Surgery in August 2009 on a 70 degree curve. mid thoracic to the bottom including iliac screws. Titanium rods. Broke 1 rod twice and the other once across both small 2nd and 5th from the bottom Dec 2014. Also herniated one disk in my neck that has to be fused first. X-rays show a flattening in the curve of my the small of my back causing my shoulders and upper body to tilt forward.
Only solution to correct that is to saw wedges out of the fused bones in my lumbar to follow the curve of the new bars and pull my shoulders back upright again. Fusion looks pretty solid on MRI with some missing spots. He expects to have to replace a lot of pedicle screws that have wallowed loose. Risks include longer recovery time and more blood loss because of the longer surgery. I'm almost 49. I have good insurance and both short-term and long-term disability so that's a plus.
Would you take the risk and the long recovery time or just deal with the pain and limitations? I'm functional and not in unbearable pain but i certainly don't want to live like this since i know how great it was the last 5 1/2 years have been.
Personal experiences? Would you do it all over again?
Only solution to correct that is to saw wedges out of the fused bones in my lumbar to follow the curve of the new bars and pull my shoulders back upright again. Fusion looks pretty solid on MRI with some missing spots. He expects to have to replace a lot of pedicle screws that have wallowed loose. Risks include longer recovery time and more blood loss because of the longer surgery. I'm almost 49. I have good insurance and both short-term and long-term disability so that's a plus.
Would you take the risk and the long recovery time or just deal with the pain and limitations? I'm functional and not in unbearable pain but i certainly don't want to live like this since i know how great it was the last 5 1/2 years have been.
Personal experiences? Would you do it all over again?
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