Woman, 22, with scoliosis so severe she could 'hardly breathe' reveals results of 'intense' spine surgery
Share:
A young woman with scoliosis has revealed her incredible transformation after surgeons straightened her curved spine with 20 screws. American influencer Paige Mackenzie discovered she had a curved spine at the age of 14. The Texas-native, now 22, recently took to Instagram to share the results of her 'intense' spine surgery that was so painful, it left her unable to touch her toes or brush her teeth.
![[American influencer Paige Mackenzie discovered she had a curved spine at the age of 14. The Texas-native, now 22, recently took to Instagram to share the results of her 'intense' spine surgery that was so painful, it left her unable to touch her toes or brush her teeth]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/22/16/94393777-14313793-image-a-17_1737562308412.jpg)
'I was basically a stick figure,' Paige said, recalling the procedure that involved 'ripping apart' the entire back and using rods and screws to straighten the spine before 'stitching you back up'. 'It's the worst pain you'll ever experience in your life,' she admitted.
![[Paige opted for the surgery after her condition began to worsen, eventually reaching a 44-degree curvature - as shown in the X-ray above]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/22/16/94393781-14313793-image-a-20_1737562333836.jpg)
Paige opted for the surgery after her condition began to worsen, eventually reaching a 44-degree curvature as she got older. 'Typically as you get older, your scoliosis progresses and gets worse,' she explained. 'When I was 14, my curvature was probably maybe 15 or 20 degrees.
![[The 'intense' surgery involved inserting two rods and about 20 screws to correct the curvature]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/22/16/94393783-14313793-image-a-18_1737562316778.jpg)
'By the time I had spine surgery, it had progressed to 44 degrees,' Paige continued, noting the curvature had 'more than doubled' in just seven years. A young woman with scoliosis has revealed her incredible transformation after surgeons straightened her curved spine with 20 screws.
![[Despite the pain and limitations, Paige has embraced her journey and continues to share updates with her followers]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/22/16/94393785-14313793-image-a-19_1737562326341.jpg)
American influencer Paige Mackenzie discovered she had a curved spine at the age of 14. The Texas-native, now 22, recently took to Instagram to share the results of her 'intense' spine surgery that was so painful, it left her unable to touch her toes or brush her teeth.
