15 year surgery anniversary- reflections and experience
My mom recently texted me to remind me it has been 15 year since my surgery. I found out I had scoliosis at a CVS minute clinic. I was there for a cold, and the nurse told me to sit up straight, and when I told her I was, she exchanged glances with my mom and I knew something was wrong. A year later, I was having surgery. It was a painful and scary experience, but one I’m glad I went through. I’m proud of my scar despite the girls in my high school gym class who called it “gross.”
The post operative pain was, to put it bluntly, excruciating. But as a teen, I bounced back quickly and was taking only Tylenol within a few days of being home.
Over the past 15 years, I have always said I don’t experience any back pain now. But I think that’s because a certain level of pain becomes the new normal, and you block it out. I’m more in tune with my body now, and I recognize that some remaining muscle imbalances do cause me mild pain, and might be the cause of my regular tension headaches (anyone else experience this?).
I am proud of myself for having gone through this experience, and grateful to have access to such fantastic medical care.
I was also lucky to have a friend who had gone through the experience before me to answer questions. I’d be glad to be that person for someone else, so if you’ve read this far and you want to know anything about my experience, I would be happy to answer.