Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

has anyone experienced this?

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • has anyone experienced this?

    I have posted about this a while back ago but I want to do it 1 more time for any new explanations....I am fused t2 to my pelvis. This is my 3rd set of rods. When I am on my feet for a little while and I lay down my back pops (sometimes really hard at catches my breath). It doesn't matter if I am on my back or side. It is somewhat painful sometimes worse than others and when it catches me off gaurd it scares me . I just do not think it is the tissue against the bone ; it just feels hardware to bone. Has anyone experienced this and has it ever been explained any other way than tissue to bone and why? thanks

  • #2
    reply to back popping

    Hi:

    I am fused from T3 to S1 (post op 4 years) and I do still log roll getting into and out of bed. I don't have that symtom but was wondering if you are log rolling. If not it's probally better if you did. My opinion. But for sure call your doctor and tell him or her right away.

    Comment


    • #3
      Hi thanks so much for the reply. It doesn't actually happen while in the motion of lying down. It happens after I am there. It could be anywhere from a few minutes after I lay down up to a few hours. I am still when it does it. Somethime it will do it multiple times but the first is always the biggest and most of the time it is only once. It never does it while I am standing or moving; just when I get still in the bed.

      Comment


      • #4
        Sorry, I can't help but am wondering if you've asked your surgeon about this? How long has this been happening and how far out from surgery are you?
        Surgery March 3, 2009 at almost 58, now 63.
        Dr. Askin, Brisbane, Australia
        T4-Pelvis, Posterior only
        Osteotomies and Laminectomies
        Was 68 degrees, now 22 and pain free

        Comment


        • #5
          My last fusion was Oct 15th 2009. It started happening about 3 months post op. I did ask my surgeon about it and was told it was probably tissue moving over the instruments. I have moved to a different state and am seeing another surgeon for my check ups. It was my main question to ask when I last saw him. He came in like a whirl wind and left just as quick. I totally forgot to ask in the 2 minute conversation we had. I also have alot of low back pain and we mainly talked about that. Next visit I am going to write my questions down and check them off as they are answered.

          Comment


          • #6
            I wish I could help! I am hoping someone who's had this happen to them, will see the thread and offer their experience. I can understand this would worry you and after three surgeries, you deserve a smooth ride. Hopefully it is just tissue moving over the rods, but you need to know for sure. Good luck at your next appt. A list of questions is a good idea, if you're given the time to ask all the questions! I've used a list, but I remember even then, some of them were passed over somehow! As patients, we need to be very firm to ensure we get a fair go!
            Surgery March 3, 2009 at almost 58, now 63.
            Dr. Askin, Brisbane, Australia
            T4-Pelvis, Posterior only
            Osteotomies and Laminectomies
            Was 68 degrees, now 22 and pain free

            Comment


            • #7
              It sounds to me as if in that particular position - something which is attached in a sort of "space" (but attached!) is gradually moved down by the force of gravity (your body settling) into a slightly different alignment.

              Then when you get up again, gravity pulls it into the "other" position. I imagine it kind of like the popping or clicking we all sometimes experience when we "crack our backs" - or it cracks itself.

              Only in this case, it's hardware which is inserted surgically.
              And why not? It's become part of your body!

              As long as it's stable and predictable, it sounds like it's probably safe - as much as if it were a natural body part anyhow. I think that hardware is more solid than anything we're born with, don't you?

              I'm assuming it's always pretty much the same and nothing has changed over time since it began. Also, that it doesn't hurt "that" much and isn't accompanied by any nerve symptoms (numbness, tingling etc.) The degree of pain may be the crucial issue!

              Does it seem to be coming from your area of pain - or any area which might conceivably be "referring" pain to there? Too bad you couldn't demonstrate to someone medical - for example, if you could lie down like at home and wait until they heard it too! I'm assuming it always happens the same way, and in the much the same positions. (Have you experimented - eg. are there any positions lying down where it does NOT happen - on your stomach, for instance?).
              Last edited by Back-out; 05-06-2010, 12:42 AM.
              Not all diagnosed (still having tests and consults) but so far:
              Ehler-Danlos (hyper-mobility) syndrome, 69 - somehow,
              main curve L Cobb 60, compensating T curve ~ 30
              Flat back, marked lumbar kyphosis (grade?) Spondilolisthesis - everyone gives this a different grade too. Cervical stenosis op'd 3-07, minimally invasive

              Comment


              • #8
                (Getting curious) DOES it only happen in a certain reclining position? What if you were to partially lounge on a couch, for example? Have you ever tried to identify it and where it's coming from? Do you hear it from "outside" or inside your body - or both? I.e. would someone else hear it?

                Shame no one else in a medical practice could spend that kind of time with you! Has a family member heard it, at least? With a stethoscope (they're quite cheap) someone else could hear it even more clearly, if they were listening for it and you had been able to pinpoint the location a bit more.

                I'm assuming this has been going on for a good while (will check when your surgery was after posting. Should have, before).
                Starting to feel like I'm listening to "CarTalk"! (But feeling fairly sure it's somehow - "OK" as long as it's not too painful. Must wake you from sleep if you've already dropped off! Ouch.)

                From experience, writing your doctor a note about it in advance (saying you want it identified somehow) and/or a P.A/nurse practitioner can help - along with asking for a longer appointment. Once it's in your chart, they're more responsible if it turns out to "be something" and they've blown it off.
                Not all diagnosed (still having tests and consults) but so far:
                Ehler-Danlos (hyper-mobility) syndrome, 69 - somehow,
                main curve L Cobb 60, compensating T curve ~ 30
                Flat back, marked lumbar kyphosis (grade?) Spondilolisthesis - everyone gives this a different grade too. Cervical stenosis op'd 3-07, minimally invasive

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by ldwest View Post
                  My last fusion was Oct 15th 2009. It started happening about 3 months post op. I did ask my surgeon about it and was told it was probably tissue moving over the instruments. I have moved to a different state and am seeing another surgeon for my check ups. It was my main question to ask when I last saw him. He came in like a whirl wind and left just as quick. I totally forgot to ask in the 2 minute conversation we had. I also have alot of low back pain and we mainly talked about that. Next visit I am going to write my questions down and check them off as they are answered.
                  You might also type up a copy of your questions and give it to your Doctor and go through them with him. If your Doctor can't give you any more than two minutes, your might consider finding another Doctor.
                  Diagnosed with severe lumbar scoliosis at age 65.
                  Posterior Fusion L2-S1 on 12/4/2007. age 67
                  Anterior Fusion L3-L4,L4-L5,L5-S1 on 12/19/2007
                  Additional bone removed to decompress right side of L3-L4 & L4-L5 on 4/19/2010
                  New England Baptist Hospital, Boston, MA
                  Dr. Frank F. Rands735.photobucket.com/albums/ww360/butterflyfive/

                  "In God We Trust" Happy moments, praise God. Difficult moments, seek God. Quiet moments, worship God. Painful moments, trust God. Every moment, thank God.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Thanks for the repsonses everyone. As for finding another dr. It was only my 2nd visit with him and the first time he wasn't so rushed. He may have had a reason he was in such a hurry. I'm not gonna give up on him yet. Because of my husbands job we have had to move many times and I have had many spine specialists and so far he is pretty high on the list compared to others.
                    As for when the cracking / popping happens. It has never happened standing up or sitting in a chair or reclining. I don't lay on my stomach enough to know about that but it happens on my back and sides.
                    My husband has heard it crack while lying beside me. He looked over and asked "WAS THAT YOUR BACK?"
                    I agree with everything you said as long as it has no lasting effects nerve issues, acute lasting pain it's probably just the metal sliding a little. It just freaks me out a little when it is a "hard pop" as I call them.
                    over the years I have learned to wait things out and give them time to work themselves out. Between the sciatic nerve issues, my neck freezing up now and then and the ,at times, acute shoulder and lower back pain... (I call them flare ups)I have learned most of the time ,after time, it will mostley susbside. Early on (years ago) I would call the dr and he would order tests and after tons of time and money most of the issues would eventually subside on its own anyway
                    I was just curious if others have had this but it doesn't seem that common I guess because no one has actually said; "yea mine does that too! "LOL! You guys are great I read alot more than I post and all of you have been more supportive than you know. Sometimes you can be a blessing to others and not even realize it. Happy mothers day to all of you mothers and may God keep us all well and pain free!


                    2000- spinal fusion w inst. t-2 L-4
                    2002 top1/2 rod removal due to rods loose
                    2004 bottom rod removal due to pain
                    2007 spinal fusion t-9 to L-5 due to kyphosis and leaning forward(made it worse)
                    2008 internal bone stim removal
                    2009 oct 15th rod removal,repair of fusion new rods t2 to pelvis with osteotomies and peek cage
                    Last edited by ldwest; 05-09-2010, 10:50 PM. Reason: add previous surgeries

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      I had a few pops while laying down, around my T8 area. This happened when I was around 6 months out.

                      My popping has stopped. Since the discs were left intact in this area, I just assumed that it was just movement, just the discs releasing.

                      When joints are immobilized, they usually fuse.

                      You also have to realize that the rods do have some flexability to them. This is needed for fusion to take place.

                      I hope you pain levels improve soon...
                      Ed
                      49 yr old male, now 63, the new 64...
                      Pre surgery curves T70,L70
                      ALIF/PSA T2-Pelvis 01/29/08, 01/31/08 7" pelvic anchors BMP
                      Dr Brett Menmuir St Marys Hospital Reno,Nevada

                      Bending and twisting pics after full fusion
                      http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/showt...on.&highlight=

                      My x-rays
                      http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...2&d=1228779214

                      http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...3&d=1228779258

                      Comment

                      Working...
                      X