So what now???

[dalmatica]

Ever since my two revision surgeries (may 7th and 14th, the latter because the first one had a screw in a nerve) my back has steadily gotten worse. I tilt to the right big time and bend forward. My pelvis is very uneven. Last week I had my second post-op visit with doc only to find out that the area that was operated on (L1-L5) did not fuse and my bottom curve has greatly increased. His answer was that he has only seen this once 12 years ago and that he had to replace all the instrumentation to get some correction back. My feeling to that is complete and utter astonishment, disbelief and whatever. This doctor of mine is a friend of Dr. Boachie and is meeting with him with my X-rays in a few weeks for his opinion.
Have any of you ever had this happen? My life since my original fusion (12/98) was great until this past spring when my rods broke and my health has since gone down the shitter. I cannot believe that I may have to go through this whole ordeal again but I am so bent over and in pain that I don't see how I can't. I also have a baby who will be two next week and I am limited in what she and I can do together although I really do more than many others who would be in this shape.
Any one out there who can relate???? Please! Thanks, Krysi

[CHRIS WBS]

My heart goes out to you Krysi having to deal with this setback and especially when you have a little one in your care. The complexities of this surgery are such that anything can go wrong for any one of us at any time. We just hope and pray for the best. I sincerely hope that Dr. Boachie can suggest a remedy for your particular situation.

Chris

[Karen Ocker]

Hardware failure has a lot to do with bone quality. At least that 's what it says in the scholarly literature. This is because the hardware is screwed into weak bone which cannot hold it.

After my revision I went on my own to a metabolic bone specialist who found my vit D levels were low. How come?? She said we do not make enough vit D from sun exposure at the northern latitudes, we wear sun blocker and we do not get enough from ordinary amounts in food. For awhile, she recommended I take 1800 units a day. I was monitored for several months after which she recommended 800-1200units a day. All the calcium in the world will not help bones without Vit D.
Interestingly, recommendations are coming out in the news about higher Vit D needs. It is very cheap to buy.

Other factors affecting bone strength are alcohol, smoking and lack of exercise.

[suzyjay]

Krysi
I also have to go into surgery again, I had mine in Feb 07 and have a staph infection from the surgery that won't go away. My surgeon has to go in and clean it out and replace the hardware and he said needs to fix my lower back because it didn't come out the way that he hoped and he can fix it when he goes in to clean out the infection and there is no guarantee that that will take care of the infection sometimes the hardware has to be removed. My lower back rib hump looks big again, my doctor said that the bone in the lower back (where the staph infection is located) probably didn't fuse because of the infection. Right now I am holding off on the surgery as long as possible to gain my strength back. Me and my family keep praying for miracle. Good luck and hope you feel better soon.
Sue

[dalmatica]

thanks for your replies! Well I can rule out lack of exercise prior to surgery because I was a Clinical Exercise Physiologist until this last surgery did me in. Non- smoker and drinker also and my diet was full of vitamins.