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Has anyone had scoliosis surgery?

Spine Health | Last Active: Feb 24 7:05am | Replies (40)

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@mariahcb

Hi there!
Thank you for your post. I have scoliosis and osteoporosis. It was suggested to me to consider surgery which was a shock. I'm 75 yrs old, pretty high functioning and I don't have a lot of pain. I'm wondering what was it about your condition that warranted the surgery, if you don't mind sharing. Thank you!

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Replies to "Hi there! Thank you for your post. I have scoliosis and osteoporosis. It was suggested to..."

Hi @mariahcb! So sorry for not responding sooner. The reason I had my fusion was because my curve was progressing very quickly and had just reached 50 degrees, the threshold where surgery is often considered because the spine is unstable and likely to keep getting worse. I was pain-free, but my doctor figured that since I was just 17 and my curve was continuing to progress at 5 degrees a year even though my teenage growth spurt had long since ended, I would eventually have to have surgery anyway and the procedure might not be quite as successful (i.e., they might not have been able to straighten it as much or I might have chronic pain because I waited too long). What I didn't realize was that it seems like scoliosis was also impacting my digestion, by squeezing my organs into a smaller space. That happens with some patients. I was completely backed up and miserable all the time, and then after surgery the situation improved dramatically. So it was definitely the right choice for me. What I'm trying to point out is that in some cases, scoliosis can cause symptoms other than pain. With that said, if I were you, I think I would weigh this really carefully and not take a step like this without a very good reason because the recovery is long and very difficult at any age, and I've read that osteoporosis can cause serious problems like a failed bone graft fusion or loose hardware if it's not managed well enough. Do you know why your doctor is recommending that you think about surgery, if you don't mind my asking? Also feel free to private message me if you want. Hope this helps!