At 12 I had the harrington rods put in for scoliosis. Never really had much back pain until last November. Now at age 30 my low back hurts. It is extremely painful to sit, stand, lie down. The pain is in my low back, buttocks, and hips. I can't imagine going through life in this much pain.
I have had a MRI and was told the level right below my rods is severely degenerated. I am going for another MRI to look at the 2 levels below that. I am having at least one surgery in April in which the doctor will take out my rod and replace with screws of some sort. I am also getting the level immediately below my rods fused. Depending on the MRI results I may be fused all the way down to the sacrum. Then I will have the second surgery a week later which is the anterior fusion.
My doctor is Keith Bridwell in St. Louis. I have been hearing terrific things about him and that he is a great revision surgeon. I am still scared though because I have not seen anyone post anything that said this surgery significantly reduced their pain. I was told I have an 85% chance this will work.
Has anyone had these surgeries done?
Did it work? How long did it take to see a difference?
How long were you out of work? (I do a sit down job but am concerned about the recovery)
Like I said I have faith in Dr. Bridwell and feel he would not recommend this surgery if it would not have a good chance of working, but I am terrified at this point.
If anyone has any experience with this please let me know.
Thanks,
Sydney
I have had a MRI and was told the level right below my rods is severely degenerated. I am going for another MRI to look at the 2 levels below that. I am having at least one surgery in April in which the doctor will take out my rod and replace with screws of some sort. I am also getting the level immediately below my rods fused. Depending on the MRI results I may be fused all the way down to the sacrum. Then I will have the second surgery a week later which is the anterior fusion.
My doctor is Keith Bridwell in St. Louis. I have been hearing terrific things about him and that he is a great revision surgeon. I am still scared though because I have not seen anyone post anything that said this surgery significantly reduced their pain. I was told I have an 85% chance this will work.
Has anyone had these surgeries done?
Did it work? How long did it take to see a difference?
How long were you out of work? (I do a sit down job but am concerned about the recovery)
Like I said I have faith in Dr. Bridwell and feel he would not recommend this surgery if it would not have a good chance of working, but I am terrified at this point.
If anyone has any experience with this please let me know.
Thanks,
Sydney
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