Expert Advice   Print Version Q. I had scoliosis as a teenager and was told that it would stop after I stopped growing. I'm 32 now, and it seems to be getting worse. Could this be something else happening, or is the scoliosis getting worse? Will I need surgery? A. The changes that happen to the spine with mild scoliosis usually slow and even stop with the completion of puberty. If the curves changed rapidly in the pre-teen and teenage years, there is a good chance the curves will get progressively worse. This is why bracing and/or surgery are most effective in this age group. Adults who had a mild to moderate scoliosis in their teenage years may find they have a slow and steady progression of the spinal curves as they get older. The changes are usually not significant and generally don't require surgery. However, it is possible that your scoliosis has progressed and you've started to notice a change. Whether you need surgery depends on how rapidly the curves are changing and whether you can manage your symptoms. Surgery may be helpful for adults when their spinal curves progress, their deformity advances, or their pain becomes unmanageable. Exercises have not proven helpful in preventing the progression of scoliosis, but they can help you keep good muscle tone, cardiovascular health, and they may help you manage discomfort. Your doctor may want to take an X-ray of your spine now to compare changes in the years ahead. Print Version		Anatomy and Function of the Spine Spondylolysis and Spondylolisthesis Diagnostic Tests for Spine Problems Q. When can I play golf, ride a bike, or go hiking after spine surgery? A. It depends on the type and location of your surgery. A micro-discectomy… Clicking on any of the links will take you to a Web site to which this Privacy Policy does not apply. You are solely responsible for your interactions with such Web sites. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

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