Scoliosis Support Group

I had a full spinal fusion when I was 16 and it's what I think is a noticeable scar but my husband said you can barely see it. I guess I'm more self conscious about it. I had a really bad "S" curve and I have rods, bolts and wire at the base of my spine where the curve was the worst. They also sprinkled cadaver bone on my spine so now it's one solid bone. It's not perfectly straight but close only off by about 12-15 degrees. My spine can't curve any more that it's fused.

I had full spinal fusion for s curve greater than 90 degrees. I can bend pretty good, cant touch my toes by any means, and I have to put my foot on a chair to tie shoes. They used my rib for fusion so that scar is bad, it goes from the middle of my back to under my breast. I was in a body cast after my first operation so it stretched that scar. I also had to have 2 surgeries so the scar on my back was cut open 3 times, but its not to bad, not noticable with tank tops. Vit e helps. all in all it was a very sucsessful operation brought my curve to about 70 and 50 degrees. Feel free to ask any questions

I think every surgery is different because of your age and how severe your curve. You may not have to have a very long rod put in or as many discs fused. I even had my very long (2)rods taken out 2 years after the first surgery & I'm still stiff as a board. My rib was used & one hip bone and also cadaver bone. Then the long scar like medicmel has, in front, & a long scar in back from neck to crack. The back one you can hardly see. But I have seen young girls have scoliosis surgery & then be out playing volley ball just weeks after surgery. Each case is so very different. I also think that once you have the rod put in, even if all the discs aren't fused, they become fused as time goes on because they aren't moving as much. Ask your doctors so many questions that you can think of. It is a pretty big surgery. The more you know the better. Good luck & God Bless!

Its best to have spinal surgeries when your younger, I'm only 16 years old and I have had 5 surgeries for my Scoliosis and I'm still not 100% fixed.. but it all depends on how bad your curve is. You deffinitely won't be able to touch your toes and bend fully. I use to do ballet and always wanted to be a ballerina and was very flexible.. but after all these surgeries I've quit ballet and not very much flexible anymore.. but not to scare you, every body is different and every situation with scoliosis is different . But i would deffinitly go with the surgery's ,, there's not really anything else to do if you want to get fixed.. My opinion with braces are they don't work at all.. I've had so many and they have done nothing for me!
Feel free to ask me anything else. :]