One of the best TOS "recovery" stories I ever heard was from the parents of a (then) 15 year old girl who had TOS that, as far as they can tell, was brought on by a sports injury; she played softball. She had the surgery done and by her senior year was able to win a softball scholarship to college. Her parents had agonized over the decision, of course - no parent wants their child to have to have surgery, but no parent wants to see their child suffering and in constant pain, either - but all three of them were very glad they got it done.