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Hi, I知 new here. I do not have scoliosis, but I do have Harrington Rods. At age 16 I broke my back and was partially paralyzed. Right after my accident my back was fused with bone and Harrington Rods were implanted for stability.
That was 9 years ago, I知 25 now, and I still have a lot of pain associated with the pulling of the rods.
For the past few years it hasn稚 been bad. I just chalked up the pain to being a back injury patient, but lately the pain has been interfering with my life. I can稚 sit up very long at my work desk without feeling strained, I cant sleep because I turn every half hour due to stiffness, I cant concentrate because of the pain.
My family doctor always just puts me on a round of anti-inflammatory meds and some vicodin. But now he is suggesting that I might consider having the rods taken out. I was not told this when I got the surgery, but the rods were not meant to be permanent, only semi-permanent. Plus he said I should be able to just rely on the bone fusion to keep my back safe.
I talked to an orthopedic surgeon and he seemed very concerned that I was given Harrington Rods in the first place. As he said, I had my surgery in 2002, a time when Harrington Rods had fallen out of favor for safer methods of fusion.
Just now I知 learning that these things can cause cysts, disk rupture, and the metal can even fail!!! I NEVER was told that!
I知 scared to follow my doctor痴 advice and have them removed, because I知 pretty sure the recovery will be nearly as intensive as when they were put in. But I知 afraid to let them lurk there in my back just waiting to cause problems. Now they feel like a ticking time bomb.
So, my question is, who has had their rods removed completely and gone without any implants, just bone fusion? How was the recovery? Does your back feel better or worse? Is it odd to suddenly have a little more movement in the back, or is it scary to not have that constant support? In spinal patients is it possible to gain more movement and feeling when the weight of the rods are taken off the nerves in the back?
Thank you for your time.
That was 9 years ago, I知 25 now, and I still have a lot of pain associated with the pulling of the rods.
For the past few years it hasn稚 been bad. I just chalked up the pain to being a back injury patient, but lately the pain has been interfering with my life. I can稚 sit up very long at my work desk without feeling strained, I cant sleep because I turn every half hour due to stiffness, I cant concentrate because of the pain.
My family doctor always just puts me on a round of anti-inflammatory meds and some vicodin. But now he is suggesting that I might consider having the rods taken out. I was not told this when I got the surgery, but the rods were not meant to be permanent, only semi-permanent. Plus he said I should be able to just rely on the bone fusion to keep my back safe.
I talked to an orthopedic surgeon and he seemed very concerned that I was given Harrington Rods in the first place. As he said, I had my surgery in 2002, a time when Harrington Rods had fallen out of favor for safer methods of fusion.
Just now I知 learning that these things can cause cysts, disk rupture, and the metal can even fail!!! I NEVER was told that!
I知 scared to follow my doctor痴 advice and have them removed, because I知 pretty sure the recovery will be nearly as intensive as when they were put in. But I知 afraid to let them lurk there in my back just waiting to cause problems. Now they feel like a ticking time bomb.
So, my question is, who has had their rods removed completely and gone without any implants, just bone fusion? How was the recovery? Does your back feel better or worse? Is it odd to suddenly have a little more movement in the back, or is it scary to not have that constant support? In spinal patients is it possible to gain more movement and feeling when the weight of the rods are taken off the nerves in the back?
Thank you for your time.
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