Scoliosis Archives · Page 2 of 3

My Wrapped In Love Set is Being Shared

My Wrapped In Love Set is Being Shared! I am SO excited! My CAL will be starting soon and I would LOVE for you to join me, but first I have a couple of questions I would like to ask you about this Valentine’s Day. Here they are:

Are you looking for something different to give to your Valentine this year?
Are you looking for something different to crochet for yourself or a loved one?
Are you wanting to make something to wrap your loved one in?
Do you suffer from Scoliosis or Chronic Pain?
Are you wanting to crochet, but are afraid you can’t because you think the pattern is too long?

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Well I have the solution right here! Join me, Joey Lea Baird or Jo of Jo’s Crafty Hook when I will hosting a CAL or Crochet-A-Long starting January 25th and sharing my Wrapped In Love Set!

The CAL I will be hosting is in the Facebook Group called Crochet-A-Long with Us. The group consists of 20 up and coming crochet pattern designers from around the world and has over 1100 members. Me and the other 19 designers got together because we wanted to share our crochet patterns with you in one place.

The pattern I will be sharing is my Wrapped In Love Set in the Crochet-A-Long with Us Group. You can read more about the story behind it here. For 10 days we will be crocheting the Hat & Cowl that I have designed specifically for that set.

Does this sound interesting? Wondering what will be going on during my Crochet A Long? Well let me tell ya:

Discount on my pattern when you purchase it from Ravelry.
Instructional videos in the FB Group and on YouTube for those who need Closed Caption.
Contests throughout the CAL.
Prizes awarded at the end of the CAL.

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Does this sound like fun? Does this sound like something you would be interested in doing? Does this sound like something a friend would like to do? Wondering what you and/or a friend need to do to join me January 25 – February 3, 2019? Well here’s what:

Join our Facebook Group Crochet-A-Long with Us here.
Purchase my Wrapped In Love Set pattern from Ravelry here so you can have your supplies ready.
Use the Coupon Code LOVECAL here.
During January 25th and February 3rd join me and some of the other members as we crochet the Wrapped In Love Hat & Cowl together!

If you suffer from Scoliosis or Chronic Pain, joining a Facebook Group like ours would be beneficial to you as well. By joining the 20 designers and over 1100 members, you can share your work, have some fun, and maybe win some prizes along the way. Crocheting together is a way to help you cope with some of the anxiety or depression that goes along with Scoliosis and Chronic Pain. You can read more about my struggles with Scoliosis and Chronic Pain here on my website.

From Jo:

While you are at my website be sure to subscribe to my Mailing List and Newsletter. This way you will be notified when I release another crochet pattern or blog post and be alerted to Sales, Coupons, and more!

Wrapped In Love Set-Cancer Awareness

Wrapped In Love Sets-Cancer Awareness — Jo of Jo’s Crafty Hook

This post is titled “Wrapped In Love Set-Cancer Awareness.” Today I want to tell you about a crocheted hat and cowl set I designed for Cancer Awareness which is recognized in October. I call it the ‘Wrapped In Love Set!’ I designed this crochet pattern with all of my loved ones who were diagnosed with cancer. There are quite a few women in my family who were diagnosed with one form or another of this disease. I Praise God and am glad to say they beat the disease, they are true Cancer Survivors!

Landing Page — Men Size Wrapped In Love Set

Wrapped in Love Set-Cancer Awareness — Child Size

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In designing the ‘Wrapped In Love Set’ there are rows and rows of hearts that go around the head and neck. Therefore they are wrapped in love. In crocheting the items for my Etsy Shop I used Red Heart yarn called “With Love,” so the wearer is wrapped in more LOVE! I wrote this pattern in 3 different sizes: Child, Men, and Women. A great thing about the ‘Wrapped In Love Set’ is that the hat and cowl are reversible! The wearer can wear the hat and cowl set 2 different ways! You can find the Wrapped in Love Set on my website in my Etsy Shop Items under Clothing Accessories.

The Wrapped In Love Set is not only for cancer sufferers or survivors to wear, but for anyone who would love to show their support for cancer awareness. I have 2 ways you can show your support and spread the word about Cancer Awareness.

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One way you can show your support is by purchasing a ‘Wrapped In Love Set.’ Part of the purchase price of $30 will be donated to the American Cancer Society during the month of October. I have stocked my Etsy Shop JosCraftyHook with these sets. You can purchase any size: Child, Men, or Women. You can also find the set in Etsy Shop Items on my website under Clothing Accessories. here

If you do not want the set in the colors they are made in, you can place a Custom Order. In the Custom Order you can choose 1 or 2 colors in your size. As I tell all my customers,” the best thing about Jo’s Crafty Hook is that everything in my shop can be customized to fit your style, size, and color(s). You can customize your own Handmade Crocheted Creations!” You can also fill out the form below and to place your Custom Order.

Another way to show your support for Cancer Awarenss is to purchase the crochet pattern for the ‘Wrapped In Love Set.’ The $5 crochet pattern has all 3 sizes in one. You can purchase the crochet pattern at my Etsy Shop JosCraftyHook or at from my Ravelry Store Jo’s Crafty Hook Designs. You will also find the digital pattern on my website in my Etsy Shop Items here. Part of these proceeds from the purchase of the pattern will be donated to the American Cancer Society during the month of October. This crochet pattern would be great for people with Scoliosis and chronic pain to do. The pattern is quick and easy, which would leave you with a great sense of accomplishment and showing your support!

In making sure this crochet pattern was correct, I had a great group of women help me with the written design. They tested the pattern to make sure the pattern was correct in every way. Therefore, I would like to thank my Wrapped In Love Set pattern tester group for all their help. They are Anne Thrift, Debra Chonos, Anna Yetter, April Pendleton, and Amulya Prakash. Thank you ladies for all your assistance and support! I would also like to thank my family for all of the support they show me year round, but especially for their help for this great cause! Thank you Jim Baird, Jacob Baird, and Jessie Baird, Momma loves you!

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If you would like more information about cancer, here are some cancer facts and figures from the American Cancer Society:

Cancer Facts & Figures 2018 is an educational companion for Cancer statistics 2018, a scientific paper published in the American Cancer Society journal, CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. The Facts & Figures annual report provides:

Estimated numbers of new cancer cases and deaths in 2018 (In 2018, there will be an estimated 1,735,350 new cancer cases diagnosed and 609,640 cancer deaths in the United States.)
Current cancer incidence, mortality, and survival statistics
Information on cancer symptoms, risk factors, early detection, and treatment

DOWNLOAD PDF: CANCER FACTS & FIGURES 2018

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Phoenix Wrap C.A.L. Entry

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Phoenix Wrap C.A.L. — Phoenix Wrap CAL Entry

I entered a contest into the Phoenix Wrap C.A.L. and WON with my Phoenix Wrap C.A.L. entry! I started writing this post before my entry was selected as a winner. I was just going to talk about my Phoenix Wrap and show the pictures of my entry. I saved my original writing as a draft, but today as I go back and read what I wrote, the whole theme of the post changed. It changed in a good way, but bittersweet. Talking about my memories of my mom and gran teaching me how to crochet are good memories, but as I think about the domestic violence I have seen in my family makes my good memories bittersweet. As you read further along you will see why.

In this post I want to share with you a contest I entered in August. I entered Underground Crafter‘s Phoenix Wrap CAL (Crochet-A-Long) in association with Lion Brand and Sue Rock Originals Everyone Inc. or SROE. The full contest was for fellow crocheters to make women’s accessories to donate to Sue Rock Originals Everyone, Inc. There were prizes awarded to the winners in this contest and I am one of them! I won Lazada’s Blocking Wires which can be found here.

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Here are a couple of things Marie of Underground Crafter had to say about the Phoenix Wrap CAL:

https://undergroundcrafter.com/blog/ — Underground Crafter

“I’m so excited to kick off the Phoenix Wrap Crochet-a-Long with Lion Brand and Sue Rock Originals Everyone, Inc. This is a free crochet shawl pattern available in three parts that is suitable for donation to survivors of domestic violence. It’s your project, so you can also keep your version, gift it, or sell it.” “This is Marie from Underground Crafter and I’m here for the last post of the Phoenix Wrap Crochet-a-Long. I hope you’ve been enjoying this CAL as much as I have! In today’s post, I’m sharing a sneak peek of the third and final part of the Phoenix Wrap along with a roundup of 18 more free crochet patterns for women’s accessories that would be great for donating to Sue Rock Originals Everyone, Inc.”

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I believe the Lion Brand contest was a BIG deal! There were 18 different designers where each designed free crochet patterns and each one used a different brand of yarn from Lion Brand. My design, the Phoenix Wrap, called for the use of Lion Brand Jeans yarn. This yarn is SO soft, smooth, and very durable. The color I used is called Bermuda Shorts and can be purchased here.

https://amzn.to/2OerbFq — Bermuda Shorts

Here is the reason Sue Rock Originals Everyone, Inc. exist: “helps domestic violence survivors by providing them with the needlework tools to change their lives. There is something very empowering about creativity. Creating an item – like a pillow or a doll dress or a washcloth may seem simple but the process is so important. From choosing the yarn, to remembering who this is being made for, to looking at the item years later or even passing it on – Textile memory is something that nurtures and strengthens culture and family.” You can find out more about Sue Rock Originals here.

I know I have good memories about growing up in a home where there were more than one person crocheting. My mom and gran were a HUGE influence on me. They both sat down with me and taught me how to crochet. I still have items that were made by my mom and gran. I even sat down with my daughter and taught her how to crochet. I hope as she gets older and has children of her own that she will pass down this skill.

I also have memories of domestic violence. There are a few people in my family who are survivors of it and got away from the violence. I am glad they escaped, I just wish they had an organization like SROE to help them cope afterwards. I am glad that Sue Rock is teaching survivors Crochet as a skilled trade and helping them create good memories and items they can pass down to their family. My life was changed using this skill my mom and gran taught me. I cherish the things that were passed down to me from their skills. I myself use crochet as a means to cope with chronic pain from my disease Scoliosis. (You can read more about my disease here.)

https://amzn.to/2CI1bAY — A Guide to Understanding and Overcoming Scoliosis

I will be donating my Phoenix Wrap to Sue Rock’s organization. I think their organization has the right goals in teaching a skill to kids, teens, and adults who have survived domestic violence. I hope and pray by donating my Phoenix Wrap I can touch someone else’s life by the skills I have learned because of my mom and gran being a huge influence in my life. You can find my winning entry on Underground Crafter’s website here.

As I said at the beginning of this post, bittersweet. By using the skills I was taught by my mom and gran I was able to win a prize in a contest I entered. Both were victims of domestic violence and survived. The skills they learned were used to help them cope and it became an opportunity to pass their skill on to me which I then passed on to my daughter. I am proud of my skill! I am even prouder of my mom and gran! Because of them I was able to win!

I know this post was a LONG one, but I hope and pray it touched your heart. If you would like to leave a comment I would LOVE to hear from you! Please comment below or come find me at any one of my Social Media outlets. I would also LOVE it if you would sign up to my Mailing List! By signing up you will receive my blog posts, Newsletters, and more right in your inbox! Thank you for reading another post at Jo’s Crafty Hook!

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3 Crochet Hat Patterns Designs by me, Jo

In today’s post I’d like to share some of my Handmade Crocheted Creations and 3 Crochet Hat Pattern Designs by me, Jo. I have been testing patterns for other Crocheters these last couple of weeks. I wanted to see how other Crochet designers created their patterns. I learned a lot crocheting for them and really enjoyed my time creating their Crocheted Creations.

I have 3 Crocheted Hat Patterns in my Etsy Shop and here on my website. The first one is called Mint Julep Hat Pattern. In this hat pattern I used the crochet technique of going behind the chain stitch or bump as you Single or Double Crochet. In this technique you get a unique raised stitch that really stands out. You can view this stitch across the rim and the crown of the Mint Julep Messy Bun Hat below.

I also added the technique of going behind the bump in the stitch across the crown and rim of my Purple Waves Hat Pattern. I really like this technique because of the texture it adds to the hat. You can really see the ‘waves’ across the whole hat and especially the rim. I also went in the back loops of the stitches made, adding more texture to the ‘waves.’ Check it out below.

The last pattern, is called the Spiral Messy Bun Hat Pattern here. The Spiral Stitch I used is where you keep crocheting around, not worrying about slip stitching in the first stitch of the round. You can see this technique in the pictures below.

Please check out 1 or more of the 3 Crochet Hat Patterns Designs by me, Jo. I would LOVE to see your version of my Handmade Crocheted Creations! As a Scoliosis Survivor or Chronic Pain Sufferer, these patterns would be something you could do and feel a GREAT sense of accomplishment because the patterns are so fast and easy to make. Please add a picture of your Handmade Crocheted Creations or a comment below! You can also add a comment or picture at my Facebook Page Jo’s Crafty Hook. I would LOVE to hear from you!

Also be sure to sign up for my blog posts, so you can receive them right in you inbox! Thank you for stopping by and I look forward to seeing what YOUR Crafty Hook has created!

As an Red Heart Associate I do receive a small fee for any purchases you make by clicking on the Red Heart Banner above. The small fee allows me to purchase more yarn from places like Amazon and Red Heart so I can create more Handmade Crocheted Creations!

As an Amazon Associate I do receive a small fee for any purchases you make from the link Saving your Pictures below. If you are like me and you take a lot of pictures of your creations, you need something that has a HUGE storage space. I need something to save all my Handmade Crocheted Creations like the computers at the link below.

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5 Steps Chronic Pain Sufferers Should Follow as They Crochet

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This post contains 5 Steps Chronic Pain Suffers Should Follow as They Crochet. This post is intended for crocheters who suffer from chronic pain or have Scoliosis. These 5 steps will help you crochet longer and you will definitely be more comfortable as you crochet.

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Pursuit with Purpose

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In this blog post I will be answering 4 questions that talk about Pursuit With Purpose. I was listening to a podcast and what the speaker was saying really made me think about why I started my business and what I was trying to achieve through my website Jo’s Crafty Hook. The purpose of my website is to give other Scoliosis Survivors hope as they cope by doing Crochet. In pursuit of my purpose I want to share what Scoliosis is and the effects it has on Survivors. Also in pursuit of my purpose I want to share ways for us to cope through Crochet.
The podcast I was listening to was by Melyssa Griffin. It was the very first podcast in her “Pursuit with Purpose” series on iTunes.

I met Melyssa when I enrolled in her course called Pinfinite Growth where she teaches how to get more out of Pinterest when growing your business. Melyssa teaches entrepreneurs and bloggers how to grow their audience and skyrocket their income. Melyssa is celebrating the 1 year anniversary of her “Pursuit With Purpose” podcast series. By celebrating the anniversary she asks us to listen to the very first podcast called “My Story and How I’m Infusing My Life and Business With More Purpose.” In the podcast Melyssa has us asking ourselves 4 questions. These questions are to help us focus on our goals. She wants us to really think about what that purpose might be for us and how to bring it into our life and business. You can swing by iTunes and listen to this for yourselves or listen to it right now to see why I am sharing this post or to help you focus on your purpose. You can also find out more about Melyssa at and her podcast series here.

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Now we come to the purpose of this post, to answer her 4 questions and to give you a little bit more insight into why I share my story with Scoliosis and my love of Crochet.

The first question Melyssa asks is: “What fired you up in life, what was super fun for you?” The things that fired me up in life was my family and experiencing the things we did together is what made it super fun for me. When I was growing up it was just me, my sister, and our mom. My parents divorced when I was 3 years old, so I didn’t have a “normal” family upbringing. Because of this I always told myself I would have a “normal” family setting when I had children. That is exactly what I did. I married at 19 and had 2 children by age of 22. The super fun part was keeping my children busy doing things they enjoyed and living their experiences through their eyes. My husband and children were what fired me up and still are! My kids are now 26 and 23 and even though they are grown they are still my main focus in life along with my hubby.

The second question was “How would someone in your life describe you now?” They would say I have slowed down and I don’t get out much. That I spend all my time crocheting, which in my eyes is NOT a bad thing. lol They would say I do for my children and husband when needed and asked. They would also say I am in pain all the time and try to take care of things when I can. The people in my life have seen what my disease, Scoliosis has done to my life. They experienced all the pain and suffering right along with me. They have even experienced the achievements I have made during my struggles with Scoliosis.

The third questions was “Why do you feel like you were born?” I have asked myself this questions so times throughout my life. About 18 years ago I finally figured out why I was born, it was to share my experiences with Scoliosis. It was to let others know that even though we get knocked down in life, we do get back up. When I ask myself this question now it is the same thing but there is another reason I feel I was born and that was to share my LOVE of Crochet. People still ask me “What does Scoliosis and Crochet have to do with each other?” Now I can tell them exactly what they have to do with each other in my life. Scoliosis and Crochet can offer hope and a way to cope. I want to give Scoliosis or Chronic Pain sufferers hope. I want to tell them how Crocheting for me is such a HUGE part of my life, not in just creating things with my hands but in having a coping mechanism to help me get through some of my worst days. I want to share my trials and triumphs. I want to give them a way they can use Crochet to cope!

The last question has me really thinking about where I am at with my purpose. Melyssa has us asking ourselves “In your current life are you not living in alignment with your purpose?” ” Where are you living?” ” What needs to shift?” “How can you bring more of that into your life today?” These questions really got me thinking about what I am trying to accomplish with this blog and sharing my love of Crochet. I have to say these questions really get you thinking. I am just starting out as a blogger. I have barely begun reaching for my purpose. I know that in order to get where I need to be I have to spend more time learning and that I have a long way to go to bring more into my life today. I need to learn more about blogging for one. lol I need to do more research every day on Scoliosis so I can supply my audience with the right information about it. I need to learn how to draw in more people so they can learn about me, my projects, and my life with Scoliosis. Lastly, I need to learn how to keep myself happy so when I share a story people become informed and that they want to come back for more. I have along way to go but in sharing this story with you today is a step in the right direction!

I hope you take the time and listen to Melyssa’s podcast because later in the podcast she gives us some pointers on how we can reach our purpose and implement them in our life or business. The information she shares can help you to become who you want to be. We all want to become a better person, we still have goals in our lives no matter where we are at in life. Please take the time and stop by Melyssa’s website or subscribe to her “Pursuit with Purpose” podcast series. Her podcasts have already helped me to focus on my purpose! She can also be reached on Instagram at @melyssa_griffin.

Thank you for taking the time to read my post. If you have any comments or questions, I would LOVE to hear from you! You can post your comments below or email me directly at jo@joscraftyhook.com.

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Scoliosis and Crochet

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Some of you who have visited my website might be asking “What does Scoliosis and Crochet have to do with each other?” “Why are you selling Handmade Crocheted Creations and writing about Scoliosis?” Well if you are asking these questions or ones similar this is why, I am a 45 year old woman, married with 2 adult children, I have been Crocheting for over 25 years, and I have Scoliosis.

If you have read my previous posts, then you know my life with this disease, yes Scoliosis is a disease, has not been a pleasant one. I have undergone 5 surgeries on my back and I suffer from chronic pain. I just seen a Spine Specialist who says I have Severe Scoliosis and I need to see another specialist who deals in such deformities. I can’t say I’m surprised by his diagnoses. I was 13 years old when they found my Scoliosis. I know I have a deformity because it causes me grief daily and I have to look for ways to distract myself from the chronic pain. That’s where Crochet comes in.

Crocheting for me is my life line. It has been something I have enjoyed doing for over 20 years. I was taught by my Gran and my Mom when my kids were in school and I needed something to do to fill the time. Crocheting did not start out as my lifeline, it was just something I enjoyed doing while I had free time. In 2000 I went through a really rough time. I had my second back surgery and I was struggling every day with pain. I felt like I was fighting for my life. I had 2 young children to take care of, I had a husband that needed me, I had other family that I used to see once a week, and I had a job in the church. I desperately wanted to get back to all of them.

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During the last months of 2000 I was bedridden. I couldn’t walk let alone move without serious pain in my back and shotting down my legs. I didn’t know it at the time, but the surgery and the instruments installed during the surgery were causing damage to my spine and nerves. So I had to find something to do to get my mind off of all of these issues! This is where Crocheting started to become my lifeline. It was where I learned to endure my struggles; where I learned to cope with the pain; where I learned that I could survive the challenges I was facing in my life.

Now, 18 years after that horrible surgery and the consequences of it I have turned what I love to do into a business. The business is a way for me to use my suffering. I have found a way to turn it into an opportunity, to share all of the lovely things I have made into something that could benefit me. I did this by opening an online shop at Etsy called Jo’s Crafty Hook. Over the last 3 years I have Crocheted enough items to stock the shelves of my shop. I have turned pain into pleasure for others. My customers get the finished product of my coping with my disease, something beautiful or beneficial.

I have used my lifeline many times over the years. I underwent 3 more surgeries and thousands of procedures on my back. I am still battling my disease today. I am facing the possibility of not being able to walk; of having to undergo yet another surgery; of not being able to interact with my kids and husband.

But I use my lifeline everyday. I carve out time to crochet every day. I have learned that I can be productive, that I can make others happy, that I can share my experiences by letting others know there is a way to survive Scoliosis. I want others to know there are ways for them to endure and cope no matter what struggles they face.

So I hope I have answered your question on what Crocheting and Scoliosis have to do with each other. Crocheting not only helps you make beautiful creations, but it helps you overcome and cope with the struggles you face every day no matter what they are. Crocheting for me is not only something I enjoy doing but it is a way for me to use my struggles to make others happy when they purchase my products.

Feel free to check out some of the Handmade Crocheted Creations I have made and listed at my Etsy Shop by clicking on the page from my website. You can also check out my shop here. You can also find out more about Scoliosis and my survival with it by clicking on the Scoliosis Awareness Page at the top of my website. As I tell my customers “be sure to pop back every once in a while to see what my Crafty Hook has created next!”

I would love to hear from you. If you have a story or want to share information about Scoliosis I welcome your feedback! Just fill out the form below and I will get right back to you!

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Signs and Symptoms of Scoliosis

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Signs and symptoms of Scoliosis may include:

Uneven shoulders
One shoulder blade that appears more prominent than the other
Uneven waist
One hip higher than the other

If a scoliosis curve gets worse, the spine will also rotate or twist, in addition to curving side to side. This causes the ribs on one side of the body to stick out farther than on the other side.

Causes

Doctors don’t know what causes the most common type of scoliosis — although it appears to involve hereditary factors, because the disorder tends to run in families. Less common types of scoliosis may be caused by:

Neuromuscular conditions, such as cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy
Birth defects affecting the development of the bones of the spine
Injuries to or infections of the spine

Risk factors for developing the most common type of scoliosis include:

Age. Signs and symptoms typically begin during the growth spurt that occurs just prior to puberty.
Sex. Although both boys and girls develop mild scoliosis at about the same rate, girls have a much higher risk of the curve worsening and requiring treatment.
Family history. Scoliosis can run in families, but most children with scoliosis don’t have a family history of the disease.

Complications

While most people with scoliosis have a mild form of the disorder, scoliosis may sometimes cause complications, including:

Lung and heart damage. In severe scoliosis, the rib cage may press against the lungs and heart, making it more difficult to breathe and harder for the heart to pump.
Back problems. Adults who had scoliosis as children are more likely to have chronic back pain than are people in the general population.
Appearance. As scoliosis worsens, it can cause more noticeable changes — including unlevel shoulders, prominent ribs, uneven hips, and a shift of the waist and trunk to the side. Individuals with scoliosis often become self-conscious about their appearance
Mayo Clinic

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The reason I am telling you my story is that not everyone hears about Scoliosis. If they do it is because their children had to have a screening or someone you know has Scoliosis. I am just one person who has suffered through some horrible things because of this disease. Yes it IS a disease, it changes a person’s outlook on life and they undergo some major trials as they become a “Scoliosis Survivor.” Every day for me with Scoliosis is a challenge. Not everyone has gone through the things I have and not everyone diagnosed with Scoliosis will. I am just 1 out of the 7 million people affected with the disease.

I am a Scoliosis Survivor because even though I am in Chronic Pain I still get up every day and endure! I endure Chronic Pain every day. I endure my body’s ever changing shape. I endure walking slowly or not at all. I endure my clothes not fitting right. I endure living every day of my life with not knowing what my tomorrow may be like. “Will I fall again? Will I be able to make it to the bathroom without pain? Will I be able to crochet anything today? Will I be able to feed myself today?” These are just some of the questions that constantly go through my mind while I survive Scoliosis.

If you are a Scoliosis Survivor, I would LOVE to hear your story, so please feel free to share it with me by filling out the Comments section below. If you don’t want your story shared on my post, you can email it to me and I will be happy to read your journey with Scoliosis. You can email me at jo@joscraftyhook.com. I look forward to hearing from you!

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Scoliosis? What Should I Be Looking For?

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Check out this book if you would like more information.

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More About Scoliosis

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In last weeks post I gave you some basic information on Scoliosis. Scoliosis is a medical condition in which a person’s spine has a sideways curve. Scoliosis is something I feel strongly about because I have Degenerative Lumbar Scoliosis. This means I have a ‘C’ curvature in the lumbar region (lower area) of my spine and it is causing my spine to deteriorate. The deterioration is causing my discs to wear out and is causing the bones of my spine to rub together. All of these things cause pain. I have been suffering with Chronic Pain for over 25 years.

I also said last week that I would add to ‘My Story’, the telling of my tale with Scoliosis. If you didn’t get a chance to read it that’s alright, you can go to my post here and read it when you have time.

My Story Continues …….

Not long after the birth of my son I was in a car accident in the winter and hit a patch of ice on a bridge; slammed into a concrete divider; was hit in the rear end of my car by a dump truck; was then thrown across 2 lanes of traffic and came to rest with my front end stopped by the rail of the bridge facing oncoming traffic. While driving I was not wearing my seat belt, so I was thrown around the car pretty good. My head hit the windshield; I was thrown to the right and broke the gear shift beside my seat; and hit the driver’s side door before the car came to rest. I was taken to the hospital by ambulance and released a couple of hours later. I had a cut over my left eye; I was banged up and bruised; and I hurt all over, but other than that I was fine or so I thought.

Not long after my car accident I was seeing doctors because I was in so much pain; going to physical therapy; getting shots for pain; and doing everything I could to get back to my normal self, but it wasn’t working. I finally ended up going to an Orthopedic Surgeon who specialized in Scoliosis. After months of pain with no relief the surgeon suggested surgery. He told me he could operate and give me a 90% chance of never having pain again or face problems from my Scoliosis. After many sleepless nights and debates with my husband and family members I decided to have the surgery. I mean who wouldn’t jump at the 90% chance of no more pain and problems from their Scoliosis??

I had the surgery in October of 1992, I was 19 years old. I had a Spinal Fusion and a partial correction of my Scoliosis. During the Spinal Fusion they scraped bone off of my rear left hip, ground it up and attached it to the weak spot my spine where the worst part of the curve was. During this procedure they straightened out part of the deformity of my spine. Once the surgery was done I spent 5 days in the hospital for recovery aqnd complications. I even spent my 20th birthday there. Finally they sent me home in a back brace with an attachment that went around my left leg because my left hip was weakened from the scraping off of bone.

Needless to say the upcoming weeks and months were difficult and pain filled. I had never experienced this type of pain before. I was weak. I was a young mother and a new wife. I had to rely on my husband to bathe me and take care of me. My cousin and in-laws were helping us take care of our son. There were so many challenges ahead of me that I didn’t even think about or plan through. After many months and struggles, I did get through the challenges. We got through the challenges. It wasn’t just me that was affected by having surgery, it was everyone I was close to that went through the battles and struggles of my Scoliosis with me.

By January of 1994 my braces were off. I was getting my life back on track. I had went back to work, I was able to take care of my son, I was learning more and more about being a wife and raising a family. I found out at the end of 1993 I was pregnant again. Things were looking good! I was feeling great! But things didn’t stay that way. In the late winter I was getting out of our car in our driveway and I slipped and fell on the ice. Weeks later I found out that I broke the Spinal Fusion, the bone that was attached to my spine during surgery had broken loose from my spine. The worst part? How could breaking bone not be the worst part you ask? The worst part was there was nothing they could do, I was pregnant.

Being pregnant meant that I couldn’t have surgery to fix the broken bone. Being pregnant meant many more days and weeks of pain because if anyone knows during pregnancy a women’s hips and sacroiliac joints constantly shift as our body undergo changes. The shifting of the hips and joints can cause pain during a normal pregnancy and I was anything but normal. I faced months of pain, bed rest, not being able to interact with my husband and son, and many other problems. At the end of my pregnancy I even faced problems with the birth of my daughter.

Well I think this is a good place to stop, writing about my Scoliosis is a struggle even now, 23 years after the birth of my daughter. I thought my writing about my life would go another way, but as all of us know it doesn’t always come out the way we planned.

So! Stay tuned! I promise I will finish ‘My Story’! Awe you say? I will be writing more, I just want to keep you coming back again and again! lol

Seriously, I will be adding more to ‘My Story’ and I will be sharing more information about Scoliosis. Please stay tuned!

If you would like further reading on Scoliosis check out the book below