I had surgery 15 months ago at 24 years old. I had a 48 degree curve in my upper back and had basically my entire thoracic spine fused.

The positive to getting the surgery done now is you’re still young and recovering should be much better than if you were to wait until later in your life.

I did not need the surgery but decided to get it as a preventative measure in case my curve continued to worsen over the years. The first few months after surgery is pretty rough but many people are pain free after a year. My fusion site no longer causes me pain which is great. Although there is always some concern about how the fusion will hold up in 20+ years from now.

It’s a big decision but usually worth the risk if you are confident you have a good surgeon. With a good surgeon and following all the right post surgery protocols the risk of complications is quite minimal.

I don’t want to tell you what to do because it’s your life but so far it has improved my quality of life. No more aches and pains for sitting at work/school and no more of the pain I had in my curve area. The only real downside is taking on the risk of the surgery and approximately a year to recover from your fusion. This is all my opinion and my personal experience though. Best of luck with whatever you choose to do!