A BEAUTY therapist student from Kesgrave today told of the agonising pain she has experienced for the last year - the result of a severe back condition.

A BEAUTY therapist student from Kesgrave today told of the agonising pain she has experienced for the last year - the result of a severe back condition.

Megan Leaning, of Jenning's Drift, first noticed the excruciating pain last May, describing it as “like stabbing and a deep ache” in her lower back.

The condition causes the spine to excessively curve sideways and if left untreated can lead to fatal heart and lung problems.

After a visit to the GP and appointments at Ipswich Hospital she was diagnosed with scoliosis, and underwent eight weeks of physiotherapy.

But the treatment had little effect, failing to reduce the 17-year-old's pain, leaving her in despair.

The constant pain was with her day in, day out and despite not letting it affect her lifestyle she said it was an underlying factor she was always forced to consider.

“It was horrible,” she said. “Because I am young I refused to let the pain stop my life but it was a constant in my life, always at the back of my mind.”

After Megan's mum read an article in Suffolk Magazine her daughter booked an appointment with Scoliosis SOS.

Megan said she underwent a four-week intensive treatment plan, involving various exercises and stretches to help reduce the unevenness in her back.

In severe cases the only option can be to operate on a patient with the condition, involving a risky procedure involving metal rods being inserted either side of the spine before it fuses solid.

As she continues to practice the exercises designed for her by her therapist, Megan said she is starting to experience the pain easing up.

She added: “The pain is no longer awful day in, day out. I still get pain every day but it is easing.

“My posture has improved immensely. The main thing I am grateful for is being able to pursue my dreams of qualifying as a beauty therapist and being able to practice on clients knowing I won't be distracted by constant agonising back pain.”

For more information please visit www.scoliosissos.com

Have you overcome serious illness? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk