Destiney Jackson

"The first time I danced [again] felt amazing."

Life can get complicated when a bright, active teenager, who's an accomplished and passionate dancer, must face the prospects of complex spinal surgery to address a worsening case of scoliosis, or curvature of the spine. It's a procedure that will have an impact on the rest of her life.

Seventeen-year-old Destiney Jackson, from Gainesville, Florida, has been dancing since she was three. "It's always been a big part of my life," she says with a winning smile. "It's the way I express myself; I love it."

A good student and a member of her high school's competitive dance team, Destiney endured long practices and began to feel unusually sore and uncomfortable. "It started affecting my confidence, and I was afraid that my appearance was crooked," she says. She realized her condition was getting worse.

"Coming out of surgery, I was loopy but happy it was over," Destiney explains. When she first stood up, she had grown one-and-a-half inches. Because the surgery went so well and she was otherwise healthy, Destiney was discharged after only two days, ready to begin recovery.

"The first time I danced [again] felt amazing," Destiney says, beaming. "It was great to get back to normal, and I soon realized I could do things like cartwheels and rolls without pain. I even started wearing high heels after a month."

All surgery carries risk. See your surgeon to discuss your potential benefits and risks. Not all patients will have the same post-operative recovery and activity level. Individual results vary.