not sure what to do

[rincotato]

hi all you people seem to know a lot about surgery so i just wondered if i could some advice or something. I'm in the process of going on the waiting list for surgery, however i am no where near makig a descion abut actually having yet. The thing is i have an 's' curve i think the degrees are 60-70 and 60 but it doesn't really cause me any pain and my doctor says it's not progressing anymore, so i don't know if it's worth having surgery. I know that it's a huge operation and very scary risks are involved, but i also know the way i feel about scoliosis and that i don't want it to make me self conscious for the rest of my life! i know it's probably not a good reason to go through something like surgery for cosmetic reasons as my main reason, but i'm not sure how long i can cope with this. if anyone has any advice to offer that would great! thankyou -x-

[LindaRacine]

What is your age?

--Linda

[rincotato]

i'm 16 years old

[maja]

If I were you I would go to surgery. I think the risk of having much pain in the future is bigger than risk of unsuccessful surgery. It doesn't cause you any pain now, because you are young.

[angela505]

I'm in the same position. I'm 26 and don't know yet what to do. I've visit bounches of Drs. in my life and each one of them seems to have diferent opinion. Last one I saw said that having scoliosis is more a life style than illness. Anyway, The only fact is that for not having surgery while I was young now I'm having a herniated disc and a couple of other with early degeneration. Having a hernia is pretty painfull. So the last decision should be yours and check with your Dr. all the risk if you don't get surgery now what will happen in a future.
Hope you the best

[LindaRacine]

Rincotato...

Most adolescents and teens have no pain from their scoliosis. If your curves are truly that large, I believe that there's an excellent chance that they'll continue to progress for the rest of your life. If your curves progress, as you age, you probably will have some pain.

If you were my daughter, I would probably wait until some progression has been documented, and then push you toward having surgery. However, my real advice would be to listen to your specialist.

Regards,
Linda

[rincotato]

thanks for the posts everyone. hi Linda, the last few check ups that i've had have apparently shown no progression thats why i'm so confused about whether to have surgery u see, so my specialist doesn't really lean either way on the surgery he understands that some people want to have surgery for their own reasons and not necessarily because of progression of curve. and i guess its not a good enough reason for have surgery for cosmetic reasons right? but i suppose everyone is a candidate, esp with high curves, i guess it wouldn't be good if your curve was 20degrees or something because it probably wouldn't cause much deformity but i don't know. this desicion is so hard.

[Cakedec]

Dear Rincotato:

I was once a girl your age with curves about that size. Only a brace was offered me, not surgery. I got along pretty well with it pain wise until I got to my 30's. Now in my 40's the curves are progressing and it is hard for me to sit for long; standing and walking hurts; I haven't been able to work for 1 1/2 years, so now am looking into surgery.

But if you are not in pain now, aren't back self-conscious, and can pretty much do whatever you want to do, I would recommend that you wait a couple of years, maybe until you are 18. Then have your back re-checked for how the curve is progressing. You will probably be on your parent's insurance until you are through with college, so if it seems like you will need the surgery, that would be a good time to have it done. Once you are independent and supporting yourself, it is more difficult to take the time off to have the surgery and recover for several months.

Or maybe you will be able to get along until you are much older. Who knows, by then, they may have better ways to correct the spine than all metal implants. There is lots of research and improvements going on all of the time; it will be better for each generation.

Take care; discuss this with your important people; pray about it and have others pray with you; then go with your heart as to what is best.

Deb

[Erika1988]

Please don't have the surgery, at least not yet, enjoy the rest of your teen years and high school. The surgery is not worth the cosmetic advantages, especially since it won't really help the cosmetics. There are a lot of risks and alot of things that could go wrong. After the surgery you may or may not be able to get back to your normal routine ever. You have no pain, surgery could change that. If you have pain later then do it. Maybe do physical therapy now to be sure your curve doesn't progress. But if it's only for cosmetics don't do it. my email is elessien@gmail.com if you have questions or want me to explain myself more.

[lindsay]

"Please don't have the surgery, at least not yet, enjoy the rest of your teen years and high school. The surgery is not worth the cosmetic advantages, especially since it won't really help the cosmetics. There are a lot of risks and alot of things that could go wrong. After the surgery you may or may not be able to get back to your normal routine ever. You have no pain, surgery could change that. If you have pain later then do it. Maybe do physical therapy now to be sure your curve doesn't progress. But if it's only for cosmetics don't do it. my email is elessien@gmail.com if you have questions or want me to explain myself more."


all the bolded statements have been embellished a bit. here's what i have to say on those topics..

there are very few risks and the chances of things going wrong are VERY SLIM. these doctors have gotten this surgery down to an art. with technology today, spinal fussion with instumentation is a very safe surgery.

you will be able to get back to your routine. people would be more skeptical of this surgery if they were never able to get back to their routines. over a course of time you will regain your strength and flexiblility. there will be a little flexibility lost, but you wont even realize it.

if you have surgery of course there is going to be pain. but there will be no pain after you have recovered from the surgery.


now, the descion is up to you. and i would reccomend having it in the summer so you dont miss school. but if you end up never having the surgery, it could cause health problems later in life, like many of the people here have posted. plus kids and teens recover quicker than adults do. so having the surgery as a teen can only help. hope this helps!


by the way www.iscoliosis.com is a great website for any questions that you have. go to the FAQ's section for questions and answers.

[ScoliGal]

PLEASE HAVE THE SURGERY!!! Have it now so it does not interfere with college. im a 16 year old girl that had a 38 degree curve that caused a lot of pain and 8 days ago i had the surgery and now its down to 7 degrees...wow...and its summer so it wont interfere with school work...have it in the summer or christmas...but not during college..it is way to important to miss

[Jer]

everyones has different reasons and circumstances when deciding on weather surgery is right for them. I had mine when I was 17 yrs. It was a tough decission, but several things made me decide it was the right time. 1. I was soon to stop growing. 2. I didn't want to have it during my senior year of high school 3. the curve was still progressing and due to it being a hereditary thing I knew it would have to be done at some point and time. 4. I was at my physical best, which helped me to have a speedy recovery. (didn't realize it until after the surgery how much better I was being in great physical shape.)

Just remember the decision is ultimately yours.

Jerlyn

[FusedKid]

Surgery is so safe now, with around 60/60, you'd better get it. Though you may feel no pain, you might start having internal rotation with decreased lung capacity and compression of the heart - Obviously not good.

[summer]

I think you're young enough to wait and see if it continues to progress in the next few years. If it does, have the surgery. If it doesn't progress, don't have it

[ScoliGal]

NO please dont wait a few more years....ur curves are way past surgery....have it now while u are young and recuperate faster so it does not interfere years later with COLLEGE....i took advantage of me being young so i had it now to correct my 38 DEGREE CURVE and it got it down to 7 Can you BELIEVE it??? please dont wait and have the surgery now? think about it..ull have a straight spine and now bodily deformity as much as now of course...it is proven that curves greater than 50 will progress at least 1 degree a year and by the time you wait a few years it will get worse....so if ur havin git have it now...