Friday 25 October 2019 is World Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Day. This year also marks the milestone 40th anniversary of the International Federation for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus.
What is Spina Bifida?
To mark this occasion, we’d like to share the story of Samantha Joyce, a Scoliosis SOS patient who has spina bifida as well as scoliosis.
Patient Story: Samantha from Sidcup
Samantha is a woman from Sidcup, Greater London who got in touch with the Scoliosis SOS Clinic after our recent appearance on BBC One. She was diagnosed with scoliosis at 11 years old; she also has spina bifida and hydrocephalus.
Samantha was prescribed a scoliosis brace, and when she was 13, surgeons placed screws in her spine in order to correct her spinal curve. Unfortunately, this operation did not have the desired effect – after a long and arduous recovery process, Samantha had to have the screws removed at the age of 18 because they had caused an abscess and she had lost the use of her left leg!
Samantha is now in her 40s, and she was still experiencing back pain as a result of her scoliosis and her spina bifida. She came to the Scoliosis SOS Clinic in the hope that our therapists would be able to help her – watch the video below to find out how she got on.
Feedback from Samantha
“Thank you all so very much for all you have done. I’m so glad I found out about this clinic and had the opportunity to experience the wonderful work you do.
“It’s amazing how I have changed since I started: pain-free, more definition in my legs, and my whole body feels freer. A friend said, without prompting, how much straighter I was sitting, and I’m able to sit and stand for longer without any pain.
“I have now been discharged from King’s College Hospital after a year and a half. Thank you for being a valued part of my recovery, and keep up the fantastic work you do – it’s invaluable!”
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