Amanda's Scoliosis Correction Surgery

Hi my name is Amanda and at the age of 11 I was diagnosed with Scoliosis. Scoliosis is a abnormal curve of the spine, in severe cases like mine there is chronic pain and degeneration to the spine. I tried to prevent the curves from progressing with bracing, PT, chiropractic and exercise. But nothing worked and for the last decade I have been in chronic pain that is only getting worse.

At the time I reached skeletal maturity and my curves were thought to be stable the only option for surgery was a fusion. Which would leave me unable to move any part of my back from shoulders to waist and would need further fusion as disks wore out above and below the fusion. Due to this I put off surgery and tried to live a normal life albeit one with limitations and pain.

When I found out there was a new fusionless surgery that would allow me to remain flexible and pain-free, I thought it was a dream come true until I saw that insurance offered virtual nothing to this surgery with what I thought were the only surgeons preforming this surgery on adults.

Over the last year, I have explored every possible surgeons for this surgery. This May I traveled to Boston to meet one surgeon, and I'm happy I did. Mass Gen will take insurance and have approved surgery! I appreciate all the kindness and generosity. Without this help I won't have been able to keep searching and consulting with other doctors. Thank you for supporting my journey.