I'm new here. I am a 19 year old male and I have scoliosis. It started back in 08, or probably way before that, but I started noticing a big dip in my left side caused from Scoliosis. I was really skinny, so it was noticeable. I told my mom and a month later, I was at a doctors office. He said I have "mild" scoliosis and he made me take X-rays. Those X-rays showed a pretty big curve, but he said that it was only 15* and that I can do sports and go to the gym because it wasn't severe. I was happy that it was minor and I could just keep playing sports and working out, but that wasn't the case. Ever since, I felt my lower right back/oblique getting thicker and more painful. I was starting to be in pain daily and even hourly. However I sat, stood, walked, etc. it would throb and be very uncomfortable. I then told my dad this is getting worse and I need to see a spine specialist. He told me first, go back to the first doctor to see if you can get another x-ray. A year after the first one in 09, 2-3 weeks ago, I went back and got an x-ray at doctor 1. The curve was definitely worse. He measured it and said 40*. I was stunned and shocked in disbelief, there is no way I curved 25* in 1 year. So I went to a spine specialist last week. He made me take X-rays and as I was waiting worried in the patients room, he comes in and tells me, " I recommend Surgery" he told me the first doctor measured wrong and my first curve in 08 was 40* and now it has progressed to 50* and it will get worse if I don't get surgery.
So now, I am worried about getting surgery. I'm 6'4 and after surgery, i'll probably be 6'5-6'6, and I don't want that for 1. Second, I won't be able to play any sports or gym, I will lose a LOT of weight sitting in bed not eating. I also can't understand a 19 year old being banned from playing sports/gym. It makes me feel horrible. Plus, my scoliosis is very low, so that means with my incredibly long legs, I won't even come close to my feet to put on socks or shoes. I was at the Stanford Spine Clinic and Ivan Cheng saw me. I have no idea how good he is, but from what I hear, he is one of the top spine surgeons in the bay area.
Sorry for the long read, it's just I don't know If I should get the surgery or not. I'm really worried and doubt I'll recover quickly.
So now, I am worried about getting surgery. I'm 6'4 and after surgery, i'll probably be 6'5-6'6, and I don't want that for 1. Second, I won't be able to play any sports or gym, I will lose a LOT of weight sitting in bed not eating. I also can't understand a 19 year old being banned from playing sports/gym. It makes me feel horrible. Plus, my scoliosis is very low, so that means with my incredibly long legs, I won't even come close to my feet to put on socks or shoes. I was at the Stanford Spine Clinic and Ivan Cheng saw me. I have no idea how good he is, but from what I hear, he is one of the top spine surgeons in the bay area.
Sorry for the long read, it's just I don't know If I should get the surgery or not. I'm really worried and doubt I'll recover quickly.
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