Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. First of all, I love food-- especially pie! I also love taking a much needed break from school and enjoying the time with my family. And I love the atmosphere. Sometimes, complaining seems to come so naturally to us, but giving thanks makes us so much happier! And I have a LOT to be thankful for!

Two years ago I had no appetite for a Thanksgiving meal. I had just come home from the hospital two days earlier from having my spinal fusion. Many people would think that's an awful way to spend one of your favorite days of the year. But without my surgery, who knows what kind of pain and deformity my body would have faced in the future? And without my scoliosis, I wouldn't have been able to meet and help so many people, and I wouldn't appreciate the things I take for granted all the time. I wouldn't be as thankful. So here's a tiny fraction of my "thankful list."

I am thankful for...

Complete assurance that when I die, I'll live forever in heaven with God.
My family.
My school and the excellent education I've had and presently am getting.
Music.
Sports.
Food.
Good times and great people.
Trials that make me grow.
My scoliosis.
Having to wear back braces.
Having a spinal fusion.
Going through pain.
My new physical limitations (which are few).
A straighter spine.
Perfect posture.
The opportunities to encourage others because of what I've gone through.
What I've learned through it all.

Many of these things listed are great things, while others are not necessarily pleasant. But without these, I would not be where I am today. I need both the good things and the bad. And I'm thankful for them, too. God has specifically placed each one in my life for a purpose. If only we viewed everyday the way we view Thanksgiving.

Thoracic-lumbar-idio-what?

Doctors sometimes have a habit of throwing terms out that we patients are expected to know. Especially at the beginning of your scoliosis journey, this mumbo-jumbo can seem a bit overwhelming at times. Of course, it's very easy to find out now because of the Internet. But since you're on my blog, why not get informed all on one site?

If you haven't figured it out yet, scoliosis is very complex. I've come to realize that even its naming system supports that statement. And guess what? Scoliosis is a broad category with many types fitting into that category. These terms come from the age and cause categories:

Infantile- scoliosis typically developing in children ages 2 months-3 years
Juvenile- scoliosis developing in children around ages 3-9
Adolescent- scoliosis developing in children around ages 10-18
Adult- scoliosis affecting those over 18 years

Idiopathic- scoliosis has no known cause
Congenital- scoliosis results from vertebral malformations or abnormalities
Neuromuscular- scoliosis typically found in children using wheelchairs; a result of neurological system disorders
Hysterical- caused by tilting the body due to abnormal posture, pain, etc.; no curve is present in an x-ray, and straightens out when lying flat
Syndromic- scoliosis that accompanies a disease, usually Marfan's syndrome

I was diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Scoliosis.

There are also specific areas that are affected by scoliosis.

Cervical- a curve present in the neck
Thoracic- a curve present in the upper 12 vertebrae of the spine
Lumbar- a curve present in the lower 7 vertebrae of the spine

These terms listed here certainly don't cover every aspect of scoliosis, but it's the basic lingo we scoliosis patients might want to familiarize ourselves with. Basically, it will mean much less confusion at your next check-up.