Last year I had the pleasure of being a guest on the T3fitt podcast. It is a podcast dedicated to people living with scoliosis. I spoke about my experience being diagnosed, where my journey led me, the emotional toll, discovering the power of healing naturally through nutrition and getting the much needed support gained from essential oils.
I invite you to listen to the episode here:
🎧 T3FITT Scoliosis Podcast with Carlyn Porter from the Curvy Truth
When I think back to the time when I was diagnosed, it makes me so sad. I thought we collectively want to be mindful of how we raise our girls. We don’t want them to develop negative feelings towards their body. Right? Don’t we want to raise them to be confident and secure in who they are? It has taken me a long time to see clearly through the vicious smog of the scoliosis diagnosis. This is the fuel behind why I started this blog. I LOATHE the definition of scoliosis. There is one word in particular that really urks me. It’s a reference to an “abnormal” curve. And then they have the audacity to name it idiopathic (in the cases like mine that are adolescent idiopathic scoliosis). Idiopathic means “cause unknown”. So, with the acknowledgement that they aren’t sure what has caused it, how can they posit that it is abnormal? If the cause was known, perhaps this would be the normal response as the body’s defense mechanism to an outside threat. Who’s to say? What are your thoughts? Please leave a comment and let me know :)
As I reflect on my journey I decided to share the 10 things I wish I had known when I was diagnosed with scoliosis:
1. There are many causes for the condition.
There are documented causes of scoliosis that include: Syringomyelia, MTHFR, Glyphosate, nutrient deficiency and a short spinal cord to name a few. (Please note this is not an exhaustive list. References at bottom of post)
2. My instincts were right. Don’t question them, research them!
I used to have this desire to be a vegetarian. I believe my body was telling me I needed more nutrients and I needed dense nutrients. I have since learned that quality meat is fine for me, but conventional grain-fed meats were indeed something I needed to take a break from in order to heal.
3. Exercise can (and should) be fun
Movement is good for us and I find that the right form of movement is not only fun, but I look forward to doing it. Even if it was something as simple as dancing around my room to my favorite music for 30 minutes, it still counts!
4. Wearing a brace won’t solve the problem
OMG my brace. I did start to feel like a safe little turtle in my shell after a while, so it wasn’t all bad, but I do wish I had a better understanding of why I was wearing a brace, because it was devastating going to appointment after appointment to find that the curves were getting worse, when I was under the assumption that the brace was going to fix the “problem”.
5. There is mild and severe scoliosis
Some people have a mild case of scoliosis and it has a minimal, if any impact on their lives. I am not one of those people and there are many out there like me. It’s important to understand there are many contributing factors and this is the perfect time to learn about the body’s natural desire to heal itself.
6. I have work to do in between appointments
We can’t get better in the same environment that made us sick. While we don’t typically thing of scoliosis as an illness, I do feel that whatever may be continuing to trigger this response deserves some thorough evaluation in order to remove it if possible. Whether it be dietary (food sensitivity or intolerance), hormonal imbalance, nutrient deficiency and so on. It would have been worth the time to explore these things so as to catch them early and not during my next major hormonal shift (which is when scoliosis seems to like to pop up in girls/women).
7. Track your period and start “cycling”
This is the process of adjusting your life to follow the natural rhythms of your cycle.
8. Do yoga. Seriously.
I don’t know how I would have discovered yoga back then, but I really wish I had. If you are reading this and you’ve never tried yoga, consider yin yoga. It’s very gentle and taught me how to hear my body more clearly.
9. Essential oils are ancient and helpful
Integrating the power of plants into my day-to-day life through essential oils has been an elevating game changer. From supporting my hormones to providing the emotional support I need to manage stress, relax my muscles and so much more.
10. Find a therapist that can help you get in touch with your feelings
Learning how to feel, process and release emotions in a safe environment helped in the healing process and provided the tools that allowed me to show up authentically in life.
Closing thoughts
My biggest concern, is the impact the scoliosis journey has on mental health, self-esteem and worsening depression and anxiety. Perhaps together we can change how the condition is addressed in the future. In the meantime, It is important that we encourage newly diagnosed patients as well as those of us who have been living with the condition for a while, to prioritize caring for our mental health. This can look like going to therapy, journaling, walking daily, meditation, restorative yoga and nourishing eating.
Sources:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/syringomyelia/symptoms-causes/syc-20354771
https://online.boneandjoint.org.uk/doi/pdf/10.1302/0301-620x.78b2.0780314
https://www.organicconsumers.org/sites/default/files/downloads/oca-glyphosate-fact-sheet.pdf
