Broken rod - anyone else experiencing globus?

[Lindyloo]

This is my very first posting to the site. Thanks to my husband for finding this. Just Monday (5 days ago) I found out in my family physician's office, that my Harrington Rod is broken. Shocking after 32 years in place. The doctor ordered the X-ray after I went in to see him about my back seizing up the week before.

I took the news very well in his office, but by the next day I didn't feel so well, and went in to see him again. I was particularly worried about the lump in I'd had on and off in my throat for that week since my back seized up. I was feeling it anywhere between my upper throat and by breastbone. Like something was pressing on my esophagus.

My physician assured me that the rod is outside the rib cage and that nothing could be pressing on my esophagus. He stated that the symptom was called "globus". I looked it up in my old medical dictionary and found it's called "Globus hystericus". Interesting.

Anyway, my doctor prescribed an anti-anxiety medication which seems to be helping with the feeling.

We are waiting for a referral to an orthopaedic specialist. And, I'm taking some time off work to relax and just contemplate the possibilities.

Just wanting to connect with someone else who is in a similar position so as not to feel so alone.

[judyk]

My rod was found to be fractured on a routine chest xray almost 20 years after the surgery was done. Unlike you I had had some pain in my neck, shoulders, back and hips for years which had been explained away as fibromyalgia. I have been told that approximately 15% of all Harrington Rods have become broken after surgery due to non-fusion. A lot of people don't experience any pain and are completely unaware of a problem. Most are not aware of when the break occurs as it occurs slowly over a period of time--like a paper clip being bent over and over, one day it breaks. Good luck to you.

[sweetness514]

I also have a broken rod, but I did feel when it cracked, and with time it is now completely broken. The noise was a HUGE pop and it thrust me to the floor, as I was lifting my leg up so high when it happened. I will have surgery this Thursday, the 15th, the pain is getting unbearable and it happened almost two years ago. Things moved so slowly, as there is so much time being wasted between appointments, and also it took almost a year to even see a crack in the X ray, so I and the doctors didn't know what it was. I believe we can't know for sure how many people have a broken rod, but pseudarthrosis must be higher IMO. Problems with hardwware like even loose screws are not always visible to the X rays, and so it takes a surgery to see if all is solid.

As far as fybromyalgia, I think it's normal to experience some type of pain in the unfused vertebreas like the shoulders, neck and lower back, since the fusion puts added pressure in those areas, and so we need to do more exercises than the norm. Of course I don't know what your pain is, but it's not always easy to get a correct diagnosis of those reumathoid diseases. They thought I may have one before I had the surgery, since I was suffering from major insomnia and needed orthotics for pains in my legs, knees and heels. Sleep and those orthotics took care of those pains.

[Lindyloo]

Hi Sweetness and Judy K,

Your replies made me feel less alone. Thanks for that. Sweetness, I will think positive thoughts for your surgery date tomorrow.

I have a referral date on 21 December with a neurosurgeon, Dr. Shutz?, who is head of some kind of a spinal care team in Etobicoke (near Toronto). Looking forward to that so I can receive some more information soon on what is recommended for me.

Nothing else to add for now. Good luck to you too Judy.

[fireman413]

I had the surgery in the early 90's. I am a 29 year old male firefighter in NC. I was released by my surgeon to perform this job that I love over 10 years ago. I have been having some lower back pains around the area of the bone graph. I couldnt take it anymore. I went to a new doctor b/c mine has retired since my surgery. My sister refered him to me, b/c she has had the surgery as well. We took x-rays and found that my rods had broke on both sides around L-3 and L-4. I now have scheduled and MRI and a bone scan for the first of the year.

What can we do about this problem? After reading these forums it seem it is happening way to often. Im not looking forward to going through this pain again.

:(

[LindaRacine]

Hi Fireman...

According to Dr. David Bradford (UCSF) broken rods almost always mean that there's an area of non-fusion. Surgery to re-fuse the area would hopefully resolve your pain.

Best of luck!

Regards,
Linda

[fireman413]

Thanks, I was scared of that. I hope you have a great holiday

[LindaRacine]

Thanks, I was scared of that. I hope you have a great holiday

You too, Fireman. Thanks.

I've known several people who have had to go back in to have one level fused, and they all say the surgery is a piece of cake compared to the first surgery. Hope it's the same for you.

--Linda

[Froggybee19]

Actually, I have had both of my rods completely brake. They were only 11 months old when it happened. Like all of you, my back just seized up constantly after it happened. It first happened at home but then in PT, and they said usually that happens when something is broken or out of place, and so they all got very nervous, called my surgeon and my Mom came to get me. It turned out they were right. I have had lots of problems with my spine not fusing. I'm 18, I've had 8 spinal surgeries, 1 vascular that was related to spinal issues, and 7 of the 8 spinals have been done in the last 3 years. Each time my spine wouldn't fuse. Next week I go back and see if it has fused from the two surgeries I had in June. We already know that a chunk of bone that took place of my disc has more than 50% slipped out. My surgeons feel that since it wasn't fixed right away that it is now too dangerous to fix. Anyway, when I had my rods replaced it was actually a very big surgery, two actually. The first was 12 hrs and the second 8. They refused my spine and put in loads of BMP. I know the extreme pain you must be feeling and I can't imagine having to wait for a referal to and ortho and then finding a good one and then getting surgery. That is going to take some time. I recomend that you go to a pain management specialist. Mine has saved me from being bedridden for the past 3.5 years. The doctor will help your pain while you wait for surgery. Also, after my past few surgeries I have been wearing a bone stimulator, it hasn't worked for me but it works for most people. It is for a little extra insurance for your bones to fuse.

[barcamilla]

I had a spinal fusion with harrington rods in 1973, I only found out I had a broken rod in 2002. I have no idea how it was broken. I had the broken rod removed in Nov. 2002 but unfortunately my Dr. discovered a crack between last vertebrae and saccrum with had to be fixed a month later. I had a long recovery and was doing fair until I experienced neck pain and difficulty swallowing and had an M.R.I. of cervical area where a spinal cord tumor was found on C1,C2 area. The tumor was sucessfully removed and was benign but I was left with slight nerve damage, my right leg is somewhat numb from knee down. I found a spinal cord tumor website which has lots of info, there seems to be a connection between spinal cord tumors and scoliocis. Don't want to scare people but it's something I had no idea about.

[LindaRacine]

Hi...

I believe the link between spinal cord tumors and scoliosis, is that the tumor can cause scoliosis. The vast majority of us with scoliosis do not have tumors.

--Linda

[Lindyloo]

Thanks to all for the conversation sparked by my original question.

Referral to Dr. Shutz in Etobicoke on 21 December didn't work out. He turned out to be a neurosurgeon and, by his own admission, not an expert in scoliosis. He had no suggestions whatever to offer me except carry on my life as before, and take Aquafit classes if I feel the need to strengthen my back. Still awaiting a referral to an orthopedic surgeon from my family doctor who was disappointed with the referral to Dr. Shutz.

I also think that what is going on lower down my spine with the broken rod has been causing problems in my neck, sending it out of line, as I am getting numbness at the base of my skull presently.

Barcamilla, it's interesting that you have identified problems with your neck. I too have been struggling with that. After being prescribed Lorazepam for my globus hystericus, I continued to complain about the lump in my throat. My family physician did a Barium swallow and discovered that I have acid reflux. So I stopped the Lorazepam which didn't really clear all the symptoms. Now I'm on a medication called Nexium seems to be taking care of the heavy sensation in my chest. But still haven't gotten completely rid of the lump in my throat. It makes me wonder if MRI (if I ever have one) will show anything like a tumor.

Lindyloo

[Gigi060]

I didn't think you could have an MRI with the rods still in your back. Now don't anyone quote me on this but I was told that MRI's are done with very powerful magnets and that Harrington Rods would make you bounce all over the machine. It sounds horrible, does anyone know if this is true or not? I've had Hundreds of X-rays, a bone scan, several CT scans and a Myilogram, but didn't think I could have an MRI. And I never heard of Globus Hystericus. I'm gonna look into that a little further.

Georgian

[LindaRacine]

Georgian...

People with rods can have MRIs, but the images in the area of the implants will be distorted.

--Linda

[MOB]

I had my surgery for scoliosis in July 81 four months later i had to have harrington rod removed as it broke and started to bend at the top. I had it replaced in November 81 3 months later i had to have rod removed as it broke at bottom. Soon after i had disc trouble now i have a worn facet joint below fusion.
MOB

[sweetness514]

You too, Fireman. Thanks.

I've known several people who have had to go back in to have one level fused, and they all say the surgery is a piece of cake compared to the first surgery. Hope it's the same for you.

--Linda

I had my rod replaced with bone fusion from my own fusion bed AND BMP added. It was no piece of cake, and the pain did resemble a lot of the first surgery I had, since they cut all my back again. I'm now almost 6 weeks post op and healing still, it takes time I know. The second surgery was a piece of cake, but that was only partial rod removal and it was only 1 year post op.

My opinion about scoliosis surgery is that I think there are way too many hardware breakage still and failure of fusions, especially when one like me doesn't drink or smoke, exercises and takes calcium, not that it is a guarantee anyway. Good luck to all who have to go through any type of revision surgeries, it's not fun I know especially when it happens in less than 10 years like it has to me. And doing a lot of what I had to do the first time like taking it easy and not bending, plus by my doc's orders not doing much of anything except walking a LOT(even in -25 temps) for the first three months takes courage. I just hope that my fusion heals well this time, not that any tests can tell me for sure. But I will take it easy for a while that's for sure, and won't do as much as I did before when I didn't know about failing fusions.

[lelc2002@yahoo]

What's the percentage on problems w/ the rods now on the new procedure? or is it too early to tell? & when did they stop using harrington rods/or do they still use them?
Lynne

[LindaRacine]

What's the percentage on problems w/ the rods now on the new procedure? or is it too early to tell? & when did they stop using harrington rods/or do they still use them?
Lynne

Lynne...

I'm sure there are still some surgeons who still use Harrington rods here in the U.S., and they're still widely used in some countries. They are still occasionally used by even the best surgeons, for certain problems. For the most part, however, Harrington rods were discontinued in the late 80's.

The percentage of complications from surgery varies greatly, depending on the surgeon and the type of surgery. You can find links to a bunch of study abstracts here:

http://www.scoliosislinks.com/SurgeryResearch.htm

Regards,
Linda

[katblack]

Lynne...

I'm sure there are still some surgeons who still use Harrington rods here in the U.S., and they're still widely used in some countries. They are still occasionally used by even the best surgeons, for certain problems. For the most part, however, Harrington rods were discontinued in the late 80's.

The percentage of complications from surgery varies greatly, depending on the surgeon and the type of surgery. You can find links to a bunch of study abstracts here:

http://www.scoliosislinks.com/SurgeryResearch.htm

Regards,
Linda

So what kind of rods or instruments do they use now?

[LindaRacine]

Hi Kat...

There are at least a dozen different manufacturers of what are known as posterior universal systems that use rods, hooks, and screws. Then, there are quite a few additional anterior rod and screw systems. I haven't kept up on who uses what.

--Linda

[sweetness514]

What's the percentage on problems w/ the rods now on the new procedure? or is it too early to tell? & when did they stop using harrington rods/or do they still use them?
Lynne

I don't know, but according to the websites I have visted on the subject of breakage and my doctor's opinion, it can vary to up to 40% in adults, but nobody can know for sure since some live with broken fusions without having their hardware break for a while and/or with even broken rods without feeling pain or supecting it's the hardware. I had my scoliosis surgery in '97, with Titanium rods, and have seen a lot of younger girls in their teens with the same type of rods break, IRL and posting on forums. I think it's ridiculous, and once a person has gone through the ever so painful surgery for scoliosis, nobody wants to go through it again, like I just have, even if it is easier. What was and is painful still is the replacement for the screws that are bigger in order to fill the gap from the old screws. Also, a lot have their hardware removed with no replacement(wich is not as painful) but the new fusion won't take if they don't put in a new rod, wich they did for me also. I didn't expect the not bending OR leaning for three months either, and taking it more than easy per my ortho's orders, since I don't like having to rely on others again, however small the assistance may be, my family doesn't need this again. Oh well..life.

As far as doctors, my original ortho who performed surgery on me in '97 is a professor who has his own orthopedic medical facility now in Switzerland, has traveled AND taught all over the world,(incuding my city of Montreal), and according to my new ortho who just operated on me he did EVERYTHING he could to avoid this problem and a fantastic job, that's why I think it's not the surgeon's fault. I live in a city that is very advanced as far as orthopedics, I learned that even in the mid '80s they stopped using Harrington rods here, and used the C-D rods. And we have free healthcare, so I'm impressed, only annoying problem is the wait is long :rolleyes: This last surgery was very hard too since they had taken two pints of my blood prior to surgery and didn't use any, and I was dizzy and very weak for weeks; as well as they performed a spinal morph injection(similar to epidural, but for the whole spine), and so it helped with the pain a lot but I thought I was paralyzed for days after, and was a bit scared of all the numbness.

But so far I'm getting better, the first month and a half was the hardest, and the wake up room.