There are several different treatments available for scoliosis, or sideways curvature of the spine. Some minor cases can be treated by having the patient wear a brace for a year or two. Other cases can be managed with physical therapy and specific exercises. However, if you have severe scoliosis, you may instead want to consider surgery. Here are a few reasons why surgery, though it has its risks, is the premier choice or severe scoliosis treatment.

1. It will stop the curve from worsening.

Scoliosis often worsens as a person gets older. Physical therapy and braces can stop this progression for many, but they are not always effective — and the progression may return as soon as you stop wearing the brace or doing your exercises. Surgery, on the other hand, is a permanent solution. It will not just correct your scoliosis right now, but prevent it from getting worse as you grow and change, even if you don't keep up with physical therapy and other protocols. 

2. It will alleviate many of your symptoms and side effects.

You might be able to do enough physical therapy to stop your scoliosis from worsening or to correct it somewhat. However, if your spine is not perfectly straight, you can still expect some symptoms. You may still get sore when you use your back too much. One shoulder may still sit lower than the other, making it hard to fit clothing well. Surgery, on the other hand, fully straightens your spine so you won't have to deal with these symptoms and side effects at all once you are healed.

3. Most surgeries these days are minimally invasive.

Some patients steer away from surgery because they're afraid of having such a huge incision across their back. However, over the last decade, spinal surgery has evolved remarkably. Now, most procedures are minimally invasive. This means they are performed with robotic instruments through a few small incisions. What does this mean for you? Well, for one, you will only have a couple of one-inch scars after your scoliosis surgery. Also, the incisions won't take nearly as long to heal, which means you can get back to your normal routine faster.

Scoliosis is a complex disorder, and every case is different. Surgery is a better option than ever before, and definitely worth talking to your doctor about. Explore your options, and choose the best one for your needs. Reach out to a clinic like The Anand Spine Group to learn more bout minimally invasive scoliosis surgeries.