Throughout my teens I suffered constant pain and I tried a number of different methods to reduce my two 50 degree curves, in the hope that I wouldn't need the risky surgery.
I also spent years in uncomfortable body braces – essentially corsets made out of solid plastic with straps to tighten at the back.
I wore the brace for 23 hours a day with only one hour out of it for a shower.
It was sweaty, painful, and most of all embarrassing.
I was around 13 when I was first fitted with one and I had to wear the brace to school every day, much to the amusement of some classmates who mocked me relentlessly.
Suffering from the condition affected my daily life.
If you didn't know me, you probably wouldn't be able to tell that anything was wrong with me, I was your typical teenage girl.
But the back pain I suffered from my twisted spine and weirdly-positioned ribs, as a result, was horrendous.
I was (and still am) self-conscious of my back, I'd be extra careful with the clothes I wore – nothing could be too tight or in any way reveal my back.
I've been in and out of hospital for a different condition since I was born, and as a result I have a lot of deep, ugly scars.
They undoubtedly have an effect on self-esteem and the way I view my body, but they still don't come close to the way I felt about my bent back.
Now Princess Eugenie has openly discussed her struggle with scoliosis – and even showed off the scar from her corrective surgery on her wedding day.
She was diagnosed at the age of 12 and had surgery not long after.
My scoliosis first came to light when my hip consultant (that's a whole other story) noticed a hump on my back.
But speedy surgery wasn't an option for me and I had to wait for my operation date on the NHS.
After years of discomfort, the brace made no difference to my spinal curves and they continued to worsen so the operation was still necessary.
As the wait for my operation was stretched out over such a long period of time, it messed up my life on numerous occasions.
What is Scoliosis?
Scoliosis is where the spine twists and curves to the side.
It can affect people of any age, from babies to adults, but most often starts in children aged 10 to 15.
Signs of scoliosis include:
- a visibly curved spine
- leaning to one side
- uneven shoulders
- one shoulder or hip sticking out
- the ribs sticking out on one side
- clothes not fitting well
Treatment for scoliosis depends on your age, how severe the curve is, and whether it’s likely to get worse with time.
In around 8 in every 10 cases, the cause of scoliosis is unknown. This is called idiopathic scoliosis.
Idiopathic scoliosis can’t be prevented and isn’t thought to be linked to things such as bad posture, exercise or diet.
Your genes may make you more likely to get it, though, as it sometimes runs in families.
I was promised that the surgery could be 'at any time' from the age of 15, and dates were given, and cancelled, and given again, and cancelled.
Because I knew the impact the surgery would have on my studies (I would be bed bound for around six weeks) I ended up sitting some of my GCSEs early which was a huge and, as it turned out, unnecessary step for me to take.
Every summer from then until the summer of 2017 was on hold or reserved for other operations.
When I was finally given the official date of the surgery, I was elated but couldn't help feeling a little gutted.
It was on the day of my 21st birthday!
But I'd waited so long for this and a new spine was a pretty decent birthday present in my opinion.
The surgery is lengthy and the procedure is very risky as doctors are working so closely around your spinal cord – one wrong move and you could be paralysed.
In short, they open up your back, push and pull your spine from an S-shape (like mine was) into a straight line, as it should be.
Since the spines of scoliosis sufferers don't want to stay straight, it requires 'fusing', which means two titanium rods are fixed either side of the spine with numerous metal screws between vertebrates (I have 14).
It's an unpleasant operation, the recovery is absolutely agonising and it drains you both physically and mentally.
After going under general anaesthetic just after 7am on July 23, 2017, my two surgeons Mr Davidson and Mr Trevedi changed my life.
I woke up in a daze and unable to feel any pain, I was so numb from the drugs.
It all went downhill from then on for a good two weeks.
It was two weeks of CONSTANT agony, being unable to sleep, eat, move or even communicate properly.
Just over a year later, I'm more or less recovered.
My back is a lot straighter, my scar has healed amazingly and I always sit up straight.
I still get pain from my spine every now and again and my fitness has definitely taken a toll.
I'm unable to stand up for very long which can be a pain on public transport.
Since I look like any other girl my age and don't require a walking aid, people won't stand up and offer me their seat on long journeys and I'm too scared to ask.
When I have asked in the past, I've been laughed at and told "There's nothing wrong with you love".
It's saddening that some people can be so ignorant.
I'm glad Princess Eugenie is speaking out so much about her experience of the same surgery, and about living with scoliosis.
It's got the whole nation talking about it, and it'll raise awareness of a condition that affects millions of people.
Eugenie's dress choice wasn't the only one causing a stir today, and we've revealed our best dressed list from the Royal wedding.
And the mother-of-the-bride got a bit of criticism for her choice of hat, with some comparing Sarah Ferguson's hat to something from Harry Potter.
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