


For 12 years of my elementary and high school experience, my school held a medical and dental check-up each year, but none of the tests screened for spinal or posture problems.
Scoliosis in its mild or early stages is not noticeable especially when there is lack of scoliosis awareness and early screening detection, thus I was unaware of my own condition until it had reached borderline severe. I was experiencing back pain and strain in my lower back, and so I had an x-ray, expecting a simple case of muscle stiffness—but instead, the doctor told us that I have a case of moderate adolescent idiopathic scoliosis with a curvature of 35º, and that when it reaches 40º I will have to undergo spine surgery.
Fearing an invasive operation at such an early age of 14, my parents searched for and brought me to various hospitals, doctors and therapists every weekend over the course of January 2015 to January 2016.
We first consulted Dr. M. of The Medical City Satellite Clinic in Antipolo for an x-ray, followed by Dr. S., a specialist in rehabilitation and exercise in Apex Diagnostics who in turn referred me to a brace-maker who made me a Yamamoto hard brace for Php16,000. I then went to Dr. J. in Capitol Medical Center in Quezon City who referred me to Dr. I. for spine surgery.
Opposed to the idea of surgery, my family and I sought advice from neurologist Dr. Cuanang who referred us to Dr. A. of St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City. Her clinic was open for consultation from 9 PM onwards, and for several times I stayed in St. Luke’s until 1 AM in the waiting area of the x-ray department. She told us that there was no guarantee that my Yamamoto brace could stop my lumbar curvature from progressing, so she referred us to a German brace-maker in Pasig who made me a Cheneau hard brace for Php36,000.
Seeking more opinions and treatments, we consulted Dr. S. of Medical City. He told us that no amount of exercise or bracing could correct my curvature, and that we would have no choice but to opt for surgery which costs approximately 1-3 million pesos and has its disadvantages.
Opposed to the idea still, my parents brought me to Dr. V., a naturopathic and spine therapy consultant. We visited his clinic two times, and I underwent two four-hour sessions of spinotherapy, Chinese medicine, acupuncture and other modalities.
I also underwent therapy sessions with three chiropractors in two different clinics in Greenhills and Makati, as well as physical therapy sessions, swimming therapy (freestyle and backstroke) and Dorn therapy in Antipolo City.
Unsettled by the various opinions and treatments provided to us, we nearly chose to fly abroad to find a more secure, non-invasive solution. Coincidentally, my mother and I discovered a community called Scoliosis Philippines online, and attended seminars held by the organization until we met the founder of Scoliosis Philippines and attended SpineCor seminars where we met Dr. Anthony Fong—who had just flown to the Philippines, Hong Kong and Thailand, certified from the United Kingdom.
SpineCor was one of the two treatments my parents had been eyeing abroad, so they did not think twice about having me braced for the third time for $5,000 (approximately Php250,000) for an 18-month long treatment.
Dr. Fong had only recently introduced SpineCor to the Philippines last January 2016, and I am the first Filipino adolescent to be under SpineCor’s care and to wear the SpineCor soft brace. After six months of wearing the brace, my moderate curvature of 25º in the thoracic area became mild, and my curvature of 40º in the lumbar area decreased to 36º. My lumbar curve and rotation of the spine is still under adjustment for a year.
Before when I wore Yamamoto brace outside my clothes people asked what happened to me. When I wore Cheneau hard brace inside my clothes I had to choose which clothes to wear. But with SpineCor soft brace I can wear anything, I feel more comfortable and confident. I am thankful that I am straighter now and free from spine surgery.
I definitely recommend SpineCor for Scoliosis patients.
