Teen with Chronic Back Pain, will surgery help?

Hi Tiff3575,

Surgery won't help with the pain.I have 2 10 inch metal rods on my spine for the past 23 years and we have to realize there is no cure.There is however a side road.We must be creative with this disease. I build fences and am an artist myself.I don't do art anymore because I am so fatigued.If you want to do art, develop a way to do it while standing without bending. I would say lay lie down and do art, but if you are like me one side of your back is hunched and it hurts when you put pressure on it.We were given this gift of pain because we can take it and create new ideas. Best of luck

I have to disagree. The surgery definitely helps the pain disappear. I was 15 when I had the surgery, I'm now 20. I was in excrutiating pain before the surgery. On my worst days I couldn't even get out of bed without being in absolute agony. My 5 year surgery anniversary just past and it just reminds me how glad I am that I had the surgery. I am in NO pain at all now and I've been able to live my life like a normal teenager the past 5 years. Feel free to send me a message or reply to my comment and I can talk to you about my whole experience  

 

Hi,

I've seen this from both sides of the fence. I had a spinal fusion done when I was 11, and it definitely helped with the pain, and I grew with much less of a curvature than I would have had otherwise. Things went pretty well for about 35 years. In my late 40s I began having crippling lower back pain, and was told I needed another surgery to fuse my tailbone. Instead, I began practicing Bikram Yoga, and for the past 3.5 years I have been pain free. I don't know if Bikram would have helped with my initial  upper curve problem, but I'll take sweaty yoga over surgery any day!

I see where isy9512 is coming from,and I was saying the same thing 5 years after.Margaret has a great point that I always try to remember to tell everyone. Excercise makes it better, surgery or no surgery.You must excercise every day.My surgery was done because I was expected to die by the age of 33 without it.There was no other option. When you get these rods put in (If that is what you are referring to, what I had)-You will immediately become arthritic-Not obviously for the 1st decade.The rods themselves and the screws and the drilling make this unavoidable.I found this out when I got pregnant,as my doctor told me I already had osteoarthritis,completely expected after surgery later in life.I can't have children because my spine,though fixed with the rods, still tries to respond as a normal womans spine will,and the horror stories I could tell you are not even believable about my experiences as a woman with these rods.I only tell you this because if you are only getting the surgery to stop pain,I would do some research and get many doctors opinions, as we are not doctors, we are just patients.Now, as far as the paralysis, low risk getting them on, but if you ever want them removed, the risk doubles and sometimes triples.You will never be able to donate bone marrow once you get the rods, so these are some things to consider. best of luck!

As you know there are several types of scoliosis and also different types of treatment methods according the type and the degree of the curve. Surgery is usually recommended above 40 degrees. 

Hi I also have Scolosis, diagnosed as a teenager and was monitored, no surgery but it was advised at the time, my parents talked me out of it! Years down the line i have major pain in my lower back and spine, my muscles spasm and are so painful.

I have to see an osteopath to help the muscles and take painkillers in a daily basis to help, it has taken me a year to get a referral to the hosiptal for more tests and help to control the pain.

 

Hey Tiff3575

I had my surgery for a lower spine curve when i was 14 and I still get pain in the lower back (I'm now 24). The consultant advised me that the operation would not help with the pain, it's just something you have to manage . I work in marketing and in my job I'm pretty much sitting down all day. I do have a back support, but sometimes the pain becomes unbearable and my back gets so stiff and sore. 

I just try and help this by getting up as much as I can and taking painkillers, mainly Paracetomol. Hope this helps