Surgery after surgery??

[augemac]

I have a question to see who can help answer this. I have read many that have had a fusion but had to have another surgery because???

Why do so many have to keep going with their surgeries? I know each case is different but I am curious if the fusion itself was solid? or the curve just keeps going?

Is it something we do or don't do to keep our spine healthy after fusion?

Alot of questions!

[JenniferG]

Coming up for my first, I'm also interested in some of the reasons why a second surgery is often necessary.

Jen

[Karen Ocker]

additional surgeries???

My original surgery in 1956 was performed without hardware because that was the state of the art . I lost the correction because the fusion weakened with time and was not supported by hardware. In those days one stayed in bed, not walking for a year, in a series of casts. With hardware the healing fusion is supported and one can walk right away. The hardware continuously supports the fusion throughout life.

[sasha]

Mr surgery was back in 1965 and was also uninstrumented, they just fused my spine with bone taken from my hip. I too had to stay in bed in a huge plaster cast that reached half way down one leg, all over my body up to my neck and then a Milwaukee jacket!

The fusion did quite well for some years, but it's on the move now so that's why I need a revision and also I hope it will get rid of some of the pain as well, as it's really impacting on every aspect of my life right now.

[discombobulated]

Hi Augemac,

I can really only answer for my case, which is not too common. My T3-L3 fusion back in 1999 took nicely & is stable, but I had that extended down into all the sub-L3 vertebra + anchored into my pelvis in 2001. That's the bit that's failed for me - even though I got great correction, the fusion didn't take & the curve started progressing again (& didn't stop!); also, the pelvic instrumentation is loose & shifting around, cutting up bone. BUT please understand that this was really because of very unique, "lucky" circumstances - a) I have osteoporsosis (aka. "soft bones"); b) my pelvis is atypical to start with; & c) I'd already had some bone removed for prior (non-spinal) surgery. So, end result is a revision of the lumbar/pelvic fusion - but for reasons that would be very unlikely in anyone else, lol.

I think that the answer for at least a number of other members is much like Karen's - early scoli surgeries were nasty & used instrumentation that is nowhere near as advanced as the gear they use now, so many people are left with pain or other issues. Thankfully, the instrumentation has been developed over the years to remove many of the features that have left people with long-term problems.

Hope this makes sense! Cheers.

[Writer]

Disco -- to upload pics go to:

www.glowfoto.com

Click on the Browse button, find your photo (one at a time) and then upload it.

After a few seconds you'll see a Link List. Click on and select the DIRECT link and copy it into your post. Then readers just click on the link and see your picture.

Incidentally, if you are concerned about maintaining your correction there's a physiotherapist in Toowoomba who specializes in the spine, and she trained in the Schroth method in Germany. Sabine Kehoe -- sabine.kehoe@gmail.com

Augemac -- yes, the curve can continue to progress after fusion for a variety of reasons. Here's a reference to an article that explains how physiotherapy can help post-operative posture and reduce likelihood of revision surgery.

http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/showt...6931#post56931

[JenniferG]

Thank you Karen, Discombobulated and Sasha for those explanations. It sounds like *most* first time surgery performed in recent years is not requiring revision, but is a one-off.

Jen

[discombobulated]

Hi Writer,

Thanks for your thoughts on getting my pics up. From the help of many members, I've uploaded them to Google's Picassa 3, in a public folder, so hopefully they should be accessible I appreciate your help though - thanks.

About the Schroth - to be perfectly honest, I won't be considering it as an option; however, I will continue with my current PT program to help strengthen the muscles I have use of & increase lung capacity in anticipation of surgery. I will also use PT post-op to regain my strength & balance more quickly. Thank-you for your suggestion, but there's just not enough evidence of its utility to warrant the travel, expense, time, or effort for me to pursue this.

Peace to you.

[augemac]

Thanks to everyone who posted.

I noticed that medicine has changed over the years. Since my first fusion the amount of advancement is tremendous! I noticed many in the forum found their curves later then I did. Not sure if that is the reason for my multiple surgeries or not?

But I do worry sometimes because I am still 32 and have a ways to go in life. Currently having lower back problems and had my MRI done but don't see the Dr til Nov. 6th. wait, wait, wait

Patience is a virtue. Just thought I would vent and see what people thought on their own backs and their experiences. Everyone's case is different but yet similar and just got to keep being positive and persevering. Easy to say hard to do when your in pain.

[PNUTTRO]

wait, wait, wait

Easy to say hard to do when your in pain.

You got it.
Waiting is at the heart of everyone who posts to this forum.

[waterpixie1327]

I had a fusion in 2002, I was 15. I am now 22. In 2004 a bump formed on my scar, the size of a golf ball! It popped and was an open "wound" for 2 years! Within those 2 years I probably went to about 15 different doctors/specialists. Nobody could tell me what it was. I had to keep it covered at all times. Finally, in 2006 I went back to my original surgeon (across the country) and he did an exploratory surgery. They removed my rods, then found an infection in the bone of my spine, called Osteomyelitis. They removed my rods because supposedly they are only needed from 2 to 4 years for the fusion to stay. While I was in the hospital, recovering, I had a fever and anemia because the nurses didn't check my blood levels beforehand. For 5 weeks while I was home, I had a PICC line (I.V.) in my arm that went to my heart and dispersed Vancomyacin (an antibiotic for the infection) At the end of the 5th week, I ended up with Red Man Syndrome, a hypersensitivity reaction, kind of like an allergy to it. So, obviously, I didn't need the 2nd surgery because of the fusion. BUT, now my curve is getting worse and I will most likely need another fusion. Also, I have Osteoarthritis, and it may or may not have something to do with my spine curving more! I know everyone's story is different, this is just mine and I hope it helps. I hope you find all your answers

[discombobulated]

Waterpixie,

I'm so sorry you went through so much trouble - & for 2 years!! Do you know what the infection was & if you're completely clear of it? I hope you can avoid another fusion... [Tangent - how great are PICCs?! Such vein-savers But hope you never need one again...]

Infection has to be my #1 fear since I'm at increased risk for it, & while I hate that you had so much suffering, it is good to hear of a "happy ending" in the sense that the infection was treatable (curable?). Reading too many "bad news stories" is NOT good for staying calm

Best of luck to you.


--


Augmac,

I don't think this has been said in this thread (? apologies if it has!) - remember that people who have successful fusions 1st time around (ie. the vast majority) rarely need to come to a support forum like this. So people who have problems with their original fusion, who have revisions, or even who have problems with their revsions - they are all probably over-represented here. People who feel great after recovery from a 1st time fusion & go back to enjoying life...well, many just don't seem to hang around here

I hope all this rambling makes sense! Cheers.

[waterpixie1327]

Yes, the infection (Ostemyelitis-infection in bone or bone marrow, could be chronic or not) is gone now, thanks to the Vancomycin! I don't have "chronic" Osteomyelitis, thank God! I have gone through a lot, but it only makes me stronger. You have to stay positive in situations like this/that. I started getting depressed a couple weeks ago, I was sleeping all day and did nothing. But thanks to my fiance, I got out of it quick! I could stay there forever. It's a comfortable place for me, so I have to be careful. Just remember, the biggest picture is the one you're looking at. Well, good luck to you, and thanks for the reply!

[rainbow2010]

I had my second surgery to remove extra fusion that grew on its own. I was fused to L5 but mine continued to grow to S1!

[augemac]

rainbow 2010,

What happened that you need to be fused lower then L5? Curious because that is where my problems are currently. Wondering and waiting to see the results from my MRI and to see the new Dr.

Discombobulated,

That makes real sense to me. And thank you because that made me feel better; believe it or not. Not to look at the negitive but keep positive. Thank you.