The redheaded stepchild of orthopedics

Make no mistake. Scoliosis is serious stuff. Just ask me – or anyone else who has it.

So, why is it so difficult for scoliosis to be taken seriously?

I’m not talking about people who are afflicted with scoliosis – or know someone who is. I’m referring to the media and the general public, and maybe even some in the medical community.

In my “Milwaukee Brace” post, I cite the scene in Sixteen Candles where a girl wearing the brace attempts to quench her thirst at a water fountain. But, that’s just one example of many I’ve seen and heard where the punch line involves “the kid with scoliosis.”

And while it may be good for a laugh, scoliosis isn’t “sexy” from a publicity standpoint.

Several years ago, I offered my services as a PR professional to the National Scoliosis Foundation pro bono to help them publicize the importance of early screening for effective treatment of scoliosis. Since many school systems nationwide have determined that in-school screenings are cost-prohibitive, the story was a public service encouraging parents to request scoliosis screening at the pediatrician’s office. The most prominent placement of the press release came from a local, weekly newspaper whose editor had an adolescent relative with scoliosis.

Even within the medical community, scoliosis is treated like the redheaded stepchild of orthopedics. So, as a condition, it doesn’t get much attention, and that inattention can extend to its patients.

Last summer I wanted to establish myself as a patient with a local orthopedist that Mary had recommended, but when the doctors learned I was an adult scoliosis patient – in pain – my file was shuffled from one to the other until the pain specialist in the practice finally delivered the news: they couldn’t (or wouldn’t) see me!

I’ve since learned that this is very common for adult scoliosis patients. Why? I have no idea, but I figure any doctor who practices in that manner is definitely one to avoid.