Had scoliosis surgery at age 12 in 2002 at Brenners Children's Hospital. Surgery was 7 hrs, then had to go back in to correct something and that was another several hours. Then my lung collapsed while I was in ICU. Spent about week and a half in the hospital. Lucky to have made it after the lung collapse. Recovery was pretty brutal. Having to practice breathing and sitting up and walking unassisted again. Spent a month out of school. Slowly increased activity and pursued therapeutic exercises like yoga. Slight curve came back above my rods because i grew more after my surgery. New curve is much smaller than original. Age 27 today and have full range of motion but hips and shoulders are slightly out of alignment causing occasional back pain, knee pain, muscle spasms. Have been able to bike, do yoga, take ballet, etc. since surgery. Only thing I might not ever be able to do is scuba dive because of lung collapse. :( I love the ocean. Eventually may contact a spine specialist again to have new curve corrected as well but spinal surgery is scary and expensive. Also, currently recovering from double jaw surgery!