My Scoliosis Journey: How Choosing to Undergo Surgery at Age 57 Changed My Life

I didn’t know I had a spine problem until I was 10. I remember putting on a bathing suit before going to the pool and stopping in front of a full-length mirror. I had never noticed that my hips were different levels. I asked my mom about this, but as one of six kids, pool days were chaotic and I remember her saying, “It’s probably just the way you’re growing. Don’t worry about it for now.” So I didn’t.

Two years later, my school nurse conducted my first ever scoliosis screen in her office and made note of my scoliosis. A letter went home to my parents and the test was repeated by my pediatrician. I was referred to a specialist who gave me exercises to do at home, mostly core strengthening and floor exercises. I was athletic and strong and loved sports, so I did the exercises with the idea that it was going to stop the progression of my scoliosis. A year later we found out that it had gotten worse and that I would need to wear a brace to stop any further deformity.

After I was fitted for a brace, I couldn’t sit in the car on the way home. I had to lay down in the back seat, and the brace immediately started cutting into my right hip. All sports stopped because I had to wear the brace 22 hours a day. The brace became part of the family and as such, we agreed to name her “Beatrice.” She was a big presence for many years to come.

In seventh grade, my doctors allowed me to join the swim team, and by the time I was 16, I was allowed to return to playing team sports, which was a big deal for me. At 18, bracing was completed.

Even though the brace was gone, I still had a curve and was in chronic pain, which I learned to live with.

But as I got older, I would notice my midsection shrinking to the point that if I bent to the side, my ribs and hip bones were almost touching. By the time I was in my 50s, there was virtually no space between where my bra and my belt met. I was becoming increasingly fatigued, and the activities that I Ioved, such as hiking and skiing, were no longer enjoyable. Driving was becoming more difficult, and I was taking more pain relievers. Sitting for long periods sent shooting pain down my legs.

My children recommended I go see a chiropractor. When I saw the x-rays he took, I thought I was looking at someone else’s images. When I was 18, my thoracic curve was 24 degrees. There were now three measurable curves in my spine. I burst into tears at the sight of my poor body, realizing all at once why I had been in so much pain for so long.

I was fearful about needing surgery because of my age. I joined some online support groups to see what other people were doing to manage their scoliosis. I eventually posted my x-rays and people responded saying my spine looked just like theirs. Some individuals that I talked with were in their 60s and had corrective surgery — and they were glad they did. This gave me real hope. I eventually talked to a friend who had lower spine surgery years earlier, and she said she had gone to what is now Och Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian. I met with an Och Spine doctor and asked him, if he were in my position, who he would want to have do the operation. He said Dr. Zeeshan Sardar. I made an appointment, and after meeting with him and talking to my family, there was zero question that I was going to do surgery.

The first few months after surgery weren’t easy — my neck felt especially vulnerable and any kind of movement was painful — but at my six-month checkup, things started to turn around. I started to feel better. I started setting goals.

I took my recovery seriously. I walked every day. As soon as Dr. Sardar said I could start weightlifting, I did. I learned new core workouts and I started working with resistance bands. At one year I was ready to hike and use my kayak. I was back to lifting things over 10 pounds and riding an exercise bike.

My main goal was to live without pain. But things were going better than I ever could have imagined. I carried myself differently. I looked different. I stood straighter. A year after the surgery, people told me I looked taller. I regained over two inches in height that I had lost due to the curvature.

Dr. Sardar and his colleagues freed me up to be the best version of myself. As a bonus, I now have a normal figure for the first time in my life. I am so grateful for entrusting my care to Dr. Sardar and Och Spine. Pain had defined my life. Today, I have zero pain in my back and neck. Of all the things I thought I wouldn’t be able to do after surgery, none of those things were realized. Today, my son is engaged and we are having a big destination wedding in Jamaica this winter. I am so happy that I’ll be enjoying all the fun, pain free. I can’t wait for grandchildren. When they’re old enough, I’ll be able to take them biking, tent camping, hiking, and of course, skiing. I have a lot to look forward to!