A fitness instructor with scoliosis is getting a back tattoo of the metalwork in her spine, hoping it will “stop the bullying” she faces.
Laura Ellis, 37, from Cirencester, Gloucestershire, often endures strangers pointing, staring, and sometimes laughing at her condition.
Ms. Ellis experiences “constant toothache” pain and muscle spasms. She wants to live life fully before becoming permanently wheelchair-bound.
“It’s not just a tattoo; it might actually make my life a little easier,” she said.
The tattoo, though unfinished, was created by Nick Ferris from Strange Ways Tattoo in Swindon, Wiltshire. It was funded by a £500 fundraiser and depicts the curvature in her spine, along with the rods and bolts in her bones.
Ms. Ellis hopes the visual representation of her scoliosis will “stop the bullying.” When she first saw the tattoo, she thought, “It’s perfect.”
Growing up, Ms. Ellis didn’t have spinal problems until she was 11. While on holiday in Majorca, her parents noticed she couldn’t stand up straight.
Upon returning to the UK, she discovered her thoracic spine had collapsed.
At age 12, she underwent a nine-hour operation at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. Doctors “shaved” her right ribcage and inserted a metal rod and seven bolts into her spine.
“My right ribcage ended up on my back, causing the staring. My lungs and ribs were crushing due to the rotation, and my organs were moving,” said Ms. Ellis. Without the surgery, she would have died.
After the surgery, Ms. Ellis wore a back brace to sleep and at school. Her condition improved for some years, but at 19, she noticed changes in her lower torso.
She realized her lumbar spine was also collapsing. Her scoliosis became more apparent in her 20s, with her stomach protruding due to the spine’s rotation.
Ms. Ellis found these changes “frustrating.”
During a trip to Turkey with her mum, a group of women on a boat stared, whispered, and laughed at her. This experience, among others, has significantly impacted her self-esteem.
Due to the high risk of paralysis, Ms. Ellis has decided not to pursue further surgery. Despite trying not to get angry, other people’s reactions have affected her, leading to feelings of low self-esteem and self-consciousness.
Her spine continues to collapse above and below the bolts, causing daily “constant toothache” pain. Her right arm and leg are three inches longer than her left. She also experiences severe muscle spasms in her back and can’t stay in one position for too long.
“It’s never going to get any better; it will only keep progressing,” she said. “Through my 30s, I’m now the worst I’ve ever been.”
Ms. Ellis plans to make the most of her life while she can still walk. “When all is said and done, and I’m in my wheelchair, I want to smile at all the memories,” she added.
What is Scoliosis and What Are the Symptoms?
Scoliosis is a condition where the spine twists and curves to the side. It can affect people of any age but often starts in children aged 10 to 15.
Scoliosis can improve with treatment, but it’s usually not a sign of anything serious. Treatment may not be needed if the condition is mild.
Signs of scoliosis include:
- A visibly curved spine
- Leaning to one side
- Uneven shoulders
- One shoulder or hip sticking out
- Ribs sticking out on one side
- Clothes not fitting well
Some people with scoliosis may also have back pain, which is more common in adults with the condition.