Rita Simons has shared an insight into her scoliosis battle as she marked Scoliosis Awareness Month on Tuesday.
The EastEnders star, 49, took to Instagram as she spoke about celebrating her ‘wonderful wonky body’ after years of being ashamed of her back.
Sharing a snap of her 54 and 52 degree curved spine, Rita explained how she used to wish to have a ‘normal’ back and was jealous of other people.
After years of struggling to find clothes that fit her, earlier this year the star decided to undergo a breast reduction which she said has ‘enormously helped’ with the load on her back.
In a lengthy caption she penned: ‘It’s #ScoliosisAwarenessMonth so I thought I’d showcase my wonderful wonky body.
‘I spent so many years (and tears) somehow feeling I should be ashamed of my back, looking enviously at all the other “normal” backs… (I know! What a RANDOM thing to be jealous of)
Rita Simons has shared an insight into her scoliosis as she celebrated her ‘wonderful wonky body’ after years of being ‘ashamed’ in an Instagram post on Tuesday
Sharing a snap of her 54 and 52 degree curved spine, Rita explained how she used to wish to have a ‘normal’ back and was jealous of other people
‘Then one day last year I decided to just show you all instead of hiding it. It was becoming exhausting. Especially with my job dealing with a lot of wardrobe depts and fittings and having to constantly explain why I couldn’t just wear what everyone else can.’
Speaking about her breast reduction she continued: ‘Yes, I had the ‘girls’ reduced because of the pain and I was lucky enough to be able to do that thanks to @allskinsurgery It’s helped enormously.
‘But the bottom line is… my body just didn’t hang right and it never will. And you know what? That’s OK. We work with what we’ve got.’
She added: ‘To all my scolisisters out there… I see you. I always have ❤️ And to anyone who’s ever looked in the mirror and wished for a different body… you’re in good company.
‘Maybe none of us are really trying to love ourselves 24/7….Maybe we’re just trying to make peace with the bodies we’ve been given. Curved spine. All mine. Love you all’.
Rita previously said the ‘pain’ from having a large chest has exacerbated her battle with scoliosis after being diagnosed with the condition at the age of 19.
Taking to Instagram, the actress shared an X-ray of her back to show the curvature of her spine as she announced she would be getting a breast reduction.
‘It’s finally time to say goodbye to my massively annoying boobs,’ she wrote.
After years of struggling to find clothes that fit her, earlier this year the star decided to undergo a breast reduction which she said has ‘enormously helped’ with the load on her back
Rita also shared a video of exercises she does to ease her pain
She penned: ‘To all my scolisisters out there… I see you. I always have ❤️ And to anyone who’s ever looked in the mirror and wished for a different body… you’re in good company’
Rita also confirmed she had quit vaping in preparation for her breast reduction.
‘The pain they cause my back just isn’t necessary anymore,’ she added.
‘This chapter seems to be about getting rid of everything that doesn’t serve me… the womb, the alcohol, the sugar, the fags/vape…so let’s do the boobs too. The boobs definitely do not serve me.
‘Because of my particular scoliosis and the state of the rest of my back, I’m not a candidate for spinal surgery.
‘My spine can’t be “fixed”, so my focus is on doing everything I can to reduce pain and slow the progression of the curves. They’ll never be cured – so we work with what we’ve got.’
‘I can’t lie… pain relief aside, I’m also looking forward to not having the rib hump at the back and the two mountains at the front. Let’s lose those mountains.
‘I’m sharing this because adult scoliosis isn’t talked about enough – and this is just one of the many curveballs women with scoliosis can experience.
‘I’ll keep you posted and as always Thanku for all the lovely messages!’ [sic]
In February 2021, the actress – a parent to twin girls Jaimee and Maiya, 20, with her ex-husband, Theo Silverston – said she was in a ‘whole world of pain’ because of scoliosis.
She said at the time: ‘I hate my scoliosis with a passion. It’s definitely getting worse and it makes everything I wear weird. I had an X-ray not that long ago and my spine is a big old S now, and I’m in a whole world of pain most of the time.
‘I work out everyday and I’m so grateful I have a gym at home. It’s so important to keep training when you have scoliosis – but in the right way.
‘I do loads of strengthening and physio for the curve in my spine and it keeps me out of pain when I’m strict with my training.’
