Surgery is scary

Sep 20, 2016 4:27 AM

scoliosis4ever

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48241

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Ssssssuper

I was diagnosed with scoliosis when I was 17. I've been bounced around from doctors to specialists, chiropractors to physiotherapists and today I finally got a straight answer that I need surgery. I am now 19 and I am constantly in a tremendous amount of pain. I can no longer wear bras, I can't walk for more than 10 minutes without complaining, I can't work out and I've gained about 20 pounds. I've never had a surgery in my life, I have a stupid/horrible fear of needles and I've never broken a bone. I'll be in the hospital for approx. a week to two weeks, recovery (learning to walk, not pee in a bag etc) takes four to six months. The good thing is that my future will be straight and solid (pun intended) and I'll be 3 inches taller. I'm freaking terrified.

**This x-ray is from google, it is not my back, but this is a little similar to what my spine looks like. My top curve is 52 degrees and my bottom curve is 46.8 degrees. I only felt comfortable posting this picture of my back.**

Hey @OP my sister had this done last year, her recovery was super quick. Don't worry about it.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I hope your life is much better now after your surgery. You made it!

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Good luck OP!

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Thank you!

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

God bless OP

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

"I must not fear.Fear is the mind-killer.Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.I will face my fear."

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

You're gonna do great. I just had back surgery after a year of fighting it and it's been fantastic since. Good luck, and keep us updated.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I've got your back, OP! Figuratively, not literally. Seriously though, all the best! :D

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

Thank you!!

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Best of luck. Hopefully this fixes it for ya.

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Thank you!! :)

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Good luck, OP. You're strong, and you're going to come out of this all the better!

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Thank you!!

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

With similar x-ray I could predict surgery. Without phd. For free.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Best of luck OP i'm sure everything will be alright :D

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

My sister had a lot of back problems growing up, struggled for years with back braces, ended up with a drug problem. She's clean now, but

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

those were really bad times for her. My advice? Get that surgery soon as you can. I wouldn't wish 15 years of that kind of pain on anyone.

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Thank you!

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

as someone the has had 16 surgeries you'll be fine

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Damn.. thank you! Hope all yours went well!

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Just think of the future. The surgery will be one day just a memory. Just imagine, pain free rest of your life.

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

To be honest I spent way to long trying to figure out the correlation between flowers and x-rays for longer than I care to admit.

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Hope it goes well! Good wishes from straya!!

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

omg thank you!!!

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

My friend who had scoliosis tells me all the time it feels infinitely better. It'll still ache, but you can finally be active again.

10 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 1

Holy shit! Looks like I have scoliosis too! I can't wear bras (my boss says it's awkward), I can't work, keep complaining and gained weight!

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Haha could be!

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Hope the surgery goes well, OP. Stay tough. Surf Imgur during recovery, it might help.

10 years ago | Likes 53 Dislikes 1

After my surgery that's what kept my mind wondering so I could forget the pain. Saved on pain killers too. Also made me sleepy.

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Thank you!!!

10 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

You do realize post-surgery you'll have to change your name eventually, right?

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Hahaha yeah I guess so!! Never realized!

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I was going to say the same thing!

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Re: needles. Ive got that but it's not the needle causing the fear. It's the pain causing the reaction. Understand this and you'll be fine.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Thank you!

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I was in my 30s before I understood this. Dislike/fear is an instinctive response to pain and pain is a side effect of the needle.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

But we can understand that the needles are fulfilling a purpose and that the pain doesn't last.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Hey OP! I had an 11-disk fusion just last year for my scoliosis. Piece of advice: take laxatives from the start so the opioid pain meds ...

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

... don't constipate ya. Shit sucks (pun intended). Recovery's a bit of a bitch but afterwards you get a whole new pain tolerance so...

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Practically nothing else in the world hurts. Memory foam mattress toppers help. You're gonna be tired a lot. Take exercising SLOW after...

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

...the 6 month mark. That's all I got other than eat as much as you can. You got this!

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Wow thank you so much !!!

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

One of my good friends is 19, and she just had surgery for the same thing. Recovery is a bitch, but don't worry OP, you'll be fine!

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Thank you!!

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

You fuckin go girl! Go get the life you deserve, be brave.

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Thank you!!

10 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

One day you'll look back and be thankful you went through it all :) good luck, be well, and keep us updated plz!

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I will! Thank you so much!

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

NUCCA will fix this

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

@OP I hope things go well! Also congrats on the height gain I guess?

10 years ago | Likes 21 Dislikes 1

Thank you! I'll be 5'3 in 4 months!!

10 years ago | Likes 13 Dislikes 0

Awesome! For both the reasons of height gain and also no more crippling debilitating pain.

10 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 0

Exactly!

10 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

Good for you OP. Good for you.

10 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

@OP I sent a message containing contact info for a friend that went through the same surgery. She'll be happy to talk to you about it.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I don't know how to see messages lol

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

My sister had surgery for scoliosis at 18. It was really scary, but she had a very quick recovery. less than half the time predicted by the

10 years ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 0

doctors. She just wanted to be able to drive again, and she drove around after 6 weeks or so. She hated the wheelchair, so she didn't want

10 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

to bring it home from the hospital, and she didn't. She was well enough to walk after 1 and a half week at the hospital.

10 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

Not trying to be creepy but I was thinking about you and was wondering how you were doing. How did the operation go. I hope all is well.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Aww thank that's so nice! I haven't gotten the surgery yet but I'm getting it in January! I'm going to meet with me surgeon on nov 16 and..

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I can give you an actual date then! I'm still pretty scared :(

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

You'll do great!! It's perfectly fine to be scared. That's the definition of being brace you know.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Being brace is following through even though it scares the crap out of you. So stay brave. We can keep chatting if it helps and if you want

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I just realized it auto corrected my words wrong. I was trying to say brave not brace

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

The drugs you get are amazing! I remember going into the theatre and before I could blink I was waking up in recovery as high as a kite.

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

haha can't wait

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I woke up in love with everyone and client feel anything.... Next few days I was sleepy all the time

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I don't like the feeling of not being in control, but maybe this will be okay lol

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Same here but trust me you will be carefree once they hook your vein up!

10 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0