i was meant to have the rod, but apparently there was a 1% chance of paralysis and twice (in the same op) the tried to put in a rod but my nerves reacted as if my legs were paralysed, that is why the fusion.

a school friend had the rod and she only wore a neck brace for recovery. i had 3 casts over 6 months that went from under my ears and chin all the way down to over my hips. there was a hole cut in the abdominal area to give my tummy room for when i ate etc (but they always cut it too high) it was like a heavy (6kgs) hot, itchy stinky turtleneck jumper and very unpleasant.

i had pain, but the most memorable thing was the itchy scar down the centre of my back and for about 2 years after it felt weird, like a pulling sensation along the whole scar.

i think personally the rod would have been a better (but unfortunately not viable) scenario and would have had a quicker recovery time as you are not waiting for everything to knit together. i also had a collapsed lung and my heart stopped briefly. i woke up in Intensive Care and then went to the HDU (high dependancy unit) for 5 days. quite scary for a 16 year old!

but unfortunately thats the sad side of scoliosis. if i had to do it again, i wouldnt hesitate, i just wish it had been found earlier. i was 16 before it was diagnosed. I will always take my kids to specialists for checks as my school nurse checked me every year for 4 years, but because they were checking all the girls they paid little attention. funny how they didnt notice kypho scoliosis of 73 degrees but 6 months later my gp knows it as soon as i walk in for a checkup.

anyway sorry about the vent. as scary as it is hun, have the op. maybe check what different options are available these days. my bad luck is now the bone is degenerating into osteoarthritis, but im so used to pain i will justtake it in my stride.