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[Scolimoma]

Hi CGs, We are going private on the Forum so that only approved members can view postings. This TOPIC will be the only one that the public can read.
I would like to ask each of you to write what this Forum means to you, so that girls looking for a place to chat about their scoliosis can see what we’re about.

Everything else remains the same for you on here.

[Gillian]

Briefly, the forum is a place to write your experiences, ask questions, and share advise. But the forum goes so much more beyond that. This forum has given those diagnosed with scoliosis a voice. It encourages girls to ask those questions that they may not have wanted to ask or felt comfortable asking. Girls have become more educated about their scoliosis, thus becoming activists in their own treatment plan. Girls have formed incredible friendships from around the world. Time differences and oceans cannot change the bond that is formed when you share such useful advice. And most importantly, girls feel like they have a place to feel accepted. When you sign in, its like coming home. I know i can post anything from how my first day of class was to how nervous I am about an appointment and I know girls from every corner of the globe will stand with me, listen to me, and help me. This forum represents friendship and I know that the reason I am where I am today is because the girls have taken time to answer my questions and support me.

[ggwasabigirl]

When I was diagnosed with scoliosis, I felt so alone. I was eight and had never even heard of scoliosis, let alone thought about needing to wear a back brace or having major surgery. When I found Curvy Girls, I signed up for the forum. I read a post about a girl going through bracing and wondering if it was really worth it. I read about people that were newly diagnosed and felt the same way I felt after my diagnosis, and I saw people that had gotten through the surgery that scared me so much. This encouraged me to find a meeting and, ultimately, become a leader of my state's chapter.
I am no longer afraid to speak about my scoliosis or how difficult my treatment was. Curvy Girls gave me a reason to speak up.
I began to realize scoliosis wasn't something that affected only me, girls around the world had felt the same way I had. With the help of the internet, I have met girls from all around the world dealing with the same challenge.
I see girls that write encouraging posts, and girls that need encouragement know that they can always come here. Sometimes we do silly things, too, like making puns about scoliosis!
I check the forum every day. It's a way I can get support from people that understand and a way I can reach out to help someone, no matter where they are in the world.

[jjklbin7]

When I was first diagnosed with scoliosis I felt so alone. I knew that other people had it because my sister was diagnosed the same day I was. However she didnt need any treatment at the time. On the day I was diagnosed I already had a surgery date picked out, I was so scared! Then about a week later my mom found Curvy Girls I started talking to the girls online and they answered all of my questions and helped me get through a difficult time. With a surgery planned for a few months away and no follow up appointment before the surgery I didnt have much time to ask my doctor as many questions as I thought I would be able to. So when the Curvy Girls answered all of my questions I felt so much better about needing surgery. My surgery was on July 19 2016 and I feel really good. I have found a group near me and they have been so supportive throughout my journey. I am so glad that I found the Curvy Girls.

[Thunder]

Hi!
I'm "Thunder" and I was diagnosed with scoliosis when I was 9, and didn't have to wear a brace until this February. (I only wear a night brace.) I was anxious after I got my brace and developed a fear of puking. I have since gotten over that but CG helped me! I am now the CG chapter leader of Western MA!

[Sophie04]

This January I was diagnosed with scoliosis sand it started at a sixteen degree curve and my doctor told me that if it progressed anymore that I was most likely going to need a brace, then about eight months later I went back for an X-Ray and discovered that the curve progressed rapidly to 36 degrees and they had to immediately put me in a brace. About two weeks after the X-Ray I had to go back again to get an MRI and luckily my there wasn't and liquid or anything in my growth plates. The same day I got measured for my brace and I received it 2 and a half weeks later and the first day was pretty difficult. My orthopedist said that I could start at 18 hours a day and then proceed to 20 hours but instead we decided to immediately jumpt to 20 hours instead. Soon after I started physical therapy at a schroth therapist. I really wanted to reach out and help other girls going through the same thing and when we discovered curvy girls we were really excited but because I live in south Jersey I'm a little far from the nearest groups so we decided to start our own South Jersey group! Eventually we were able to contact some people and it was finally made official. I'm so glad to be able to help other girls who are going the same as me.

[Natalie]

This forum has allowed me to ask my questions, not to only one or two other girls like me, but several! It also has given me a support network and the opportunity to be of support to others! I also can keep in touch with many other girls with scoliosis from all around the world, who have become some of my closest friends, through this forum!

[Em(brace)]

This forum has helped me to get answers in the craziness and anxiety of getting diagnosed with scoliosis. When I was first diagnosed, I felt alone and so different than everyone, but CG has really helped me to learn that I am NOT alone and there are people that are going through that same thing. Its so hard to talk about scoliosis at school because nobody understands, but CurvyGirls introduced me to so many kind and amazing girls who it is easy to talk about with because we all get it! These girls have become some of my closest friends and I look forward to checking the forum everyday to help give advice! Even though we all have scoliosis, we all connect and talk about things other than scoli too like sports and fun activities and school. I am proud to say I am a CurvyGirl!

[tb1004163]

I like this form becouse I can ask questions about my brace. (we even have some fun conversations!)