery through private health insurance - if you have the possibility and no waiting period for this condition - or going for private surgery, which comes at a high cost.
So, how can we face all this in the best way possible? Here are some tips:
Calm down!
The first point is to try to stay calm. I know it isn't easy, but it's very important. There's no use in panicking – and I say this to both the patients and their families - because it only makes a situation that is already tense even more challenging. Reading about the subject, watching informative videos, talking to people who have undergone the surgery, getting all your questions answered by a trusted doctor and healthcare professionals, venting to friends, and gathering as much information as possible can help you maintain the necessary calm at this moment. All of these actions demystify the subject and bring light at the end of the tunnel.
A focused team
Next comes the importance of seeking a multidisciplinary team to handle the case: an orthopedist, physiotherapist, psychologist, and nutritionist are some of the professionals who should be involved in this journey. I want to emphasize the need to have a psychologist close by, helping the patient deal with their emotions, guiding each step of the process, and providing the necessary confidence that we require in a moment like this. I didn't undergo therapy during my time with the brace and surgery, and I know how much more challenging it was without that support. I'm receiving therapy now, and it's a completely different experience!
Family support
Family. That is the foundation of everything, and it's from where we draw the greatest strength to face this surgery. Without the support of the family, we wouldn't be able to remain calm and confident. I'm very happy to see how mothers, fathers, and other family members, in most cases, are unconditionally by our side, doing everything in their power to bring the necessary tranquility to a scoliosis patient who needs surgery. Important aspects to make this family support effective include having open and welcoming communication with children and teenagers, active participation in medical appointments, and celebrating each achievement, showing pride in every step taken.
Support from friends
That was the way I found to cope better with the problem. It was with my friends that I would cry and find solace. It was also with them that I would have fun to forget about everything, especially during the time of wearing the brace and in the preoperative period. Friends are the best at offering words of affection and helping to boost our self-esteem.
And what comes after scoliosis surgery?
The postoperative period was one of the most challenging moments for me. The morphine pump eased my pain, but it didn't eliminate it completely, and once the effect wore off, the waves of pain would return. Not everyone feels the same way; it's very individual, and as I mentioned, medicine has come a long way in this regard. After all, I had my surgery in the year 2000. In any case, we are never fully prepared to face something like this, so it's important to find ways to distract yourself, such as reading a lot, writing about any topic you enjoy, talking to family and friends, and, once you have medical clearance, walking around the hospital.
Back at home, with proper guidance, undergoing good physiotherapy and specialized exercises can significantly aid in recovery.
In the end, everything turns out fine, and this phase passes! You have a story to tell and the lessons learned, which nobody can take away from you.
How about you? Are you about to have surgery or have you already had it? Tell me!
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