How I Stopped Fighting My Body: My Scoliosis Healing Journey

kayleighfiddler
Jul 21, 2025
3 min read

For most of my life, my spine felt like a battle I was constantly losing.

I was diagnosed with scoliosis at a young age, and for years, I carried the weight of feeling different — like my body was something that needed fixing or hiding. Just trying to push through the pain felt like punishment. After a childhood full of medical BS, I didn’t understand why I now had to deal with this too, just as I was entering my teenage years.

Eventually, I became numb to the idea that my spine was “broken” or “not normal.” Pain became my constant companion, and the things I once loved — sports, movement, even just being active — slowly disappeared from my life. But instead of offering myself grace, I pushed harder. I ignored what my body was trying to tell me.

That all changed on January 29, 2023 — the day of my accident.

The Shift

The year and a half that followed was the hardest of my life. Constant pain. Constant grief. I felt like I had lost my life — grieving the version of me who could do so many things my body no longer allowed. I didn’t know how to process what I was going through, or how to support my body through it.

But then, something shifted. I was approved to return to the gym. And that changed everything.

It wasn’t easy at first. I could barely do anything. But with time, I got stronger. And I realized something: my body wasn’t the enemy. My spine wasn’t going anywhere, and neither was the pain — but I could choose how I moved forward.

That’s when everything changed. I began to work with my body, instead of against it.

My Healing Essentials

Healing has looked different than I expected — and it’s required a lot of trial and error. But these are the tools that have helped me feel like me again.

🩹 SuperPatches

These changed the game. I was extremely skeptical at first — how could a drug-free patch help with pain that even prescriptions couldn’t touch? But within 5–10 minutes of trying my first patch, I felt relief. Now, I use them for everything: pain, inflammation, focus, sleep, hormones, immune support — you name it. These are a daily non-negotiable for me now.

🖤 CoreCare Back Brace

I never had a traditional scoliosis brace growing up, but after my accident, both my doctor and therapist suggested trying one. My grandma actually found CoreCare in a Facebook ad, and after seeing the reviews, I gave it a try. I now own two — black and pink — and wear one daily. I started with 30 minutes and gradually worked my way up to 2 hours a day.

This is one of my braces I have 2 one in Pink and one in Black!

My Heating Pad

My heating pad has become one of my go-to tools in my healing journey with scoliosis. Whether it’s easing tension after a long day or helping calm flare-ups, the gentle warmth brings instant relief to my back. It’s not a cure, but it offers comfort—something that makes a huge difference when living with chronic pain. Small routines like this help me listen to my body and give it the care it deserves.

My heating pad my fiancé bought me for Christmas, and my 2 go to patches for my daily life!

🏋🏼‍♀️ The Gym

Returning to the gym has been one of the most empowering parts of this journey. My weekly split looks like this:

Sunday: Pilates
Monday: Push
Tuesday: Legs
Thursday: Pull
Friday: Abs(I also include core work daily — strong core = strong back!)

The gym reminds me that movement is still mine. It helps me reconnect with my body in a way that feels strong, not broken.

💗 Self-Love

Okay, I used to think this was cheesy — but self-love has been crucial to my healing. Whether it’s breathwork, journaling, stretching, or just reminding myself it’s okay to rest, these small acts have helped me feel human again. Not broken. Not behind. Just healing — in my own way.

What I’ve Learned

Healing isn’t about becoming pain-free. It’s about learning how to support yourself — physically, mentally, and emotionally — through the pain.

It’s about rewriting the story you’ve been told about your body. It’s about choosing to trust it again.

If you're living with scoliosis, chronic pain, an invisible disability (or even a visible one), or just feel disconnected from your body — I see you. You are not alone.

And I’m rooting for you.