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  • Infected hardware info/help for those who have dealt with it?

    Hi all--
    I'm not on here much anymore as I will be 5 years in March. Now I have a question which I'm not sure is surgically related but thought I'd ask. I've been having a terrible lower backache mostly on the left side for quite a while which seemed to wrap around to stomach area. I really had thought it was just a temporary thing where my back was just off and it would go away. The last week and a half got too bad and finally I went to doctor yesterday. Been through tons of tests. They have as today found 2 markers of infection--sedimentation rate was 97 (should be 0-20) and C-Reactive Protein was 5.2 (should be .1-1.0) I noticed 4 years ago a few months after surgery my report showed it was 40 and 1.3 respectively which is also high if that means anything. Doctor said we need to find where infection is coming from. Some not so good things that could cause it of course--also hardware infection. I've had very mild fevers and I see no redness on the scar.
    They can't get me in for MRI and another "nuclear-type" test until next Tues/Wed. & she had wanted it today or tomorrow so I have way to much time to think about this.
    ?'s--MRI's are OK with the hardware? I sent the doctor all the kinds of metal-- titanium cages, stainless steel everything else.
    --if you had hardware infection was the Sed rate and CRP elevated?
    Thanks for any info. Just realized I should have put this on Revision! Janet
    Janet

    61 years old--57 for surgery

    Diagnosed in 1965 at age of 13--no brace
    Thoracic Curve: 96 degrees to 35 degrees
    Lumbar Curve: 63 degrees to 5 degrees
    Surgery with Dr. Lenke in St. Louis--March 30, 2009
    T-2 to Pelvis, and hopefully all posterior procedure.

    All was posterior along with 2 cages and 6 osteotomies.

  • #2
    Originally posted by Doodles View Post
    Hi all--
    I'm not on here much anymore as I will be 5 years in March. Now I have a question which I'm not sure is surgically related but thought I'd ask. I've been having a terrible lower backache mostly on the left side for quite a while which seemed to wrap around to stomach area. I really had thought it was just a temporary thing where my back was just off and it would go away. The last week and a half got too bad and finally I went to doctor yesterday. Been through tons of tests. They have as today found 2 markers of infection--sedimentation rate was 97 (should be 0-20) and C-Reactive Protein was 5.2 (should be .1-1.0) I noticed 4 years ago a few months after surgery my report showed it was 40 and 1.3 respectively which is also high if that means anything. Doctor said we need to find where infection is coming from. Some not so good things that could cause it of course--also hardware infection. I've had very mild fevers and I see no redness on the scar.
    They can't get me in for MRI and another "nuclear-type" test until next Tues/Wed. & she had wanted it today or tomorrow so I have way to much time to think about this.
    ?'s--MRI's are OK with the hardware? I sent the doctor all the kinds of metal-- titanium cages, stainless steel everything else.
    --if you had hardware infection was the Sed rate and CRP elevated?
    Thanks for any info. Just realized I should have put this on Revision! Janet
    Hi Janet, I'm so sorry to hear about this set back. You were doing so well too. I take it they did blood tests four months out from surgery and found elevated readings then? What was said/done about it at the time? Any follow up blood tests? What was the reason they did the blood test at four months - were you having any symptoms then?

    I'm sure the mri will reveal where the problem is, shame you have to wait and suffer the next week, for it.

    I had a cardiac mri and was told he could read it perfectly. I think the new mri machines are ok with titanium rods.

    I hope someone here with experience of infections can help settle the anxiety a bit. Thinking of you. Best of luck, Janet.
    Jen
    Surgery March 3, 2009 at almost 58, now 63.
    Dr. Askin, Brisbane, Australia
    T4-Pelvis, Posterior only
    Osteotomies and Laminectomies
    Was 68 degrees, now 22 and pain free

    Comment


    • #3
      Jennifer--
      Thanks for your info and kind words. You have been so great about always staying with folks on here and encouraging and providing help! I looked at the copies of my tests again and for these 2 "markers"--Sed Rate and CRP-- previously just said "4 years ago". Had no idea about those until looked at these copies. They were probably taken when I had a bunch of other tests one month after and also 4 months after surgery. At one month they were testing for hemoglobin, platelets, etc. --5 of which were very low. I had such low blood pressure, etc. they were ready to hospitalize me and give me another transfusion. They actually didn't. I was so out of it, I barely remember. The other tests never came up to my knowledge.
      Glad to hear your MRI was not difficult to do with hardware. Actually only my 2 "cages" are titanium. The rest of my hardware is stainless steel. This might be totally unrelated to hardware. There are so many other infectious diseases, etc. etc. that it could be--Oh, great. Between doctor and Google it has me pretty nervous. Google was not my friend! Ha. Thanks. Janet
      Janet

      61 years old--57 for surgery

      Diagnosed in 1965 at age of 13--no brace
      Thoracic Curve: 96 degrees to 35 degrees
      Lumbar Curve: 63 degrees to 5 degrees
      Surgery with Dr. Lenke in St. Louis--March 30, 2009
      T-2 to Pelvis, and hopefully all posterior procedure.

      All was posterior along with 2 cages and 6 osteotomies.

      Comment


      • #4
        Hi Janet, I wonder if anybody else here, with stainless steel rods, has had a MRI. Hopefully you'll get some answers. I know Google is not always helpful when searching for medical answers.

        It could be that your results at one month out have nothing to do with your current results, considering it's 4.5 years later but I know the possibility is very worrying. Hopefully Linda might have some information on the likelihood of this.

        I hope this week goes by quickly. As we both know, the waiting is the worst. This time next week you should have your answers. Then you can deal with whatever it is. Meantime, hopefully someone with experience of this will see your thread and offer some information.

        Thinking of you and best of luck!
        Surgery March 3, 2009 at almost 58, now 63.
        Dr. Askin, Brisbane, Australia
        T4-Pelvis, Posterior only
        Osteotomies and Laminectomies
        Was 68 degrees, now 22 and pain free

        Comment


        • #5
          Hi Janet,
          I had a very high Sed rate also when blood work was done. It was later linked to on going inflamation but not infection. I am sure that doesn't help too much. Even though my surgery is almost 5 years old, I still go through periods of cold and then sweat. I am looking at low blood sugar causes now and trying to keep it steady--not spiking up and down.
          Good luck with your tests--let us know.
          Jackie
          T10-pelvis fusion 12/08
          C5,6,7 fusion 9/10
          T2--T10 fusion 2/11
          C 4-5 fusion 11/14
          Right scapulectomy 6/15
          Right pectoralis major muscle transfer to scapula
          To replace the action of Serratus Anterior muscle 3/16
          Broken neck 9/28/2018
          Emergency surgery posterior fusion C4- T3
          Repeated 11/2018 because rods pulled apart added T2 fusion
          Removal of partial right thoracic hardware 1/2020
          Removal and replacement of C4-T10 hardware with C7 and T 1
          Osteotomy

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by JenniferG View Post
            Hi Janet, I wonder if anybody else here, with stainless steel rods, has had a MRI. Hopefully you'll get some answers. I know Google is not always helpful when searching for medical answers.

            It could be that your results at one month out have nothing to do with your current results, considering it's 4.5 years later but I know the possibility is very worrying. Hopefully Linda might have some information on the likelihood of this.

            I hope this week goes by quickly. As we both know, the waiting is the worst. This time next week you should have your answers. Then you can deal with whatever it is. Meantime, hopefully someone with experience of this will see your thread and offer some information.

            Thinking of you and best of luck!
            I had an MRI several months ago and it was totally worthless. I have stainless steel rods and screws. Are there different MRI machines out there that will give a good picture even if you have stainless steel rods???
            Sally
            Diagnosed with severe lumbar scoliosis at age 65.
            Posterior Fusion L2-S1 on 12/4/2007. age 67
            Anterior Fusion L3-L4,L4-L5,L5-S1 on 12/19/2007
            Additional bone removed to decompress right side of L3-L4 & L4-L5 on 4/19/2010
            New England Baptist Hospital, Boston, MA
            Dr. Frank F. Rands735.photobucket.com/albums/ww360/butterflyfive/

            "In God We Trust" Happy moments, praise God. Difficult moments, seek God. Quiet moments, worship God. Painful moments, trust God. Every moment, thank God.

            Comment


            • #7
              stainless steel does create more artifact and noise compared to titanium, but you can still be imaged safely.

              As far as I know MRI technician can compensate for the extra artifact and noise somewhat -- but they have to know what scanning sequence to use in order to do so.
              30 something y.o.

              2003 - T45, L???
              2005 - T50, L31
              bunch of measurements between...

              2011 - T60, L32
              2013 - T68, L?

              Posterior Fusion Sept 2014 -- T3 - L3
              Post - op curve ~35


              Comment


              • #8
                Well, I wasted $175.00 copayment. Dr. Hey wanted to see what was going on at L1-L2 and you couldn't see a thing. I am fused from L2-S1.
                Sally
                Diagnosed with severe lumbar scoliosis at age 65.
                Posterior Fusion L2-S1 on 12/4/2007. age 67
                Anterior Fusion L3-L4,L4-L5,L5-S1 on 12/19/2007
                Additional bone removed to decompress right side of L3-L4 & L4-L5 on 4/19/2010
                New England Baptist Hospital, Boston, MA
                Dr. Frank F. Rands735.photobucket.com/albums/ww360/butterflyfive/

                "In God We Trust" Happy moments, praise God. Difficult moments, seek God. Quiet moments, worship God. Painful moments, trust God. Every moment, thank God.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Thanks everyone for info. My MRI has been on, off, and on again. I did get surgery notes and info from Dr. Lenke. He said do MRI with and then w/o contrast and that it may be hard to tell much around hardware. That one's not until next Thurs. The "nuclear" one is called Indium test. It's a 3 part test. I'd never heard of before. It's supposed to "light up" where infection is. Yesterday doctor said probably not a hardware issue or I'd be much sicker. That is probably true. Janet
                  Janet

                  61 years old--57 for surgery

                  Diagnosed in 1965 at age of 13--no brace
                  Thoracic Curve: 96 degrees to 35 degrees
                  Lumbar Curve: 63 degrees to 5 degrees
                  Surgery with Dr. Lenke in St. Louis--March 30, 2009
                  T-2 to Pelvis, and hopefully all posterior procedure.

                  All was posterior along with 2 cages and 6 osteotomies.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Oh, Janet, I hope it's not a hardware issue. Infections are not fun to deal with, but I was relieved to read that doctor thinks it's not coming from the hardware. Keep us posted, please!
                    I am stronger than scoliosis, and won't let it rule my life!
                    45 years old - diagnosed at age 7
                    A/P surgery on March 5/7, 2013 - UCSF

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Janet,
                      Be sure to let us know what you find out. I hope everything can be resolved quickly.
                      Karen

                      Surgery-Jan. 5, 2011-Dr. Lenke
                      Fusion T-4-sacrum-2 cages/5 osteotomies
                      70 degree thoracolumbar corrected to 25
                      Rib Hump-GONE!
                      Age-60 at the time of surgery
                      Now 66
                      Avid Golfer & Tap Dancer
                      Retired Kdgn. Teacher

                      See photobucket link for:
                      Video of my 1st Day of Golf Post-Op-3/02/12-Bradenton, FL
                      Before and After Picture of back 1/7/11
                      tap dancing picture at 10 mos. post op 11/11/11-I'm the one on the right.
                      http://s1119.photobucket.com/albums/k630/pottoff2/

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        I had the 'nuclear' test for infection which was a long day at the hospital. First they take some of your blood then you have to go away while they mix some of the cells with the nuclear substance which after a couple of hours you have it injected into you, go away for another couple of hours then have the scan which was about an hour long. I was lucky and nothing showed up.

                        Hope all goes well for you.
                        Fused T2-L4 with costoplasty on 3/11/10

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Oh dear, Janet. Keep us posted. I hope it turns out to just be a UTI that you can treat with antibiotics and get feeling better ASAP! Thinking of you.

                          Evelyn
                          age 48
                          80* thoracolumbar; 40* thoracic
                          Reduced to ~16* thoracolumbar; ~0* thoracic
                          Surgery 3/14/12 with Dr. Lenke in St. Louis, T4 to S1 with pelvic fixation
                          Broken rods 12/1/19; scheduled for revision fusion L1-L3-4 with Dr. Lenke 2/4/2020
                          Not "confused" anymore, but don't know how to change my username.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Thanks again for above info. Bluestone, my first 2 parts of nuclear tests are tomorrow and they actually do the scan Wed. morning. Glad to hear yours was negative. And yes, UTI with some antibiotics is sounding like a great thing right now! Still dealing with pain so pain pills on a constant basis. Thought I was done with that! Janet
                            Janet

                            61 years old--57 for surgery

                            Diagnosed in 1965 at age of 13--no brace
                            Thoracic Curve: 96 degrees to 35 degrees
                            Lumbar Curve: 63 degrees to 5 degrees
                            Surgery with Dr. Lenke in St. Louis--March 30, 2009
                            T-2 to Pelvis, and hopefully all posterior procedure.

                            All was posterior along with 2 cages and 6 osteotomies.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Whewww...much better news. Very relieved after what all they were looking for. The nuclear bone scan and idium scan were OK. No infection in spine or other tumors, etc. etc. Saw degenerative vertebrae at T12. Otherwise, will just retake the 2 "infection" marker tests in 2 weeks and see.

                              The MRI like Sally said was a bust. They stopped after a bit and said it was all black. I think they are so sensitive now it's pretty impossible. Janet
                              Janet

                              61 years old--57 for surgery

                              Diagnosed in 1965 at age of 13--no brace
                              Thoracic Curve: 96 degrees to 35 degrees
                              Lumbar Curve: 63 degrees to 5 degrees
                              Surgery with Dr. Lenke in St. Louis--March 30, 2009
                              T-2 to Pelvis, and hopefully all posterior procedure.

                              All was posterior along with 2 cages and 6 osteotomies.

                              Comment

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