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I'm having scoliosis surgery in the next 6 months to a year and would like to hear others experience

Posted , 3 users are following.

jessica87192
jessica87192

I'm 29 years old and was first diagnosed with scoliosis at 14, and has got progressively worse over the years and am now at the point where I have no other option than surgery. I would just like to know the recovery process as I have 2 young children to look after and a job I would like to return to as soon as possible, I just want to know what to realistically expect so I can make arrangements for childcare ect well in advance , any advice would be very much appreciated .

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • emily99393
    emily99393 jessica87192

    Posted

    Hiya, I would be more than happy to talk to you, Im 17 and I had the scoliosis surgery at 13, I can hopefully give you an idea from my viewpoint of what to prepare for and the best ways to cope, emily x

     

    • jessica87192
      jessica87192 emily99393

      Posted

      Hey Emily thanks for your reply I would love to talk to you and hear your experience I would really appreciate it. Jess xx
    • emily99393
      emily99393 jessica87192

      Posted

      I was diagnosed at 11, and had the operation when i was 13, i had a curve of 62 degrees which didn't really affect me when i was younger at school, i then started to feel more self conscious so i had the op. Since then my curve has been reduced so much, around 2/3 degrees, i am able to do almost everything, i am learning to dive, and drive, and i am able to do many sports, what are you most worried about?

      How come you didn't have the operation when you were younger?

      Emily xx

    • emily99393
      emily99393 jessica87192

      Posted

      I was out of hospital within 5 days of my op and had learnt to walk, and then i was back to school after 4 weeks
  • sara04235
    sara04235 jessica87192

    Posted

    Hi Jessica, I'm really sorry to hear you need the surgery. I'm going for my spinal fusion surgery in December so I'll keep you posted on what happens if you want.

    Quick question, were you told you needed surgery when you were younger or were you only told now? And did you curve progress after you stopped growing?

    • jessica87192
      jessica87192 sara04235

      Posted

      Hi Sara thanks for your reply, I would love to be kept updated with how your surgery goes and really hope it goes well for you!

      I was never told I would need surgery when I was younger and feel I was a bit neglected by doctor, when I was first diagnosed I was told by my gp I was told I had a curve in my spine and to basically not worry about it and was never referred to a specialist it was only when i got to my 20s and started to get pain I went to see a specialist. It wasn't to bad at that point and was just monitored yearly to see if there was any progression, basically I had children so didn't go for 2 years and in them 2 years my curve has progressed another 10 degrees so my worse curve is now measuring 72 degrees so now been told I need surgery as I'm in alot of pain (sorry about the long winded story) I would love to hear a little bit more about yours if you have time, Jess x

    • emily99393
      emily99393 jessica87192

      Posted

      Yes definitely, wow so you're curve is quite big too, so my curve was noticed by my mum when i was younger, i went to the GP and was referred to an orthopaedic surgeon at southampton hospital, where will you be having your surgery? 

      I wasn't too nervous as i was so young i didn't understand the severity, but since having the op i noticed how much more i was able to breath, i can't really bend over with my back so i mainly use my legs, but this doesn't stop me i work part time in a butchers haha whilst studying at college.

      Im planning on studying biology at university so I'm actually doing a project on the different treatments for scoliosis, which has meant i have been in contact with other people about it too, i would definitely recommend the op, it will be hard at times but it was worth it for me. If you have any worries I'm happy to help with them smile

      Emily xx

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