Teen Has A Bizarre Curve In Her Spine, Then A TV Show Unexpectedly Leads Doctors To Diagnosis
By
Haider Ali in
Feel Good
On 14th September 2016
Jennifer White, 19, could never figure out why her hip protruded at a strange angle. The curve in her spine would often cause her tenderness, but the low-key student was never one for worrying. She thought she’d simply grow out of it.
But one day, Jennifer and her mother happened to watch a history show on TV about King Richard III. The monarch had a notorious hunchback, and the program discussed his spinal issues.
The television show even revealed photos of King Richard III’s skeleton that had been discovered under a parking lot in 2013. The curve in his spine was noticeable.
Jennifer and Johanna looked at each other. They couldn’t help but think King Richard III had symptoms very similar to Jennifer.
The TV show led the mother-daughter duo to doing some research of their own, and immediately went to the doctor.
They couldn’t believe they were told…
#1 One day, a teenager in the UK happened to be watching a television show about King Richard III.
King Richard III was King of England from 1483 until his death in 1485 at the age of 32. The famed monarch was known for having scoliosis and a hunchback.
In 2013, DNA tests confirmed the remains of King Richard III were found buried beneath an English car park.
One day, a teenager in the UK happened to be watching a television show about King Richard III. The documentary discussed the monarch's spinal issues and showed photos of his skeleton and his twisted spine.
The teen, Jennifer, realized her symptoms were similar to his.
#2 . For years, she wondered why her hip popped out and caused her pain.
Jennifer White is a 19-year-old media production student at Staffordshire University. For years, she wondered why her hip popped out and caused her pain.
Because of the pain caused by her curved spine, Jennifer struggled to live a normal life. However, she's not a worrier by nature, and so she thought she would grow out of it.
But when Jennifer and her mom, Johanna, saw the television show about King Richard III, they couldn't help but notice the similarities in their spines.
As the documentary revealed photos of his remains, Johanna said to Jennifer, "Oh, maybe you have scoliosis too."
#3 She made a doctor’s appointment and was diagnosed.
Johanna and Jennifer began researching the condition, and suddenly realized there was a good chance she suffered from scoliosis for 19 years and never knew it.
She made a doctor's appointment and was diagnosed.
Sure enough, Jennifer had idiopathic scoliosis, which meant doctors don't know what caused it.
#4 Jennifer’s spine had an angle of a whopping 63 degrees.
People with scoliosis typically have some kind of curve in their spine, and anything between five and 10 degrees is benign. However, a spine with an angle over 50 degrees requires surgery.
#5 Jennifer underwent life-changing surgery.
Doctors said if the condition had been caught and treated any later, they may not have been able to operate.
#6 The surgery corrected Jennifer’s severe spinal curvature. Her life has drastically changed ever since.
"It's weird to think something so simple as a curved spine could have such an impact on my life," she says.
#7 “If it wasn’t for that TV show, I could’ve have been stuck with a curve and back pain forever.”
Other than her mother, Jennifer credits none other than King Richard III for helping to diagnose her scoliosis.
"If it wasn't for that TV show, I could've have been stuck with a curve and back pain forever."
Always keep your eyes and ears open. You never know when (or from who) you'll find the answer you've been looking for.
