Introduction

Here I am in the middle of the biggest dilemma I have ever faced- to go under the knife or not! I have been advised I have scoliosis (a warped back) due to progressive deterioration of my discs. Three are narrowed, dehydrated (hardened) and no longer do the job nature intended. Now the cause is almost certainly due to 35 years competitive tennis (I had a wicked serve which involved an arched back and at racquet impact sent a shock through my spine concentrated on the lower back zone) followed by 15 years golf (got down to a 12H/C) often 3, 18 hole rounds per week and would hit drives c.275yds. It's all my fault- but I wouldn't have changed a thing even if I'd known what would lie ahead. I've had to give up golf (gave up tennis in 1987) and need to decide what to do now about a back which is slowly deteriorating.