Hello everyone. I'm very happy to have found this site! Anyways, I had a harrington rod placement in January of 2002. I was 15. Keep in mind, I also have Osteo Arthritis. About a year ago, a hard lump developed on my incision, about the size of a golf ball. About a month later, it softened and popped over night. Ever since then, I've had a band-aid in the center of my back. Since then it has pussed yellow and green stuff, sometimes with blood. It closes and opens all the time. I lived out of state this whole time, therefor I couldn't see my surgeon. I saw 6 different Doctors, each one telling me "I don't know what it is-go see your original surgeon" Now, the reason I didn't want to see him, is because 8 months after my surgery, I went to him with pain in my back. He told me to go home and take Tylenol and I'd be fine. I started going to another doctor who told me on my first visit that I had Osteo Arthritis. Question- can you develope arthritis after having harrington rods placed????? Anyways, I recently moved back to the state where my original surgeon is, and saw him a couple days ago. As soon as I saw him and he knew what was wrong, he got nervous and had to sit down. He kept repeating "oh boy, oh jeez, oh boy..." He then told me that I may need surgery again to take the rods out. He says it's worse than the placement surgery due to him having to dig the srews and rods out of my bone. He also told me that I'll be layed up for 3 weeks after the surgery, with an IV, and a nurse will have to come see me everyday for those 3 weeks. I don't know why, but for some reason, this doesn't sound right to me. He says that I have an infection near the rods. I'm very very worried. I was never informed of the possibilities of the first surgery. I never knew I may have to have another surgery or knew any of this would happen.
If I have the 2nd surgery, will I have to have rods replaced in a 3rd sugery? Does anyone know the possible side effects. Could I develope some other problems? I've been hearing a lot about flat back syndrome...could someone let me know what that is? I've also heard about people having problems with their lungs and heart (there's not enough room for them-something to do with the ribs.) I don't know where to start or what to do. I am afraid I may be in a wheelchair long before I should. And all this time I've been having pain, and thinking it was because of my arthritis and it could have been from my surgery. I thought the surgery was a cure and nothing bad could come of it.
I'd really appreciate it if someone could give me some advice or insight as to what I should do. Has anyone had these problems before? Thank you for taking the time to read this. I'm sorry it's so long, I just didn't know where to start or stop. Thanks again. If you want to email me, my email address is Waterpixie1327@hotmail.com
If I have the 2nd surgery, will I have to have rods replaced in a 3rd sugery? Does anyone know the possible side effects. Could I develope some other problems? I've been hearing a lot about flat back syndrome...could someone let me know what that is? I've also heard about people having problems with their lungs and heart (there's not enough room for them-something to do with the ribs.) I don't know where to start or what to do. I am afraid I may be in a wheelchair long before I should. And all this time I've been having pain, and thinking it was because of my arthritis and it could have been from my surgery. I thought the surgery was a cure and nothing bad could come of it.
I'd really appreciate it if someone could give me some advice or insight as to what I should do. Has anyone had these problems before? Thank you for taking the time to read this. I'm sorry it's so long, I just didn't know where to start or stop. Thanks again. If you want to email me, my email address is Waterpixie1327@hotmail.com
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