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Does this sound related to the rods?

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  • Does this sound related to the rods?

    Hello, all. I'm new to this post. In 1993, I was diagnosed with pretty severe scoli. and had surgery for the herrington rods. I've never had any problems with them.

    Recently I started having some problems with my hands, legs, neck and having major headaches. I had numbness and tingling in my fingers and legs. My doctors thought it could be something auto-immune and ran all sorts of tests, all bloodwork came back fine. I've had an MRI on the brain and that ruled out MS (the worst case scenerio). Tuesday of this week I was back in the MRI for a neck scan. Haven't received those results yet, but my neuro is thinking it could be a problem with the nerves in my neck.

    My rods run almost the full length of my back. The only non-fused areas are my neck vertebrae and the verylowest-lumbar region at the waist (sorry, I don't know the disc numbers).

    I'm 13 years out of surgery and have never had any problems, so I hate to think that's what this is. Has anyone experience anything similiar.

    Thanks for any feedback,
    Beth

  • #2
    Hi Beth...

    Degenerative disc problems above and below long fusions are relatively common. You should try to find a specialist who has a lot of experience in treating patients with prior 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

    Comment


    • #3
      My original dr., Dr. Richard McCarthy, is in Little Rock. He's really a good dr., I've just been waiting for the mri films to come back hoping that it's something else. I know that sounds awful but I was fully prepped and ready to get bad news. I almost wanted a diagnosis of MS before I wanted to hear that it is related to the rods. Crazy, I know. While having the surgery was a good decision in my case, I am terrified of the thought of having anything else done to my back. I'd rather face just about anything.

      Comment


      • #4
        Hi Beth...

        I hear you. Hopefully, you'll know the full extent of the problem soon. I'm hoping that you're incorrect about your implants being Harrington rods, because by 1993, most U.S. surgeons had switched over to using C-D rods. (Many people seem to use the term "Harrington rods" in the generic sense (like Kleenix). If you do have Harrington rods, that would increase the probability of problems caused by the implants.

        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
          Hi Beth,

          I hope that all your fears are unfounded first of all. But if the problem is with your rods, Sweetness is the one to talk to. She has had revisions done and when she sees your post I'm sure she'll respond.

          The one thing my Dr. expressed to me that if I ever had a problem in the future and needed any kind of revisions done, that it would be a piece of cake compared to what I had gone through in the first surgery.

          You're on the right forum,
          Shari

          Comment


          • #6
            you are not alone

            Hi Beth,

            I had my surgery for harington rods in 1992 and i just turned 29. I have recently been dealing with the same kinds of issues as you. Unfortunately I have no answer. I was in a car accident approx 2 months ago and I think that has had alot to do with my pain and numb/tingling in hands and arms. I also have alot of trouble in the morning, trying to get out of bed and even lift simple things. Its like my joints don't work...they are really weak. I am in the process of checking things out. So far my doc found a bulging disc in my c-5. (there are no rods there) But now we are looking in my thoracic because one spot on the right, mid thoracic is absolutely killing me...if you touch it i scream in pain..i had a cortisone shot last week and it didn't help. I think it is structual (bone or rod) so hopefully i will know tommorrow as i demanded another x-ray. If i found out anything more about the numbness and pain i will let ya know as it sounds similar to my issues. Good luck and keep us posted.

            ~youngoddess--harrington rods T-2 or 3 all through to upper L.

            Comment


            • #7
              Numbness & Tingling Sensation

              Hi Ebeth,

              I had C-D rods implanted for my scoliosis in 1989. I was 19 at the time, and am now 36. I'm not sure of the exact placement of the rods, but they start at my upper back...between my shoulder blades, and go down to just above my tail bone.

              Recently, I have been experiencing similar discomforts to the ones you described. My pain however, is confined to the right side of my body. My right arm and leg. In addition to the numbness and tingling, I've recently been getting burning sensations in my right extremeties. I too have seen a neurologist, and have had an MRI of the brain and neck done, and both tests came back negative.

              Nonetheless, the pain continues, and no one has been able to provide me with an answer. I also get muscle twitching that occurs sporadically and is not confined to any one particular area. Again all of this is very weird and slightly frightening to me, as I do not know what is going on.

              Please let me know what answers you find when you visit your doctor. I'm in Miami, FL, and I'm thinking maybe I should see an Orthopedic doctor that specializes in Scoliosis cases.

              If anyone has any recommendations, please let me know.

              Thanks.

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