I had surgery at age 19 ...I am now 45. My daughter had surgery at age 14 and again at 16...she is now 23. Both of us are doing fine. My pain is tolerable and all I take is over the counter stuff. Each case is different. My curves were getting worse as I got older. I was told I needed to stop the curving otherwise my back would curve and cause my ribs to wrap around my lungs and crush them resulting in death. Both of my curves were over 100 degrees. The soon you stop the curve ...the more it can be straightened. I am sure medical technology
has progressed since I had my surgery. The best advice I can give you is for you to see your doctor soon and chat with them.

I had the surgery on 16th september this year, and it was definately worth it. My curve was increasing very quickly and i had daily pain. I also HATED the way my back looked. It's over 2 months since my surgery now and I have no pain, my back looks a million times better and i generally feel happier+healthierr. :)
I think if a scoliosis specialist recommends you have the surgery, you should go for it. Get the surgery over with, before you get older, which increases the risks and makes recovery time more difficult.
xx

Yeah, All you can do is ask your doctor and get a 2nd opinion. I had mine about a year and a half ago and my pain is okay. Its nothing massive. all i take is advil when it acts up. i haven't come across any real difficulties. I went to Childrens and they were great :)

I had surgery on October 14th, and things were a little rough at first, but each day gets better. I am 28 (they found the surgery when i was 13/wore a brace 23 hrs a day for a year) and just over the past two years the curve progressed over 20 degrees. I had two opinions done before I decided on the surgery, and now I am glad that I had it and it is overwith and hopefully will not have to worry about it progressing for a while. I will be honest, this is not an easy surgery or easy recovery. It will not be a piece of cake. It will take determination to feel better and listen to what the doc tells you to do. When they did the surgery I had two curves - 60 and 30 and now I have a 22 and 0. My back looks so much better and I can actually lay down on my back and both shoulders touch the floor. I still have pain after my surgery, but I also have arthritis in my spine as well. Good luck and hope you make the choice that is right for you. T.

By the way, I now have two rods and 21 screws in my spine.

Hey
i am bigdee and my daughter had the spinal fusion and in Oct. at Beaumont Hospital i/we were nervous bout how the after math would be but surprising she did very well some pain and everyone recovery time is different than others ,but surgery was the best thing she could have gotten, she takes pain meds as needed now but her pain is not a daily pain so my info for you please inform your doctor more and do research on it more so you really understand more bout scoliosis take care any more concerns and advice let me know