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  • Surgery 15 years ago...

    I may not be in the right place so if you need to redirect me, I understand. I had surgery roughly 15 years ago at age 12. I am now 27 and have very few problems. I suffer from back pain but I talk to many people with scoliosis who suffer also. I have rods on either side and had bone taken from my left hip for fusion. I am looking for ways to relieve the lower back pain I have and also for other women who have gone through pregnancy and childbirth after having corrective surgery. Since I had the surgery at a young age I know very little about what was actually done. My parents took care of everything and I just showed up for surgery. Most of my spine is fused and I only bend at the waist and neck.
    SOLG

  • #2
    Hi again...

    I answered your question about flatback in the other forum. If the rods that were used in your surgery were Harrington rods, you could very well have the condition. You can read about it here:

    http://www.spineuniverse.com/display...rticle308.html

    It's true that 85% of adults will have at least one episode of back pain in their lives. However, if you have lower back pain every day, I'd encourage you to see a surgeon who has a lot of experience in treating patients with prior scoliosis fusions.

    Where are you located?

    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

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    • #3
      Thank you. I live in Texas and had my surgery done in Houston. The surgeon who did it has retired. I do not have harrington rods though. I was lucky with my timing of the surgery. I did not have to wear a cast or brace at all. I suffered alot of pain abou two years ago and saw a bone doctor who said everything looked fine and told me everybody has back pain.

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      • #4
        Hi...

        You could have disc degeneration below your fusion. It still wouldn't be a bad idea to get yourself checked out by an expert. I hear great things about Barton Sachs in Plano and Mike LaGrone in Amarillo. Both have extensive experience treating patients with prior fusions.

        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


        • #5
          Questions On Pregnancy

          Hi! my name is Vicky, I'm new on this forum but i think its very intersting. Your case is so similar to mine and that's the reason I contact you. I am 31 years old and i had my surgery 16-17 years ago when a Harington rod was placed. the surgery was successfull and since then I never faced any problem. I exercsise from 18 with no major problem .Now, I am thinhking of having a baby and I am quite worried of the consequences..of course i visited my doctor and he told me that the only thing I have to watch is not to gain too much weight. Do you hane any other information?


          Thanks!
          VIcky

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          • #6
            Hello My name is Keslie. I am also new to this forum. 12 yrs ago I had Harrington Rod Surgery done at Children's Hospital in Boston. The surgeon was Dr. John Emans. I am now 28 years old. I have had two wonderful boys ( 6, 3) with excellent pregnacies.

            My problem is that I can't remember a day without having chronic back pain. Lower back, and now more recently upper back. The last time I had seen Dr. Emans was in '97 for extreme lower back pain. In which he told me that there was nothing he could really do for me. I have been to numerous PCP's and all have pretty much written me off. I have finally found a primary that would give me the referrals to see a Neuro-sugeon ( Dr. Stephen Johnson) and a Orthopedic Surgeron ( Dr. Stephen Parizan). I have recently had an MRI and a new series of x-rays. I have an appointment with the Ortho 8/9.

            I'm sorry I don't mean to ramble. I'm very nervous about what these doctor's may say. I have never found anyone with the same problems as me!!!

            Comment


            • #7
              Surgery in '76

              Hi,
              I'm new to this forum. I had surgery in 1976, by Dr. Dickson in Houston. I had Harrington Rods, and fusion with bone from my left hip. I was 13 and now am 42. I have led an active life, aerobics, softball, and such. I had a baby at 22, with no complications. I never felt any back pain, until now. It seems my lower right back is hurting. I'm waking in the middle of the night, especially if I try to turn on my side. It feels my hip is out of joint. I thought it was tennis, then I thought my ab muscles were weak. I've tried stretching, doing aerobics, tightening abs, and nothing has worked. I just set an appointment with my GP to have a back X-ray. I hope it reveals something. I feel I'm too young to feel this old! I'm going to keep checking this forum. I find it interesting and informative. I'll let ya'll know how the x-rays turn out.
              Pam

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by pamster
                Hi,
                I'm new to this forum. I had surgery in 1976, by Dr. Dickson in Houston. I had Harrington Rods, and fusion with bone from my left hip. I was 13 and now am 42. I have led an active life, aerobics, softball, and such. I had a baby at 22, with no complications. I never felt any back pain, until now. It seems my lower right back is hurting. I'm waking in the middle of the night, especially if I try to turn on my side. It feels my hip is out of joint. I thought it was tennis, then I thought my ab muscles were weak. I've tried stretching, doing aerobics, tightening abs, and nothing has worked. I just set an appointment with my GP to have a back X-ray. I hope it reveals something. I feel I'm too young to feel this old! I'm going to keep checking this forum. I find it interesting and informative. I'll let ya'll know how the x-rays turn out.
                Pam
                Pam,
                I would talk to a specialist in the spine field. I don't know where you live, but there is a great doctor in St. Louis, MO. My pain started out the same way and it was due to degenerative disc disease (DDD).

                Dawn

                Comment


                • #9
                  Posted earlier about pain/pregnancy

                  I made an appointment to see a docor in a few weeks. I am going to ask about giving birth and pregnancy. I also get pain in my hip from the fusion I guess. It does feel like it is out of wack. I am now suffering from some kind of discomfort in my leg. It is a shooting pain down my thigh. I am afraid it si a nerve thing stemming from my back. I am just typing away with out a point. I do not know anyone personnally to talk to, see ya'll get to hear everything.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Vickie,

                    I too had surgery about 20 years ago. I have a daughter who is 13 and pregancy was not a problem for me. Just to tremember to walk a lot. It really helps. My friend was pregnant at the same time as me and had the hardest time getting out of a chair. I in return could bounce right up with out assistance. (That's the good thing about this surgery, we have built in assistance.)

                    I am now experiencing upper back pain though. I fear that it is from the sagging of my breast and weight gain over the years. I hope all goes well with you.

                    Sonja

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      i hate scoliosis-help me, i'm confused

                      Hi I have scoliosis and I hate it! I get sick of trying to cover it up and always worrying about what I can and can't wear, in case people notice, and even if people don't notice i feel like they do. It doesn't even matter to me sometimes whether other ppl notice or not, but it's the fact that I notice it every single time i look in the mirror. I hate everything about it, it makes me feel so unattractive and grossed out! So I just think that that's what other ppl must think too. I get jealous of everyone just for having a normal back and straight spine and even waistline and flat back! I feel so stupid though, because what a thing to be jealous of! But i can't help the way that i feel. I just don't know what to do anymore. I don't think my scoliosis is bad enough to need surgery, but I don't know how much longer I can live with it, but I don't know whether it's sensible to consider having surgery because what if something went wrong, or it didn't improve my appearance, would it be worth it? Sorry to go on like this, but I really needed to talk to someone who could understand where I'm coming from. Please someone write back. I need help -x-

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                      • #12
                        I know the feeling

                        I am 27 and had surgery when I was 13. I had the double rod surgery, not Harrington rod. Every now and then I get prickly pain in my upper back, but my lower back pain is pretty constant and maybe even worse. My hip has been bothering me a little and it only now occured to me that maybe it has to do with the bone being taken from there. I have made an appointment with my old doctor (who I haven't been to in 10 years). Any suggestions about dealing with this back pain?

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