Popping in back?? Anybody?

[Kristi]

Well I am new to this site and I need some advise. I had the rods placed in my back in 1994 for scoliosis, I am not sure of the degree of the curve then before surgery, I was only 14 and left everything up to my mother to handle. I had a very active life after that, played sports and was always involved in activities, life was going good. Then in 1999, I gave a natural birth to my daughter; after a few months I began to have some "popping" (like as you would pop your fingers I suppose) accure in my upper back near the tops of the rods. The popping was very subtle at first only occuring occasionally, but I did think it was odd that it had never "popped" before. Over the years it got worse, now, it pops constantly with little movement. I can take a deep breath..it pops, ect. Also, 2 years ago I began having severe pain in the area that pops and I can easily throw my back out. When I say throw my back out, I can only say that it truley feels like the rod tears through the muscle or something, it will drop me to my knees in pain, and each time it takes a few days to recover from it. I went to see Dr. Hanson in Houston over the summer(my original doctor who performed the surgery has since retired), and he could not explain the popping or what is causing the pain, yet he jumped to suggesting that we take the rods out. I was not happy with his bed side manner or the lack of concern he had to figure out what is really going on, I would just like to know details of what happened before I jump back into surgery. I have now lost my job, due to missing so many days I became "unreliable" for the company and I have to monitor everything I do to insure I don't throw my back out. I am on pain meds constantly and I also get the trigger point injections from my family doctor until I am able to find another doctor within my network to see me. I am very nervous still about even considering the rod removal, I am scared it will continue to curve and it will lead me into another surgery in a few years. I do know that my curve was set at 11 degrees after the surgery, and it is now at 29 degrees (showing its still curving with the rods in?) If anybody has had these similar problems please let me know or any advise from anybody would be helpful.

[RoundTheTwist]

I'm not a Doctor but....

Hi Kristi,

I would strongly advise you to seek out a Scoliosis Specialist ASAP one that specialises in Adult cases/surgery, I'm sure that once Linda Racine sees this post she will be able to recommend a surgeon in your area, she is very good and a very nice helpful lady on this site, very knowledgable about both Surgeons and surgery.

As said in the title, I am not a Doctor, but I suspect that something has come amiss in you rod(s), it sounds like you may have either broken a rod or loosened a screw or something similar during childbearing/labour, this is what happened to me its not something you should ignore, but I don't believe either that removing the rod(s) is the answer, maybe some sort of revision surgery, like a repair or replacement of rods would be more suitable? Especially if your family is not yet complete Pregnancy and childbirth puts a tremendous strain on the spine and I believe that although most Scoli people go on and have kids after surgery just fine there are the odd few (Like me) that get a problem.

I hope this helps, and you get some help and relief for your pain soon,

[Kristi]

Thank you for your reply

Hi Roundthetwist,
Thanks so much for responding! I do hope that Linda does reply. I did go see Dr. Hanson who is a specialist, but as I mentioned before, I did not like the way he handled things. Did your back "pop" also? Of all the things I have read on here, I haven't heard anybody mention popping. Also how was your revision surgery?? And did it solve your problems?? I have read that in many cases the revision surgery did not help. I do hope Linda can direct me to a good specialist, but the problem I have ran into with finding one is that out of the three doctors I found in Houston(area closest to me), two of them are not accepting new patients and the other was Dr. Hanson whom I wrote about earlier. I have read on here that there are good doctors in Amarillo and San Antonio, but within the eyes of my health insurance company, they are considered "out of network" which means I will have to pay more...and as you might guess is hard to do if your unemployed. Have you ever heard of any financial assistance for cases like this?? I am worried that the longer I wait that more damage might be caused. I do appreciate your thoughts as for I am lost on what I should do.

[spincon58]

Dear Kristi,
Lately I've been having the same problem...my started after I was in a weight lifting class at the gym...I felt a small pain in my back..around the area of.T4 ...it started progressively getting worse...the pain; and rarely at times I feel that "popping sensation" your talking about....but what I'm dealing with is the pain and the whole idea of having back pain all over again...I had injection and that didn't help..my doctor said its irratation from the heardwear...My ct scan should nothing...My guess is that they can't tell u whats wrong untill they see inside..it could also be scaring adhesions thats attached and pulling on the muscles...I'm starting to see a pain dr. and I'm going to try alternatate methods of controling the pain...I can't lift or use my arms in a forward movement..I was doing so good until now..I feel so down....

[Kristi]

Spincon58,

The pain you are describing, what does yours feel like? Mine, I can only describe as what feels like a knife constantly in my back, there is also a burning sensation around the area and into my neck. The pain and the burning get much worse the more I try to do. Even something as simple as walking to the mailbox makes it worse. And I too can not lift anything over my head, nor can I lift anything heavier than 5 pounds. The trigger point injections I get near the top of the right Harrington rod, helps dull the sharpness of the pain, but only last a couple of weeks, and does not help as much as I had hoped.
Don't worry, your not the only one feeling down. Its odd how life changes suddenly to throw you that curve ball, especially when it is that bump in the road you thought you already got passed. I def. know where your coming from!

[spincon58]

Kristi...
THAT EXPLAINS EXACTLY EVERYTHING TO THE LETTER T....
MAYBE ONLY MY PAIN IS TO THE LEFT WHERE YOURS IS TO THE RIGHT..SAME KNIFE SPLITTING BURNING PAIN...WHAT DID YOUR DOCTOR SAY ABOUT THIS? WHAT DO U PLAN TO DO ABOUT IT? I CAN'T TELL IF THE SHOTS ARE HELPING ME BECAUSE I'M TAKING PAIN MEDS...I WAS DOING GREAT BEFORE THIS.....DEFINIETLY BUMMED

[Kristi]

Connie,

OHH WOW, I am so glad to hear from somebody that has the same problems as I do! I am currently on the hunt for a new doctor. The one I went and saw told me that he could not explain the popping, burning or the knife feeling his only suggestion was to take out the rods completly (all this was said BEFORE he even took x-rays! )...so as you can imagine, I am hunting for a new doctor. I also take pain meds daily, my family doctor prescribes me Lortabs(which I just switched to from vicodine) and Flexeril along with the injections to help until I am able to find a new specialist (and come up with the money ). I really wish it would all go away, but I know thats not reality. How long have you been having your problems? My popping started in 1999, but the pain began in 2005 and both have only got worse since. I guess by reading all the threads here, I should be blessed I had 11 years after my surgery with no problems what so ever.

[spincon58]

Kristi,
This all started very recently....I think its been only 2 months now...it started with pain in my shoulder...unexplained shoulder pain. I went PT had MRI and all was clear...then the pain in my mid back started getting more severe and my PT and I put 2 and 2 together...We thought it was adhesions ...either way the hardwear is irrataing the muscles and nerves...we either control the pain my conventional methods(drugs,therapy,mediatation,pray whatever it takes) or surgery....When I had back pain from my scolio it took many years to decided to have surgery... I use to constantly say "my back hurts) I use to chant , I never knew I was saying it cause it would slip out of my mouth like water...day after day...after i had my surgery I relized I wasn't complaining about my back hurting....and that felt wonderful...Now I hear myself saying it again ..what ever...I have to get off this pity party because I know there are worse off than me...its just I only had 2 good years ........

[PNUTTRO]

I know how you feel. . .

Kristi.

The pain you describe sounds exactly what I had at the bottom of my fusion. I had my rod removed because of it. The pain was so bad, that I would fall to the ground in tears. I couldn't take it for very long. I saw my surgeon (Dr. Henry Blum) and he removed the rod and repaired my fusion at L3/L4. My broken back didn't show up on the CT anyway--as far as I know. I think my surgeon did more repairs than he was expecting to do. Getting the rods out and fusion repaired made me feel tons better. Recovery was relatively short. I still have my normal chronic pain, but that severe pain is gone.

Did Dr. Hanson send you to get an MRI or CT?

Are you getting a second opinion? There are some good Docs in Plano at the Texas Back Institute as well as others mentioned on the Texas threads.

I think Hanson is a good surgeon--by reputation, not from my experience. I was referred to him by an orthopedic surgeon who could have recommended someone in his own practice, but didn't. If he thinks the rod should come out, it probably does. He didn't pressure me into having surgery. He isn't the kind of guy to operate when he doesn't need to. He has a very busy schedule already.

In short, my advice is to get imaging and get a second opinion.

Take it easy, it sounds like you are really going through a tough spot. Stop and take a breath--not too deep, you pop your back out of whack.

pc