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The word "Scoliosis" refers to a side to side curve of the spine. This can be in an "S" shape (double curve) or a "C" shape (single curve). It is not a disease, but just refers to a healthy person with a spine that is curved and the vertebrae are twisted. As these vertebrae are attached to the ribs you might see a slight hump on one side of your shoulders and your shoulders and hips might be uneven. It normally occurs during adolescence and the growth spurt. No one knows what causes it, hence the name Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis. Idiopathic is just a fancy word for unknown. They do think that Scoliosis tends to run in families, though this is not always the case. As far as I’m aware, no one in my family, apart from myself, has Scoliosis.
Scoliosis affects more girls than boys: adolescent girls over the age of 9 are five times more likely to be diagnosed with Scoliosis than boys of the same age. Girls are also more likely to need treatment, and their curvatures are more likely to increase over time.
When I was in hospital, the number of girls receiving treatment for Scoliosis vastly out-weighed the boys. You’ll be surprised at the number of people who have Scoliosis. At one time, our entire ward was full of Scoliosis sufferers.
It's not just the teenage population that can be affected by Scoliosis. Young babies and toddlers have been diagnosed with Scoliosis, though it isn’t that common. These youngsters are probably easier to treat than teenagers because their bones are still soft. A spell wearing a back brace to hold the spine in the correct position may be all they need to correct the curve.
I guess you all know the simple test to detect Scoliosis by now: bend over and touch your toes, while keeping the legs and arms straight, the spine will look curved and there might be a bulge on one side of the shoulder. By the end of my treatment, I was sick of being asked to do that!
I would just like to add that there were 3 other girls in my year at school who have Scoliosis, so that's how common it is. In the Adolescent ward in the hospital where I had my operation, there were all teenage girls having the operation, but I know of a few boys also who have had it. Just before I had my operation, the inbalance of my shoulders and hips was really noticable and I looked lopsided, my spine looked more like a snake than a back-bone. Now I'm perfectly straight, I'm less self-conscious, feel more confident and best of all I look good in all the fashionable tight-fitting clothes! ...by Nicole
We're not doctors, so we can't help answer any serious medical questions, but we can help you with anything that may be worrying you, or help you understand what will be happening to you. This website is not meant to be technical or full of medical jargon. We're here as a support system, someone you can sound-off at when you're feeling down. If you need any advice, or just want somewhere you can meet fellow sufferers then this is the place to be!