Appeal to help Fenland teen gain specialist treatment for spinal problem

A Chatteris mum has launched an online appeal to help pay for specialist private treatment for her teenage daughter's spinal problems.

Beverley Wickenden is hoping local people will rally to help raise the £4,300 needed to pay for the non-surgical treatment of 13-year-old Eleanor's scoliosis (curvature of the spine).

She explained Eleanor was first diagnosed with the spinal problem, also experienced by Princess Eugenie when she was a teenager, in February last year.

However, Beverley claims the family were offered little advice or pain relief, before Eleanor was referred to a consultant for further analysis.

Lockdown caused delays and Eleanor was finally seen in July 2020 by which time the curve of her spine had worsened and she was told the basic brace provided by the NHS would not help and that she would need surgery.

Beverley said: "At that time we were told there was a long wait for that and that we would also have to wait some time for the further diagnostic appointments that would be necessary for going down the surgical route.

"Appointment letters arrived late in the year for December 2020, but these appointments kept being changed because of lockdown.

"Finally in March 2021, I had become very fed up with these constant changes and we started to look more into the operation, at the pros and cons of what is a major operation.

"Our research then led us to find out that there are non-surgical treatments available - a specialised form of physiotherapy called the Schroth Method and custom made braces that have been able to treat even greater curves than Eleanor's.

"We also found out that a person with scoliosis shouldn't sleep in a particular way, as this makes the curve worse and she started doing this in March 2021, it has already made a difference.

"The Schroth Method has been shown to be very effective at treating and reversing scoliosis, as are the custom Gensingen Braces.

"However these are only available from private clinics and the treatments are quite costly, hence the fundraiser.

"The treatment course costs £3,200, plus we need travel costs to get from our home to the clinic in Kingston upon Thames, London, by train and taxi. The initial consultation via Skype is free and this is being booked very soon.

"Eleanor and I hugely appreciate anything, that anyone can donate to help us raise our target amount, however small."

You can donate by visiting 'Eleanor's non-surgical scoliosis treatment' Gofundme page.