Top 5 Tips for Thriving With Scoliosis & Spinal Fusion—From Someone Who's Actually Been There

There’s a specific kind of mental exhaustion that comes from living with a spinal fusion—especially as an adult. We don’t need “10 Yoga Poses for Posture.” We don't need another doctor telling us to "try swimming". We need real life tips and strategies that actually make life easier, and spine care more manageable.

These tips are from my own personal experience, so please feel free to comment what has helped you the most. A community is only built when we start to share and pool our resources.

1. Upgrade your furniture game.

Good chairs. Supportive beds. Lumbar support pillows. Anything that makes sitting or sleeping more bearable is an investment in your sanity. When I was going through the early weeks of spinal fusion recovery, we upgraded my bed to a Tempurpedic. I immediately went from being up 2-3 times throughout the night, to sleeping through the night. You've heard the saying: you should invest the most in your mattress and your shoes, because those are the two places you'll be spending the most time. This is EXTRA true when you have scoliosis. I'll have an Amazon list and future post with links to my personal fav products coming soon.

2. Movement is medicine.

Whether it's 10 steps or 10K steps, you HAVE to have a movement routine. Pilates or weight training, walking to the mailbox, or even just stretches and breathing exercises while sitting on your bed, you. must. move! I've found I actually have MORE pain when I am sedentary. Additionally, the intentionality of moving your body sends a message of self care and love that boosts both your physical and mental health. As always, be sure to consult with your doctor before trying anything new.

3. Find pain management techniques that work for YOU.

Sounds obvious but it's true: not everything works for everyone. Some people prefer heat over ice, Advil over ibuprofen, and acupuncture over massage. And vice versa. One that comes to mind for me is that I hate the way a TENS unit feels on my skin. It feels like ants and it gives me anxiety. But, I know that a LOT of scolis love their TENS unit! I will never definitively say one thing works better than another because of my own personal experience. Every scoliosis curve is different and every body is different. Take some time to (safely) experiment with different pain management techniques to see what works best for you.

4. Don’t wait for the pain to get “bad enough” to rest.

This one took me the longest to learn. With a background in dance and a self proclaimed superwoman, recognizing and admitting my limits has been really, really tough. Needing rest can feel like weakness. Learning to honor my body and let it rest has actually allowed me to go further and do more than if I had just "pushed through". Proactive rest is not indulgent. It’s survival.

5. Find your people.

Community! Is! Everything!

Nothing is more validating than asking a scoli specific question or telling your story and then being met with "omg me too!". Finding community helps ease the mental load of living with this condition. It can be heavy sometimes, but it's easier to carry with a village to help. We built The Bionic Project so you don’t have to explain your curvy life story to strangers on Reddit and terrifying Facebook "support" groups. Come sit with us.

Have any more tips on thriving with scoliosis or spinal fusion? Let us know in the comments!