Verified answer

Yes, 67 degrees is a kinda severe curve. You put it beautifully.

The cons of surgery? There are risks of paralysis, of the rods pulling out and of infection. I don't have any figures for how often these happen.

I found this info on the web. Take a look at it for kyphosis information. http://www.espine.com/kyphosis.pdf. The author, Dr. Pashman, is a well-respected scoliosis/kyphosis specialist and surgeon. Another web site that looks very good is http://www.umm.edu/spinecenter/education/scheuerma...

If it were me and I had bad back pain, and my doctor recommended surgery, I'd get it. I'm not you, though, and you'll have to be comfortable with the decision. Things to consider are pain, what will happen if curve is left untreated, quality of life (can you do pretty much what you want? Does your back affect decisions to do activities? Is life good for you? Etc.), whether you have family and friends to support you during recovery, etc.

I'm probably leaving stuff out but I have scoliosis experience, not kyphosis.