So You Have Scoliosis?

Being diagnosed with any medical condition, at any age, can always be difficult. Unfortunately, in medicine, there are different conditions where the cause is unknown.

A common orthopedic diagnosis that fits into this category is frozen shoulder; we know there are risk factors that make a person more likely to develop the condition, however, we cannot say for certain the cause of the pathology.

Another condition that falls under this umbrella is scoliosis. We know there are components that contribute to the development of the condition, such as genetic factors, however, we don’t know enough to potentially stop someone from developing scoliosis and can’t “fix” the condition as it is a structural change in the bones of the spine. But let’s get away the medical jargon and discussion.

Just because you may be suffering from scoliosis doesn’t mean you are defined by scoliosis. So your spine may be a little curved compared to someone who is not suffering from scoliosis. So what. Why does that matter? This does not define what you are capable of achieving, or the goals you set for yourself, or the type of person you are. It simply means that your spine has a curve in it. That’s it. It’s unique. It makes you you and there is not anyone else in the world who is you.

I heard the other day from a friend that Usain Bolt has scoliosis. If you ask me, he has done pretty well for himself in terms of his athletic achievements even though he has scoliosis. He could have let the diagnosis of scoliosis stop him but he didn’t; and now he is quite possibly considered the greatest olympic sprinter of all time.

What I want you to takeaway from this blog is that scoliosis is simply a medical diagnosis and having a diagnosis of scoliosis is nothing more than having a diagnosis of scoliosis. I want you to realize that and live your life to the fullest extent possible. I want you to set goals that will make you happy in life; then I want you to go out achieve these goals.

I want you to make a positive impact in the world and achieve all of your dreams. I don’t want scoliosis to be a focal point in your life. No. Instead, I want you to say “look at everything I achieved with having a diagnosis of scoliosis.” That is my challenge to you and I hope you accept it.