You have just been told that you (or your child) has scoliosis and are probably feeling lost and scared. Your first visit to an Orthopaedic Clinic has probably come at the end of months of problems, visits to your GP, X rays, scans, tests and waiting for an appointment to see a Consultant. Not surprisingly when you leave the clinic all the questions you should have asked come to mind.
Hopefully this website will offer support to you and your family, provide information about scoliosis and put you in touch with other young people with scoliosis both for mutual support and to share experiences. Being able to talk to talk to someone who has been through what you are now experiencing can be a great help and helps you realise that you are not on your own.
Two booklets are linked to this website. One written by Joanna Lugaric who had surgery for scoliosis and talks about the psychological impact of scoliosis on vulnerable adolescents, and one written by her brother Paul which while providing general information also looks at the problems created by scoliosis from a parents point of view.
Concerned parents and busy consultants can sometimes make young people feel that they are being excluded from making decisions about their life. All medical decisions should be made with their full involvement and cooperation. Talk to them, give them access to access as much information as possible. FEAR makes it easier to say NO.