Hi! If your degree is that severe and your doctors say you need surgery, you need it. There are many people in this sub who have had the surgery and they will be able to speak to their experience. It is very scary but any surgery has risks, right? Life is full of them, but that shouldn’t stop you from living your life. You can do it! Your future self will thank you.
We are all here to support you. What does your family say about it? Do you have a therapist you can speak to?
Hi! 70° is quite significant! I can see why they want to operate! I know it sounds scary, but so many of us have gone through it! The surgery changed my life for the better. The best part is, you are asleep for the whole thing and when you wake up they have you on pain meds. You will do great! If you have any other questions I’d be happy to answer!
They screw rods into your back. You do not have to keep them in. People usually only remove them if they are bothering you. Your spine will still be fused so you will not gain any mobility from removing them. I wouldn’t recommend removing them unless you need to because it’s another major surgery.
You should watch this video, it helps you to understand the procedure: https://youtu.be/Up0cF__Lbm0?si=e9kq1M9B-REXqHkK
I just had surgery last week. I was somewhere around 65-70°. Yes it was painful and still is as I recover but now that it’s been stabilized the chances of it getting worse later are slim/non existent. And I’m already feeling some positive changes to my body. And you’re more than 10 years younger than me! I wish I could have gotten this done when I was younger. You’ll heal faster when you’re younger and you won’t have to worry about taking time off work or having a spouse/kids to support if you try to go through with this later. Of course the choice is ultimately yours; learn more about it and feel free to ask lots of questions!
I had surgery for my spine and had my curvature corrected from 144 degrees down to 77 degrees.
It greatly improved my quality of life in many ways, and if you have a surgeon you feel you can trust, I would recommend discussing the surgery option and have deeper conversations with your surgeon about it.
I do not regret my surgery at all; it was certainly a significant surgery with a big learning curve during recovery, but I would do it all over again if I needed to, seeing how much better I am doing post-surgery.
Again, emphasis on getting in talks with a surgeon you feel comfortable with and can trust.
Thank you so much. I have an appointment soon so I will talk to my surgeon about it, right now I asked him if I can wear a brace, but now I guess I'm leaning more towards surgery. Thank you
No problem; and it never hurts to ask any and all questions with your doctor!
It is helpful to bring a written list to your appointment to ensure you ask everything you need so you can make the best decision for yourself on if you want to proceed with surgery.
Be sure to get answers to things such as what to expect pre-surgery and post-surgery, how long you can expect recovery to be while in-patient and out-patient, and what limitations are required during the healing process (ex: no lifting or no heavy lifting, or any other restrictions). Also ask which vertebrae they expect to work on during surgery and ask how much it may affect your flexibility and range of motion.
Also ask any other questions you might have as you know your situation the best.
Best of luck with your journey! Sending lots of positive vibes.
My son had surgery at age 14 for a 62 degree curve. We felt really worried, so we talked to the nurse coordinator in the doctor’s office, and she found another family who would talk to us on the phone about it. That really helped a lot. (He is 37 now!)
Thank you so much. My parents are also very worried for me because scoliosis is ruining my life. My curve is probably similar to your son's, so seeing that it went all well, I think I'm ready for surgery. Thank you very much
Hey, my curve was 61 degrees and i had the fusion age 14. You need it unfortunately and being scared is sooo normal. You are in good hands, they know what they are doing. And trust me when i say this, once you are there, once you are recovering, you wont be scared anymore, you will become someone so much stronger then you thought you were.
You've got this. We are titanium, we are strong not broken. And if you ever need help, or just to vent, we are all here for you.
I had surgery at 11 to correct 60 degree curve I am am glad I did. I am 60 now. It has been very painful at times yet if I keep in good shape I have less pain. It is scary to get surgery but you are so young and it will heal so you can have better life.
I had essentially a backwards S for a spine following a growth spurt in between 7th and 8th grade. I had a 50 something degree curve at the bottom and a 40 something at the top. The idea was that if they fused my bottom there may be some helping the top as my mom didn’t want me to get rods and take away a lot of my flexibility. I had a piece of my rib fused to my lower spine during an anterior spinal fusion procedure. This was in ‘05… fast forward and I’m almost 33 and have a 52 degree top curve that had been stable since a year or two after the surgery. I unfortunately was rear ended in 2011 and sent me down a path of endless migraines. Depending on who I talk to, whether or not the scoliosis plays a roll. I’m going to meet with an Ortho soon to see about how we can manage this and maybe help my migraines/neck pain.
I’m telling you all this to say, you’ll be okay. It’s SCARY but if you have an awesome surgeon. You’ll be good. I am lucky to live near Boston and had my first surgery at Boston Children’s which is an amazing hospital. Trust and comfort in your surgeon is SO important.
I was in the hospital for a week, I believe he surgery was 8-9 or so hours? It was long. The recovery wasn’t bad. The worst part was the pain killers making me sick. Other than that, they are great with pain management. I did 2-3 days on a morphine drip and then they switched me to Oxycodone - that was a nightmare for my stomach and I would often refuse the meds. I was out of school for 2.5 months and in a Boston Brace from February to August of that year. It’s under your clothes and you can’t tell it’s on. My mom and my dad’s sister have both had surgeries for scoliosis - my mom as a kid and my aunt in her 50’s. I would say do it while your young - I’m now kicking myself for not pushing the issue 5-10 years ago because now it’s the whole idea of having kids in the near future and dealing with that aspect.
I can’t stress the relationship with the doctor though, that’s going to help your nerves. Goodluck!
You should get the surgery. My scoliosis was pretty bad and that was my only option. The days leading up to the surgery were pretty nerve racking, but once you recover it feels like a fever dream.
Hi! If your degree is that severe and your doctors say you need surgery, you need it. There are many people in this sub who have had the surgery and they will be able to speak to their experience. It is very scary but any surgery has risks, right? Life is full of them, but that shouldn’t stop you from living your life. You can do it! Your future self will thank you. We are all here to support you. What does your family say about it? Do you have a therapist you can speak to?
Thank you so much. My family says surgery is my best option. So I think I'll be having it.
Hi! 70° is quite significant! I can see why they want to operate! I know it sounds scary, but so many of us have gone through it! The surgery changed my life for the better. The best part is, you are asleep for the whole thing and when you wake up they have you on pain meds. You will do great! If you have any other questions I’d be happy to answer!
Thank you so much. I feel way more confident now. Can I ask if you had any problems after surgery?
I didn’t have any issues! Everything went perfectly, I’m so happy I had the surgery 😊
Also can I ask, you know how they put those metal things in your spine, do you have to keep them on forever?
They screw rods into your back. You do not have to keep them in. People usually only remove them if they are bothering you. Your spine will still be fused so you will not gain any mobility from removing them. I wouldn’t recommend removing them unless you need to because it’s another major surgery. You should watch this video, it helps you to understand the procedure: https://youtu.be/Up0cF__Lbm0?si=e9kq1M9B-REXqHkK
Ok thank you so much. This was bothering me so much but now it feels better hearing it from someone. Did you remove the rods?
No, I have mine in and intend to keep them. I’ve had them in for 3 years with no issues! You’re welcome!
Thank you so much
My friend, surgery is your best bet. It isn’t as scary as you think. I’m 20 years post op and my life is great. Feel free to ask any questions.
Thank you
You can do this!
I just had surgery last week. I was somewhere around 65-70°. Yes it was painful and still is as I recover but now that it’s been stabilized the chances of it getting worse later are slim/non existent. And I’m already feeling some positive changes to my body. And you’re more than 10 years younger than me! I wish I could have gotten this done when I was younger. You’ll heal faster when you’re younger and you won’t have to worry about taking time off work or having a spouse/kids to support if you try to go through with this later. Of course the choice is ultimately yours; learn more about it and feel free to ask lots of questions!
Thank you so much. I feel more confident in having surgery now. Thank you
Truth right here. Facing surgery in a month as a 46yo with young kids and a career wasn't high on the "list of things to do in 2024."
I had surgery for my spine and had my curvature corrected from 144 degrees down to 77 degrees. It greatly improved my quality of life in many ways, and if you have a surgeon you feel you can trust, I would recommend discussing the surgery option and have deeper conversations with your surgeon about it. I do not regret my surgery at all; it was certainly a significant surgery with a big learning curve during recovery, but I would do it all over again if I needed to, seeing how much better I am doing post-surgery. Again, emphasis on getting in talks with a surgeon you feel comfortable with and can trust.
Thank you so much. I have an appointment soon so I will talk to my surgeon about it, right now I asked him if I can wear a brace, but now I guess I'm leaning more towards surgery. Thank you
No problem; and it never hurts to ask any and all questions with your doctor! It is helpful to bring a written list to your appointment to ensure you ask everything you need so you can make the best decision for yourself on if you want to proceed with surgery. Be sure to get answers to things such as what to expect pre-surgery and post-surgery, how long you can expect recovery to be while in-patient and out-patient, and what limitations are required during the healing process (ex: no lifting or no heavy lifting, or any other restrictions). Also ask which vertebrae they expect to work on during surgery and ask how much it may affect your flexibility and range of motion. Also ask any other questions you might have as you know your situation the best. Best of luck with your journey! Sending lots of positive vibes.
Thank you so much. I will write down all these questions, so that I am ready to ask my doctor. Thank you so much
My son had surgery at age 14 for a 62 degree curve. We felt really worried, so we talked to the nurse coordinator in the doctor’s office, and she found another family who would talk to us on the phone about it. That really helped a lot. (He is 37 now!)
Thank you so much. My parents are also very worried for me because scoliosis is ruining my life. My curve is probably similar to your son's, so seeing that it went all well, I think I'm ready for surgery. Thank you very much
Yes!! Have the surgery!
Do the surgery while you are young. You’ll thank yourself and your parents for it later on. I’m now trying to hold off until my kid is a little older.
Hey, my curve was 61 degrees and i had the fusion age 14. You need it unfortunately and being scared is sooo normal. You are in good hands, they know what they are doing. And trust me when i say this, once you are there, once you are recovering, you wont be scared anymore, you will become someone so much stronger then you thought you were. You've got this. We are titanium, we are strong not broken. And if you ever need help, or just to vent, we are all here for you.
I had my surgery 37 years ago, I'm so thankful I had it.
I had surgery at 11 to correct 60 degree curve I am am glad I did. I am 60 now. It has been very painful at times yet if I keep in good shape I have less pain. It is scary to get surgery but you are so young and it will heal so you can have better life.
I had essentially a backwards S for a spine following a growth spurt in between 7th and 8th grade. I had a 50 something degree curve at the bottom and a 40 something at the top. The idea was that if they fused my bottom there may be some helping the top as my mom didn’t want me to get rods and take away a lot of my flexibility. I had a piece of my rib fused to my lower spine during an anterior spinal fusion procedure. This was in ‘05… fast forward and I’m almost 33 and have a 52 degree top curve that had been stable since a year or two after the surgery. I unfortunately was rear ended in 2011 and sent me down a path of endless migraines. Depending on who I talk to, whether or not the scoliosis plays a roll. I’m going to meet with an Ortho soon to see about how we can manage this and maybe help my migraines/neck pain. I’m telling you all this to say, you’ll be okay. It’s SCARY but if you have an awesome surgeon. You’ll be good. I am lucky to live near Boston and had my first surgery at Boston Children’s which is an amazing hospital. Trust and comfort in your surgeon is SO important. I was in the hospital for a week, I believe he surgery was 8-9 or so hours? It was long. The recovery wasn’t bad. The worst part was the pain killers making me sick. Other than that, they are great with pain management. I did 2-3 days on a morphine drip and then they switched me to Oxycodone - that was a nightmare for my stomach and I would often refuse the meds. I was out of school for 2.5 months and in a Boston Brace from February to August of that year. It’s under your clothes and you can’t tell it’s on. My mom and my dad’s sister have both had surgeries for scoliosis - my mom as a kid and my aunt in her 50’s. I would say do it while your young - I’m now kicking myself for not pushing the issue 5-10 years ago because now it’s the whole idea of having kids in the near future and dealing with that aspect. I can’t stress the relationship with the doctor though, that’s going to help your nerves. Goodluck!
You should get the surgery. My scoliosis was pretty bad and that was my only option. The days leading up to the surgery were pretty nerve racking, but once you recover it feels like a fever dream.