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Patient Stories

Patient Story: Jiya Jagani

When I was 10, I went for what I thought would be a regular checkup at my doctor’s office. Everything seemed routine—until my primary care provider asked me to bend over so she could check my back. What happened next was different: she paused, stepped out, and returned with a scoliometer, an instrument I hadn’t seen before. I remember feeling a little anxious as she measured my back. Then came the X-rays. That’s when my family and I learned that I had thoracolumbar idiopathic scoliosis, and my curve had already progressed to 36 degrees. It was surprising—I had never even realized how bad my posture was.

I still remember getting my first brace (the Boston Brace)—on my birthday, no less. I had to wear it to stop my scoliosis from getting worse. I was told right away that it wouldn’t correct my curve, only keep it from progressing. That news was tough to hear, especially on what was supposed to be a happy day.

Adjusting to the brace was one of the hardest parts of the journey. It felt constricting, like my whole body was being squeezed, and I struggled to feel comfortable in it. I couldn’t sleep properly for weeks, and every night felt like a battle to get used to something that now seemed like part of me. As soon as I got home, I panicked and started scrolling through YouTube, desperate for answers. I watched countless videos titled things like, “Yoga Poses to Help Your Back” and “Exercises for Scoliosis,” even though I knew my brace was the main thing keeping my scoliosis in check.

Wearing the brace to school was another hurdle. At first, I was nervous and self-conscious. I was worried people would notice, or worse, treat me differently. But I was lucky—my close friends supported me in ways I didn’t expect. Instead of focusing on the awkwardness of it all, they made light of the situation, calling the brace my personalized armor. They found it kind of cool, and honestly, their support helped me embrace it. I wore the Boston brace for nearly four years, and while it wasn’t easy, my friends made the
journey a lot less isolating.

By the summer before I started high school, I was hoping for good news at my yearly X-ray. But instead, I learned that my curve had worsened, growing by two more degrees to 38. At first, two degrees didn’t sound like a big deal, but for my orthotist, it was two steps closer to surgery. My parents and I were heartbroken, knowing that surgery was now looming closer than ever.

During this stressful time, we spent many sleepless nights considering our options. That’s when we came across a place called Scoliosis Care Centers. Their approach was different, and their success stories gave us hope. We read about patients whose scoliosis had progressed far past the surgical threshold, yet with treatment, their curves had dramatically reduced. It sounded too good to be true, but we decided to give it a try.

For the past two years, I’ve been in treatment with them, and thanks to the brace they gave me, my curve has now decreased to around 12 degrees—something I never thought possible. The work has been hard. The daily stretching (which was particularly tough for me, since flexibility isn’t my strong suit), the core exercises, and the personalized treatments were physically and mentally exhausting. Balancing all of this while starting high school wasn’t easy, but the results have been worth it.

Scoliosis has affected more than just my spine. It’s made me self-conscious about my body, how I stand, how my clothes fit, and even what I can physically do. But throughout this journey, I’ve learned the power of resilience and patience. I’ve also been blessed with incredible support from my family and friends, who have stuck by me every step of the way.

Now, as a scoliosis ambassador, I hope to use my experience to help others feel more confident in their own bodies and more comfortable in their braces. My goal is to show that scoliosis is just one part of your story, not the whole thing.

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