Soooooo here I am a few days away from the big decision. I had my last xrays done over the summer and I had three curves. My largest one was in the center of my torso at about 37 degrees. The one at the base of my neck isn't so bad, but the about 20 degree curve at the base of my back causes serious pain. The muscles are pushed to the left side and you can feel them bulge out. It presses hard on the nerves in my back and the pain is terrible. My spine's also rotated and my hips aren't level so I get pain while running. Physical therapy helped and I do it at home now. I have a heel lift to hopefully balance out my hips. I was treated for pectus carinatum with the brace for 2 years if anyone's familiar with that procedure. It did wonders despite the excruciating pain. Here I am at 16 now, a junior in high school taking all IB/AP classes for some college credits. I have a 4.8 weighted GPA and turn 17 on the 23rd. School comes first for me, haven't been able to play soccer for a while due to a school transfer and now my back. I'm really nervous about the xrays on Tuesday, and dad and I are considering getting the surgery over and done with over X-mas break (I had my wisdom teeth pulled last break, so I'm starting to love the leisure time ). We're at a crossroads with this because the pain is horrendous and I can't sit down for long periods of time or run without pain. It's either then or over the summer and I'm not sure if I can last until summer. It's just dad and me (divorce) and I need a job over the summer to help pay for things too. A friend of ours just recently died from the surgery due to an infection he contracted while undergoing the surgery so that of course is still stuck in the back of my head. I just want my normal life back and if surgery's what it takes, then so be it. I know it's gonna be hard to get back on my feet (metaphorically and literally) but I can't stand the limitations scoliosis is causing me. I'm an avid skimboarder and that's high-impact on your feet/legs/hips/back and I want to be able to do that again. I'm really stressed about this whole thing and I'm trying to keep my wits together for my dad, girlfriend, and other friends. As Tuesday gets closer and closer, I get more and more stressed and I just want this all to be over with. Any words of advice/encouragement and welcomed and to all of you in any similar situations, you're in my thoughts. Best of luck to everyone out there, stay strong.
~Tom
~Tom
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