Today I want to share the story of a follower on the blog and on Instagram who has been living with a curved spine since childhood. While we talk more and more about scoliosis, we don't discuss kyphosis, another spinal deformity, as much. This story highlights the importance of paying attention to our entire spine.
It all started when she was 9 years old, and through a biometric exam conducted by her physical education teacher, she discovered both scoliosis and kyphosis simultaneously. Yes, both at the same time! From then on, her mother sought all available resources in the interior of Santa Catarina, Brazil, and indeed, the diagnosis was confirmed. In the 1980s, the resources were quite different from today, so she underwent 60 days in a plaster cast and then many sessions of physical therapy.
"At the age of 12, I visited more than 10 doctors in the states of Santa Catarina, Paraná, and São Paulo. They all recommended surgical treatment."
At the age of 13, she underwent her first surgery, a fusion of 7 vertebrae (from T8 to L2), and then faced many limitations as she had to wear a plaster cast for 6 months, followed by 6 months in an asbestos brace. I can only imagine the suffering she went through.
"Scoliosis was stabilized, but kyphosis remained, and I went through life without realizing the limitations this condition could bring me. I took many dance, ballet, and swimming classes. I dated, got married, and had a daughter," she told me.
After the birth of her daughter, she started experiencing neck and lower back pain. Five years later, at the age of 39, she underwent another surgery, this time due to a herniated disc that was compressing her spinal cord. After many years of medical follow-up, she only recently received a diagnosis for her entire spine: Scheuermann's Kyphosis - characterized by wedge-shaped vertebrae that cause the thoracic spine to curve significantly forward. The condition develops over time during periods of bone growth, such as puberty, leading to a herniated disc in the thoracic and lumbar spine, as well as a spinal cord injury in the cervical region.
Medical recommendation for another spine reconstruction surgery, unfortunately, she currently cannot afford the surgery as her health insurance is limited, and through the public healthcare system (SUS), she has been waiting for a specialist consultation for 3 years. Yes... 3 years!!!!! Unbelievable.
"I realize that there has been significant progress in the treatment of spinal deformities, especially scoliosis, but there is still much room for advancement in the treatment of Scheuermann's Kyphosis. Today, at 51 years old, and mentally very active, I continue to work as I always have. Every day, I live with the pain of my crooked spine, hoping to access the best treatment to improve my quality of life." - she concludes.
Do you want to discover more inspirational life stories? Check out all the testimonials we have published here on this blog.
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