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Harrington Rod Do Over-First Time Post
Hello all, this will be a lengthy post, but I am so blessed to be able to find others that have gone through what I have been going through.
I am a 44 year old single mother who had harrington rod spinal fusion with drummond buttons in 1977 in the thoraic region to the L4. In 1986, had again in the lumbar region to the L4-5 and L5-S1 with asymmetric disc space collapse noted to the right at L4-5. In summer of 2005 I started having sciatic nerve pain and sought the services of a chiropractor. After about 3 months of treatment, I was involved in a rear end collision in Oct 2005. While going through diagnostic treatments, through an MRI a syrinx was discovered in the thoraic region. As the pain continued to develop I tried to just grin and bear it, but lately I have not been able to work a straight week, I am a human resources specialist, and my job is beginning to look at me as a leave abuser because I don't show the great excrutiating pain, but try to grin and bear it. Well due to the need to provide more extensive documentation (my original orthopedic surgeon retired 4 years ago) I sought help from several well know doctors in the DC-Baltimore region, they went through many conservative approaches, epidural injections, etc., but nothing seemed to help with the pain. Well about 2 months ago, I attended a spine and back pain seminar and the doctors there discussed many patients with spinal fusions much like mine. So I made an appointment with one of them and I've had a CT Myleogram, which, while not painful, was scary because I didn't have an epidural because I didn't want anyone sticking things in my back. I have now been scheduled for a discogram, again, not looking forward to it, but we're moving. As a result of the CT results the surgeon has stated that he doesn't think we have to do total rod removal (which was his first instinct) because the thoraic looks solid. He is talking about possibly lenthening the lower rod and fusing.
I'm wondering what will my flexibility be after this surgery. Have others had this, what type of exercise or treatments would you recommend post op and the doctor has also diagnosd flat back syndrome.
I appreciate all of you and the great advice and guidance any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Sorry for the length, but I appreciate having everyone going through the same thing.
I am a 44 year old single mother who had harrington rod spinal fusion with drummond buttons in 1977 in the thoraic region to the L4. In 1986, had again in the lumbar region to the L4-5 and L5-S1 with asymmetric disc space collapse noted to the right at L4-5. In summer of 2005 I started having sciatic nerve pain and sought the services of a chiropractor. After about 3 months of treatment, I was involved in a rear end collision in Oct 2005. While going through diagnostic treatments, through an MRI a syrinx was discovered in the thoraic region. As the pain continued to develop I tried to just grin and bear it, but lately I have not been able to work a straight week, I am a human resources specialist, and my job is beginning to look at me as a leave abuser because I don't show the great excrutiating pain, but try to grin and bear it. Well due to the need to provide more extensive documentation (my original orthopedic surgeon retired 4 years ago) I sought help from several well know doctors in the DC-Baltimore region, they went through many conservative approaches, epidural injections, etc., but nothing seemed to help with the pain. Well about 2 months ago, I attended a spine and back pain seminar and the doctors there discussed many patients with spinal fusions much like mine. So I made an appointment with one of them and I've had a CT Myleogram, which, while not painful, was scary because I didn't have an epidural because I didn't want anyone sticking things in my back. I have now been scheduled for a discogram, again, not looking forward to it, but we're moving. As a result of the CT results the surgeon has stated that he doesn't think we have to do total rod removal (which was his first instinct) because the thoraic looks solid. He is talking about possibly lenthening the lower rod and fusing.
I'm wondering what will my flexibility be after this surgery. Have others had this, what type of exercise or treatments would you recommend post op and the doctor has also diagnosd flat back syndrome.
I appreciate all of you and the great advice and guidance any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Sorry for the length, but I appreciate having everyone going through the same thing.
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