By Sarah Naa Lamiley Lamptey.
For 7 years, I struggled silently with a condition many people barely understand. Beneath my smiles and everyday life were pain, discomfort, and emotional battles caused by scoliosis, a condition that causes an abnormal sideways curvature of the spine. This June, as the world marks Scoliosis Awareness Month, I am choosing to speak up not only for myself, but for many others living with the same condition in silence.
Living with scoliosis is more than having “a curved back.” It affects physical health, emotional well-being, and confidence. In severe cases, you suffer from constant pain, breathing difficulties, and serious complications if left untreated. Yet despite its effects, awareness about the condition remains low, causing many people to suffer without understanding what they are going through.
My journey with scoliosis has not been easy. There were moments of fear, insecurity, frustration, and, to an extent, suicidal thoughts. Sometimes, people failed to understand the condition because the pain was not always visible. Imagine being called names, excluded from the class, visiting the hospital like it’s your second home, which it was. Like many others living with scoliosis, I had to deal with questions, stares, the stigma, the confusion, and the emotional weight that comes with feeling different.
One of the biggest problems surrounding scoliosis is late detection. Many children and young people do not realize they have the condition until the curve becomes severe. Uneven shoulders, back pain, leaning posture, protruding ribs, pelvic imbalance, severe coughing, and constant fatigue are some of the signs that are often ignored. Early diagnosis can help prevent serious complications and improve treatment outcomes.
For many families, treatment is also financially challenging. Medical consultations, scans, braces, physiotherapy, and surgeries can be expensive, especially for people with limited access to specialized healthcare. Some patients are forced to live with worsening conditions simply because they cannot afford proper treatment.
Beyond the physical pain, scoliosis can also affect mental health and self-esteem. Many people living with the condition struggle with confidence because of body changes and the fear of being judged. And just like that, you tend to be a whole new person, so different from the world. Actually, we are different because we are warriors; we fight battles not seen or heard.
By sharing my story this June, I hope to create awareness, encourage early screening, and remind people living with scoliosis that they should open up because they are not alone. And not allow anyone to define scoliosis as not life-threatening just because they don’t see the pain and the silent struggles at night.
Scoliosis Awareness means the world to me because I’m turning my pain into purpose, and that is to let people know what it is, try to detect it early, and lastly encourage every individual with it that you are not alone, I see you, I hear you, and I feel you. Remember, We Are BENT, not BROKEN.
