Mother spots lump on daughter's back during opera lesson, turns out to be scoliosis

A mother has spoken of the moment she discovered her daughter had a curved spine after spotting a lump on the her back during an opera lesson.

Phillipa Walker, from Sheffield, south Yorkshire, was practising a new breathing exercise at her singing class at the age of eleven when her mother Julie Walker, 51, noticed the abnormality in her spine.

After rushing her to a GP, Phillipa was diagnosed with scoliosis - a 36 degree curvature to her spine.

It was suspected Phillipa, who has been performing since the age of four, had the condition since the age of five.

The youngster, now aged 14, began treatment with the specialist team at Sheffield Children’s Hospital in October 2015 following her diagnosis in June of the same year.

Instead of invasive surgery, the hospital quickly fitted her with a back brace to prevent the curvature from worsening as she grew.

The teenager wore the brace for 20 hours a day over the three years that followed, reducing the curavature in her spine to just 20 degrees.

As a result, it is now possible for Phillipa to accomplish her dream of performing in "spectacular" dresses at national singing competitions.

Ms Walker, who is a home soft furnishings maker, said: "I genuinely couldn't believe it.

"This was the first time they had ever done this particular exercise and they haven't done it since, it was a complete fluke.

"I remember noticing the lump as she bent over and I was worried. It was a huge shock to find out she had scoliosis, we’d never heard of it.

"Looking back, we believe from looking at old photos that she may have had it in some form from the age of five, as there’s a difference in shoulder and hip height.

“But Philippa wasn’t concerned about fashion or playing with everyone, all she wanted to do growing up was practice her music, so we never noticed.”

Scoliosis is a medical condition in which a person's spine has a sideways curve.

While scoliosis is common in those aged 65 and over, there are just three or four known cases for every thousand children in the UK.

Ms Walker added: "We were mortified. All Phillipa has ever wanted is to be a singer and wear incredible dresses performing classical music.

"Since we got the diagnosis, we realised the breathing exercise is remarkably similar to the movement conducted in hospital to initially spot any signs of scoliosis.

"The curvature of the spine shows a lump at the skin and in this case I was just incredibly lucky to have spotted it.

"The condition is treated much better if it can be diagnosed very early and I am so thankful for everything done to treat Phillipa.

"Thankfully we caught it in time."

Ms Walker said she would often alter Phillipa's dresses due to size changes, but never thought it could have been because of a spine condition.

She added: "I used to make little corrections and wonder why the sizing was off, or one side was more stretched than the other.

"I now realise it was because of her spine being curved to one side and obviously pulling the dress in different directions.

"I would have never thought that was the cause, I had never noticed it before the diagnosis, she was just so busy wanting to sing all the time."

Phillipa said she was proud of her incredible recovery and determination.

She added: "During the years, there were gradual improvements with my back. This lifted my spirits and I kept wearing my brace.

"My end results have been very positive and now my curvature is only twenty degrees.

"I would like to say that I feel proud that I succeeded in the trial and I don't mind showing my brace off to any one that is interested to learn what scoliosis is all about."

Philippa now only attends appointments every six months at Sheffield Children’s Hospital and in October 2018, became one of the first to use the new EOS scanner at the facility.

She said: "This whole experience has made me think about what I can do to help other people.

"Hundreds of children, as well as adults, will be missing out on treatment around the world.

"I’m lucky to have the NHS on my side, but not everyone has that privilege.

"If schools, nurseries and hospitals can be educated in looking for signs of Scoliosis, and if the curve is caught early on, then people are less likely to need an operation."

The life-changing EOS scanner at Sheffield Children’s Hospital is only the second of its kind for children in the UK.

Based on a Nobel prize-winning invention, EOS provides an ultra-low dose 2D and 3D digital X-ray system and will hugely improve the diagnosis and treatment of orthopaedic patients.

Patients can sit or stand, with a complete head-to-toe image provided in 15 seconds or less.

The new equipment will particularly aid those patients requiring limb and spine curvature examinations, who will now be able to get a much clearer X-ray.

The reduction in radiation exposure will also help those requiring regular scans, such as scoliosis spine patients.

John Somers, chief executive of Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust, said "We are incredibly grateful to the people who support our work here at Sheffield Children's.

"Our staff are amazing, providing specialist care with compassion every day.

"But with the latest equipment and donor-funded facilities, we can go even further to help children both locally and nationally.

"The new EOS scanner will be part of our world-leading spinal service here at the hospital and will allow us to do even more to help children like Philippa."

Phillipa has started donating to the hospital following her treatment, raising £300 by auctioning off her old toys.

SWNS