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  • #16
    Hi Gayle,

    I'm sorry to hear this - it must have been so frightening - I'm crossing my fingers (and toes and all other flexible body parts) that this is minor and an easily treated. I'm glad to hear the pain has lessened - hoping that's a good sign.

    Hugs,
    mariaf305@yahoo.com
    Mom to David, age 17, braced June 2000 to March 2004
    Vertebral Body Stapling 3/10/04 for 40 degree curve (currently mid 20's)

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/ScoliosisTethering/

    http://pediatricspinefoundation.org/

    Comment


    • #17
      Thanks so much, Maria. The pain is less each day, although I definitely feel a sharp, stabbing pain in one specific area when I move certain ways. I am trying hard to not worry too much until my appt Tuesday. I was actually pondering going to the pool and taking an easy swim, to see how things feel. Am I crazy???
      Gayle, age 50
      Oct 2010 fusion T8-sacrum w/ pelvic fixation
      Feb 2012 lumbar revision for broken rods @ L2-3-4
      Sept 2015 major lumbar A/P revision for broken rods @ L5-S1


      mom of Leah, 15 y/o, Diagnosed '08 with 26* T JIS (age 6)
      2010 VBS Dr Luhmann Shriners St Louis
      2017 curves stable/skeletely mature

      also mom of Torrey, 12 y/o son, 16* T, stable

      Comment


      • #18
        leahdragonfly-
        I've had pops that meant that rods were broken, and some that felt like they broke and nothing was...even had a missed broken rod on an xray, but with both the surgeon has been totally fine with swimming. So I don't think you are crazy at all.
        25 years old
        double 70+ degree curves before surgery
        Anterior on 11/11/08
        Posterior on 12/2/08 with titanium rods
        nearly perfect correction
        fused t-10 to pelvis
        with a hemi-vertebral osteotomy at L4

        Broke right rod at L4-L5 on 06/26/09
        Broke left rod on 10/24/09
        Revision surgery on 11/5/09 with vitallium rods
        Broke both rods again

        Had posterior than anterior revisions on 03/11 at the Twin Cities Spine Center
        Declared "FUSED" on 12/6/11

        Comment


        • #19
          Good news

          Great news yesterday! I had multiple x-rays, a bone scan and a visit with my surgeon, who carefully looked at all the imaging and said my hardware is fine and I have no fractures. He really couldn't say what caused the loud painful pop, but the SI joint is likely, or a harmless noise from the hardware. He told me he hears reports of loud pops coming from his pt's fusions from time and time, and while they can be from broken hardware, more frequently they are harmless.

          I am 90% better now, and now that my mind can rest I will return to the pool and gym without fear.

          Thanks for all the support here.
          Gayle, age 50
          Oct 2010 fusion T8-sacrum w/ pelvic fixation
          Feb 2012 lumbar revision for broken rods @ L2-3-4
          Sept 2015 major lumbar A/P revision for broken rods @ L5-S1


          mom of Leah, 15 y/o, Diagnosed '08 with 26* T JIS (age 6)
          2010 VBS Dr Luhmann Shriners St Louis
          2017 curves stable/skeletely mature

          also mom of Torrey, 12 y/o son, 16* T, stable

          Comment


          • #20
            That is GREAT news, Gayle!!

            I was so happy and relieved to read this!!!!
            mariaf305@yahoo.com
            Mom to David, age 17, braced June 2000 to March 2004
            Vertebral Body Stapling 3/10/04 for 40 degree curve (currently mid 20's)

            https://www.facebook.com/groups/ScoliosisTethering/

            http://pediatricspinefoundation.org/

            Comment


            • #21
              What wonderful news Gayle

              Enjoy your holidays
              Melissa

              Fused from C2 - sacrum 7/2011

              April 21, 2020- another broken rod surgery

              Comment


              • #22
                yay!! So glad to hear that!
                25 years old
                double 70+ degree curves before surgery
                Anterior on 11/11/08
                Posterior on 12/2/08 with titanium rods
                nearly perfect correction
                fused t-10 to pelvis
                with a hemi-vertebral osteotomy at L4

                Broke right rod at L4-L5 on 06/26/09
                Broke left rod on 10/24/09
                Revision surgery on 11/5/09 with vitallium rods
                Broke both rods again

                Had posterior than anterior revisions on 03/11 at the Twin Cities Spine Center
                Declared "FUSED" on 12/6/11

                Comment


                • #23
                  Great news! I can only imagine how relieved you must be.
                  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


                  • #24
                    Wow great luck that nothing is broken!

                    Very happy for you, Gayle. :-)
                    Sharon, mother of identical twin girls with scoliosis

                    No island of sanity.

                    Question: What do you call alternative medicine that works?
                    Answer: Medicine


                    "We are all African."

                    Comment


                    • #25
                      Gayle,
                      So glad to hear your great news!
                      Karen

                      Surgery-Jan. 5, 2011-Dr. Lenke
                      Fusion T-4-sacrum-2 cages/5 osteotomies
                      70 degree thoracolumbar corrected to 25
                      Rib Hump-GONE!
                      Age-60 at the time of surgery
                      Now 66
                      Avid Golfer & Tap Dancer
                      Retired Kdgn. Teacher

                      See photobucket link for:
                      Video of my 1st Day of Golf Post-Op-3/02/12-Bradenton, FL
                      Before and After Picture of back 1/7/11
                      tap dancing picture at 10 mos. post op 11/11/11-I'm the one on the right.
                      http://s1119.photobucket.com/albums/k630/pottoff2/

                      Comment


                      • #26
                        Gayle,
                        I am also glad to hear the good news. Peace of mind is so important. Have a peaceful joyous holiday.
                        Sally
                        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


                        • #27
                          Broke both rods this AM

                          Hi all,

                          Well my peace of mind was short-lived...this AM I arrived at work and bent over to pick up something on the floor. I heard and felt an incredibly loud "pop" from the other side of my low back followed by severe pain on both sides. Surgeon's office is closed today for the holiday, so I called my regular doctor and they called in an order for x-rays, which I had immediately (I work at the hospital-how convenient). The x-rays clearly showed that both rods are broken, one side looks to be around L4 and the other side one level higher.

                          I spoke to the on-call orthopedist who told me to call my surgeon first thing tomorrow AM. I can't believe this is happening...

                          So my immediate question is, are broken rods always surgically repaired, and do they have to replace the entire rod? Does this require the original huge incision??
                          Gayle, age 50
                          Oct 2010 fusion T8-sacrum w/ pelvic fixation
                          Feb 2012 lumbar revision for broken rods @ L2-3-4
                          Sept 2015 major lumbar A/P revision for broken rods @ L5-S1


                          mom of Leah, 15 y/o, Diagnosed '08 with 26* T JIS (age 6)
                          2010 VBS Dr Luhmann Shriners St Louis
                          2017 curves stable/skeletely mature

                          also mom of Torrey, 12 y/o son, 16* T, stable

                          Comment


                          • #28
                            Gayle,
                            I'm so sorry to hear this! I can't answer your questions, but I'm thinking about you. Are you still in pain or does it come and go with movement? Do you have a pseudoarthrosis in that area? If not, can't they just remove the hardware. I'm not trying to make that sound simplistic, as I know it requires another surgery. But I thought, if you are fully fused it might be an option. I'm just afraid that both rods breaking may mean nonfusion at that level. I'm so sorry. I hope my post doesn't make you feel worse.
                            Last edited by rohrer01; 01-16-2012, 02:31 PM. Reason: added thought about hardware removal
                            Be happy!
                            We don't know what tomorrow brings,
                            but we are alive today!

                            Comment


                            • #29
                              Hi Gayle...

                              Sorry to hear your news. Since both rods are broken, I think that's a pretty good sign that you have at least one pseudarthrosis. Although it's not an emergency, I'm guessing most surgeons would take you back to surgery, to re-fuse the areas that aren't solid, and replace the rods. The good news is that most people report that the surgery and recovery are pretty easy compared to the original surgery.

                              If your surgeon still feels like the fusion might still be possible without going back in, s/he might prescribe a bone growth stimulator.

                              Regards,
                              Linda
                              Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
                              ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
                              Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation

                              Comment


                              • #30
                                So very sorry to hear this... I can't imagine how sad this must make you feel. I guess there must be some non fusion in that area and they will need to re-fuse that area, which (and I'm guessing) probably means removing the hardware at that level and putting in new rods. I know others here have had this happen so I'm sure they can be more helpful. But I seem to remember it's not nearly the big surgery of the original.

                                Just a complete bummer that it happened though. Are you in any pain now?
                                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

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