Carlie

When were you first diagnosed with scoliosis?

I was 12 when they told me I had scoliosis and my primary physician referred me to a specialist, so we came to Dr. Geck and he has been my doctor ever since.

What were your main concerns when you were first diagnosed?

As a kid, I was worried about how it would look if my back was sticking out. I didn't like how it looked like when I wore tight clothes, but as I got older, that didn't really matter. I was more concerned about the health issues because it would've caused some major issues in the next few years.

What was the most challenging part of your experience?

The most challenging part was getting back into everything after surgery. Getting back to work, getting out with my friends, getting back to living how I was before. I had just finished my first year of college and I had to move back home so my parents could take care of me after a major surgery. But past that, it wasn't hard. I didn't have to go to physical therapy. I didn't have to do really anything.

How quickly were you able to return to normal activities?

I was back working within a month. I was driving within three weeks and I was out and about, and I moved back on my own about two months after.

What was your experience like with Dr. Geck's team over the years?

I grew a good relationship with his PAs because I was coming every four to six months to get X-rays to make sure my back was not curving more, which it was, but they got me through a lot. I've been coming here for eight years. And it's finally over, but they were great.

How are you doing now since your surgery?

It has been a little over a year since the surgery. I am fully back to everything. I run a lot. I stopped playing sports after I graduated high school or else I'd still be playing. But I can still go do that for fun. But I'm fully back.

Do you have any limitations now?

There's not really many limitations that I have. I just can't really bend my back, but I've adapted. I definitely feel a lot better now that it's taken care of because of what would happen in the future, because it would cause surgery no matter what. And since I got it done at such a young age, I recovered a lot faster than I would when I'm older. It made things a lot easier, and now I don't have to worry about it.

I like to go out with my friends. We go out to lunch, go shopping. Sometimes they go on runs with me. I go on runs by myself all the time. I take my dogs.

What would you say to other young people facing a similar diagnosis?

I would suggest to anyone who was struggling with this. Finding out was definitely the hardest part. I wasn't very happy when they told me I had to go to a specialist, but it all worked out. Everything will work out in the end. It is scary, but as long as you have a good support system, it's good.

Would you recommend Dr. Geck to other patients?

I would 100% recommend Dr. Geck and his team as someone to look at for any back issues. I've been working with them for eight years and they're fantastic — all of them.