A 12-year-old girl who complained about shoulder and back pain has been recommended urgent surgery by doctors in the UK after an X-ray revealed her spine was curved at an 80-degree angle. Sophie Burgess had been suffering from back and shoulder pain for some time. However, visits to a physiotherapist and a chiropractor were of no avail since neither of them was able to reach the root cause. Over some time this began to interfere with the functioning of her regular life. The student began to have posture issues and struggled to remain upright.
Heidi Burgess Cederholm, her mother, claimed she first saw how twisted her daughter’s back was while helping her put on swimming gear. Her mom added that her daughter has dyspraxia, hypermobility in her knees, and chronic fatigue. So they didn’t read too much into the tiredness, aches, and pains Sophie was experiencing. Sophie was taken to see a pediatric expert, where an X-ray confirmed her spine was bent. The doctor identified that she was suffering from a quick onset progression of scoliosis.
Scoliosis is common in girls going through puberty
Heidi told Liverpool Echo, “The consultant said she’d grown seven centimeters in the last year. He said it can be very common especially when girls are going through puberty. But it can come on really rapidly, almost overnight, which is exactly how it was here.”
“He said it’s very severe though and it could be very problematic especially because of her age and how she’s growing. We thought we might be able to get a brace but in her X-ray, you can see her back is at an 80-degree bend which he said is way past the point of just having a brace,” she added.
Sophie is intrigued by sports and horse riding. She used to play netball at school, however, the diagnosis of her condition has not only physically but mentally affected her too. Sophie’s family is raising money for her upcoming surgery in June. Due to the possibility of her spine curving more, they want the operation to take place as soon as feasible.
