It’s National Scoliosis Awareness Month!
In recognition of Scoliosis Awareness Month, let’s take a quick scoliosis quiz:
True or False?
–Scoliosis can be fatal
–Spinal fusion surgery is the only way to truly ‘fix’ scoliosis
–People with scoliosis shouldn’t exercise
–Women with scoliosis cannot get pregnant
–Scoliosis can be diagnosed by the school nurse
Ready?
All the statements above are FALSE!
Let’s break it down:
–Scoliosis is NOT fatal. There is no evidence to support this.
–Nothing, not even spinal fusion surgery can ‘fix’ scoliosis. You simply trade a curved, mobile spine for a straight, immobile spine. When internal organs are comprised by scoliosis, spinal fusion surgery can be a necessity. But let’s be clear: having a straight, immobile spine comes with its own set of challenges. Surgery should only be considered as a last resort.
–People with scoliosis should ABSOLUTELY exercise. I can’t emphasize this enough. Check out Hard Core Scoli for a variety of exercises that will help with your scoli.
–Women with scoliosis can indeed get pregnant and have successful, natural deliveries. I did. Each person is different, but scoliosis should not be an impediment to getting pregnant.
–Scoliosis cannot be officially diagnosed by the school nurse. The nurse may ‘suspect’ that you have scoliosis, but only a doctor can diagnose the condition after an X-ray is taken. Unfortunately, many doctors never communicate to their patients that they can do more than ‘watch and wait’ to see if their scoli gets worse. You can take an active role in determining whether your scoli advances or stays under control. Educate yourself about your individual scoliosis, and find some exercises and therapies that work best for you. You can track your scoliosis progress by using Scoliometer by Spiral Spine.
So many people have questions about scoliosis. What are some of your questions?
–Erin Myers