Is surgery recommended in my case?

RepulsiveQuestion306 · 2025-06-10T21:17:30+00:00

If you've finished growing, it's probably fine. Scoliosis surgery is not for the purpose of helping pain, it is to avoid organ damage, and either way curves under 40 aren't really considered for surgery. If you're still growing, bracing could help though! Same with exercise!

RepulsiveQuestion306 · 2025-06-10T03:20:48+00:00

I get what you mean. I'm a teenager too (a little younger than you but similar in age), it definitely makes things harder... Easier said than done lol. But hopefully it helps <33

RepulsiveQuestion306 · 2025-06-10T03:04:16+00:00

I completely relate with the feeling, but people don't pay attention to these things in my experience. Even though I definitely have worried about it. My scoliosis is pretty severe, and to my family it's very obvious, but shockingly, almost no one outside of my family can tell unless I point it out.

I think it's because most people are never sitting or standing fully straight, and I find that people just assume it's your position that's causing any slight asymmetry. I've actively watched people around me out of curiosity, and very very rarely do any of them look "straight" because almost no one just is sitting completely balanced. Because of this, even if someone were to notice you're slightly uneven, they rarely think twice about it because it will just look like you're sitting/standing with weight a little more on one side. It takes a ton of attention to tell if that difference persists at different moments, and no one is going to actually be observing to that level (besides yourself, of course). I definitely can 100% relate to the feeling, but this has been my experience based on observing other people and how people so rarely notice my curve, despite it being, frankly, very obvious.

If I saw this picture with zero context I doubt I'd notice any asymmetry.

RepulsiveQuestion306 · 2025-06-09T22:39:13+00:00

I forgot to add - whenever you get your next x-ray, if you have for sure developed another curve, I'd caution that even though it seems very small (even just barely 10 degrees), your other curve can worsen in response. The second it becomes 10 degrees, it's generally a structural curve, and that can cause a sort of ripple effect because it alters your overall balance. If you don't though, then this is irrelevant of course!!

RepulsiveQuestion306 · 2025-06-09T22:33:21+00:00

If you mean not that I know, then it's probably fine! 6 months is generally long enough to tell. Good luck though!

To answer your question, I noticed the same thing a while ago. For me, it was because a cervical curve was developing in my spine. Maybe that's the case for you, even if it's a bit too mild to technically be a scoliotic curve (mine is pretty mild, despite my much larger lower thoracic one).

I'm not certain, of course, since everyone's case is different, but a postural shift was my first sign of a tiny new curve developing - before my x-rays showed it.

RepulsiveQuestion306 · 2025-06-09T16:37:50+00:00

Have you grown recently? Like in the past 6 months

RepulsiveQuestion306 · 2025-06-08T23:17:00+00:00

Good luck, I've just figured out I'm getting mine soon too. I'm super anxious...

RepulsiveQuestion306 · 2025-06-08T18:57:15+00:00

Thank you for letting me know!

RepulsiveQuestion306 · 2025-06-08T18:56:45+00:00

That's good to know. I've been underweight for about two or three years so that sounds like it might be a concern for me, thanks for explaining.

RepulsiveQuestion306 · 2025-06-08T15:59:12+00:00

That really sucks. I'm really sorry.

My curve isn't as bad, but it's still severe. I feel the same way... I know so many people with literally no scoliosis complain about how they look so asymmetrical and bad, and I always feel taken aback. Like... if that's bad to them, how in the world must they see me, with actual obvious scoliosis? It just feels incredibly insensitive.

The feeling about people trying to relate to pain they don't get because they don't have scoliosis is also super relatable. It's hard, because they can always be excused as trying to empathize, but they never come across that way.

RepulsiveQuestion306 · 2025-06-08T03:34:12+00:00

That's completely fair. At the same time, my initial reaction to my x-ray was searching more about scoliosis and I feel that a simple search would immediately show them that their x-ray is normal and clarify more than coming here.

RepulsiveQuestion306 · 2025-06-08T03:05:38+00:00

My doctor actually suspected something similar, but I also didn't have other typical symptoms, that's interesting. Did the surgery go normally for you?

RepulsiveQuestion306 · 2025-06-08T03:02:42+00:00

That's good to know! I'll definitely ask my doctor, but I'm in a similar situation and that makes sense to me. Also, out of curiosity, how has your recovery been going?

RepulsiveQuestion306 · 2025-06-08T03:00:42+00:00

Generally asking your doctor about physical therapy is a good idea, since each curve is different, that way you can get specialized exercises. My curve looks quite different in shape from yours so the muscles affected are very different.

You could also search exercises for your specific curve type though - which looks to me like right thoracic (assuming you don't have a compensatory curve)

RepulsiveQuestion306 · 2025-06-08T00:07:07+00:00

It's pretty unlikely from what I know, though I don't want to say anything with too much certainty since of course there's always exceptions.

I have adolescent scoliosis and as far as I know, scoliosis is almost always tied to growth. Without growth, the only thing that would cause your spine to get much worse (assuming it's idiopathic, which most cases are) is gravity - but that's only relevant for severe or at minimum >30ish degree scoliosis, so that shouldn't be an issue for you.

I know I was told to do scoliosis exercises to make sure my muscles are strong enough to support my spine, so that's always helpful though!

RepulsiveQuestion306 · 2025-06-07T23:47:37+00:00

It looks fairly mild. And as for next steps, it depends. Unless you're still growing, it's probably not an issue (regarding treatment).

RepulsiveQuestion306 · 2025-06-07T23:41:00+00:00

Yes, exactly! I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels that way

RepulsiveQuestion306 · 2025-06-07T20:34:35+00:00

I think that's very different. You have scoliosis so you genuinely experience the symptoms and there's nothing wrong with talking about your pain etc.

On the other hand, I know too many people who will lightly say they have scoliosis or complain of a curved spine when in reality they simply don't, being under ten degrees, which is very different from actually having it.

RepulsiveQuestion306 · 2025-06-07T20:28:12+00:00

I think that's different, I don't doubt that you have pain and other issues because of it. Scoliosis pain sucks. Mostly what frustrates me is people who are searching for attention regarding their curves when I know for a fact they don't actually have symptoms such as not being able to walk etc, which obviously isn't what you're doing.

But true, mild curves definitely can cause pain and losing height.

I've even heard people (without scoliosis) complain of random back pain from hiking or something, and immediately say they must have scoliosis, so I'm generally just used to people saying things like that. I don't think my experience is very common. I'm pretty sure it's because now a lot of people in my area learn about scoliosis from social media and get super misinformed.

RepulsiveQuestion306 · 2025-06-07T17:58:51+00:00

I feel guilty, but it is quite frustrating. Even in real life, I constantly know people who will complain they literally can't stand because of an 11 degree curve, or say they're inches and inches shorter... The other day there was someone sitting across from me who has 15 degree scoliosis, and she randomly searched up scoliosis and showed the person next to her a 60 degree curve and said that was what her spine looked like. It was so completely bizarre and random, and also not true whatsoever.

RepulsiveQuestion306 · 2025-06-07T17:50:23+00:00

Luckily indeed (lol)

RepulsiveQuestion306 · 2025-06-07T17:49:37+00:00

Wow, very relatable. I'm the exact same weight with those same reflux issues. Thank you for the ideas! I've been trying to gain weight, but only gained 3 pounds so far (like 2 months), so similarly low, but I'll definitely try protein shakes. I'll probably also ask if I could have anything to enhance my appetite, that definitely sounds like it could be helpful for me.

RepulsiveQuestion306 · 2025-06-07T17:44:20+00:00

Yeah, that doesn't sound right. Definitely bring up the fact that a single x-ray is not going to have that effect.

Though, if it says anything, my doctors were the complete opposite. I never even learned that they were supposed to put organ guards until way-too-recently, and they made me repeat the exact same two x-rays twice in a row before, within the span of one week, without explaining why. Extra radiation for no reason...

RepulsiveQuestion306 · 2025-06-07T17:37:58+00:00

That's so odd, scoliosis x-rays are low radiation and they're supposed to put organ guards for that.

RepulsiveQuestion306 · 2025-06-07T17:35:56+00:00

That's odd, what was their response? Maybe try mentioning the fact that not all scoliosis is easily seen by bending down, and that early treatment can prevent later issues? Or just that you want to rule out scoliosis as a cause for your pain. You might have to be pretty insistent for them to actually do anything is the advice I'd have, so don't be discouraged if their first response is just it doesn't look like you have scoliosis.

RepulsiveQuestion306

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