My journey with scoliosis...

So, most people know that up until a year ago, I has scoliosis. Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine. So here's the thing, I had surgery on June 20th,2016. But before I get into that, let me explain my "journey" since many people have asked about it. So, I used to play basketball in middle school and my back would always hurt to the point where I didn't want to go to the practices every week. I just thought "Oh I'm an athlete, it's going to happen, just put some Icey-Hot on it and I'll be okay." Well the Icey-Hot wouldn't even work. Keep in mind, I also used to do tumbling all the time while I was playing basketball so the first thought that came to my mind was that I pulled a muscle in my back. Well flash forward to the summer going into 7th grade. I had to get my 7th grade shots. So the nurse was taking my blood pressure and her hand happened to skim across my back. The look on her face was horrifying. She asked if I had scoliosis and of course, I didn't know neither did my parents. While all of this was going on, we were also in the process of moving so we didn't pay much attention to it. So the nurse just ordered a round of physical therapy, but we never went back to the doctor to get my back looked at again. Then flash forward into December 2014, still in my 7th grade year. My right knee started getting to the point where it hurt so bad to even walk on it. So, I went to the doctors about it. They just thought it was a growth spurt so they put me in a knee brace for 6 weeks. 6 weeks came and I got the brace taken off, I was so happy because now I could continue tumbling, right? Wrong. The doctor said I had to stop tumbling for another 6 weeks to help build up my knee strength again. So moving into a nearly year later (August 2015, 8th grade year), we went back to the doctor for a check up, this time we saw the actual doctor and not just a nurse or PA. The doctor examined my knee and asked about my scoliosis. He knew right away it wasn't a growth spurt in my knee that was the problem, it was my scoliosis. Apparently, since my spine was mostly curved to the right side, it put more pressure on my knee, therefore making it hurt so bad. He then ordered another round of physical therapy and I had to come back in 6 weeks. We went back to the doctor and took more x-rays. Then the worst part comes, turns out the rounds of physical therapy made my spine worse! Then he said something that absolutely horrified me, I had to have surgery. I was horrified of this because my cousin David had spinal surgery around his late teen years and the doctors messed something up and pinched a nerve in my back making it to where he can't flex his fingers and he is always bend over in a somewhat upside down "L" shape. I went home and cried my eyes out, along with my mom. So the doctor called every children's hospital in Tennessee and no one would take my insurance. Then, he made a call to Shriner's Hospitals for Children in St. Louis, MO. And a miracle happened, they agreed to do the surgery. They scheduled a pre-opt for December of 2015 and my mom, aunt, cousin and I set out on a long trip to St. Louis. They had told me my breathing was "below-average" due to my scoliosis, but my curvature was on the line of having to have surgery. So they basically told me I had a choice. So we went home and I told my mom I didn't want the surgery, but she refused my wishes and made me go through with it anyways. So we scheduled my surgery which was originally going to be on May 5th 2016, which would mean I would miss the last part of my 8th grade year and I didn't want that so we rescheduled it to August 1st, 2016,which is the very first day of school, the very first day of high school. I begged and begged my mom to reschedule it and she told me we couldn't due to us changing it so much. So I went with what she said. I continued my last days of 8th grade and the weekend that school let out, the hospital called and said they had an opening for June 21st, which we immediately accepted. I was so happy yet nervous. My 3 weeks pre-opt was the next Tuesday so we had to hurry for a hotel and all of that. So, my mom, dad and I went to St. Louis that Monday and we had a nice little pre-surgery-celebration. That Tuesday morning came and I was a nervous wreck. They told me I had to get rid of all of my back acne and since my breathing was below average, I had to use a little device to train my lungs so I'll do better after my surgery. Lord knows I absolutely hated that thing. It hurt my lungs so bad. Anyways, so the doctor, Dr. Luhmann went over how the surgery would go and they drew my blood and we were on our way home. The flash forward to June 20th,2016, the day before my surgery; I was absolutely nervous. I couldn't sleep at all that night. Then June 21st came, the day of my surgery. I was up and at the hospital at 6 AM. They put me in my room and did examinations, went over the surgery again and put the anesthesia in my IV. My surgery was at 8:15. It was 8:00 AM when they gave the anesthesia to me. 8:05, I was getting sleepy. 8:10, we all counted down. 8:13, I was getting blurry vision. 8:14, I said my last few words before my surgery "I can feel it wor-", 8:15, I was out and it was now time for surgery. My surgery was a 6 hour surgery. I woke up not knowing where I was or even what happened. I felt numb. I looked over at my dad, he smiled at me and said "Well lookie who's awake. You did it baby girl. You had surgery." and he kissed my forehead. Now, how I remember this so vividly? The world may never know, but I do. I was asleep for the rest of the night. Then the day after came. They immediately made me start walking, slowly, but walking. I took a few steps at a time. I was still dizzy from the anesthesia, so it was hard. But I did it. The next day; I woke up craving pineapple, strawberries and apple juice. Now normally, they start patients out eating ice chips. But nope, not me. I went straight to food, shocking? Not really knowing me. I was finally able to go home after a few days. The recovery was horrendous. I was stubborn to do my walking exercises, I would break down and cry because I thought I would never recover. However, a month later was my one month post-opt. The doctors looked at my x-rays and smiled and told me that I am making an amazing recovery. It gave me so much hope. I was proud of myself. Now, one year later, I am in my schools Color Guard, I run daily, and I am able to hang out with my friends, even if I do have 2 rods and 27 screws in my back, I'm able to enjoy life. Yes, I do miss tumbling, but I feel so much better. I am so glad I went through with the surgery. I can now look into the sky and say, "Look Granny Jan, I made it."

Below I have left some of the hospitals information along with Dr. Luhman's information and links. If you are considering going through with Scoliosis surgery, I recommend it. Its been a long, tough journey, but I got through it and I am now stronger than ever before. This surgery has also taught me a few things in life; Pray daily, live every single day to the fullest, smile through the pain, and no matter how tough things may get you can get through it.

Shriner's Hospitals for Children:

Shriners Hospitals for Children — St. Louis 4400 Clayton Ave. St. Louis, MO 63110 Phone 314-432-3600

https://www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/Locations/stlouis/About/Contact-Information?gclid=Cj0KEQjw-ezKBRCGwqyK0rHzmvkBEiQAu-_-LPrfFWF--VCkREXBLa7FhDVMTz1EF11fqUdrFvt12cUaAhmL8P8HAQ

Dr. Scott Luhmann:

http://www.ortho.wustl.edu/content/Patient-Care/2685/Find-a-Physician/Physician-Directory/Scott-Luhmann-MD/Bio.aspx

#scoliosis