Hello friends,
Sorry I have been MIA for quite a while. I was doing so well that I wasn't even thinking about my back. However, I recently found out I have three breaks in my rods!!
Quick background: I was fused T4-S1 in 2012 by Dr. Lawrence Lenke in St. Louis. I had been fine - no complications - until early December. I heard a small pop while slightly bending. Pain didn't start right away. But about 2 weeks later, after I had been lifting some heavy things, I started to be in pain. It has increased significantly each day. Last week I saw my local doc, who took x-rays and found the three breaks in my rods. He said probably they just wore out during the past almost 8 years since my surgery. He prescribed pain meds and a muscle relaxant.
I had a CT to attempt to determine whether I am fully fused, but I don't have the results yet. He suspects I didn't fuse at the levels where the rods broke. (Around L3-L4, just above where I had cages with BMP inserted during my first surgery.)
So, I am starting the work to find out if I need revision surgery and, if so, where. My local doctor did say there is a possibility I won't need revision surgery if I can get the pain under control. I had not heard of people living with broken rods, but I guess that's a thing? Anyway, the fact that I do have pain, and it is getting worse, not better, points toward revision surgery. The doc did say I should wait six weeks, however, before making any decisions. He wants me to do physical therapy during that time. Not sure that is going to work, as I can hardly walk without pain.
Anyway, I am trying to make a plan in case I do need revision surgery. Dr. Lenke is now at Columbia Presbyterian in NY. Dr. Munish Gupta took his place at Washington in St. Louis. Of these two, which do you recommend? It will be harder for me to get to NY, since I live in Indianapolis. (A 4-hour drive to St. Louis, but about 12 hours to NY.) But, I will go to Lenke if he is clearly the better choice. On the other hand, my initial surgery by Lenke has now failed, so hmmm. Does anyone know the scoop on Dr. Gupta? Is he supposed to be a good revision surgeon?
There is also my local doctor, John Dietz at OrthoIndy. I fear he does not do enough adult revision surgeries, even though he is a fantastic guy. Would love your thoughts on these surgeons, as well as the concept of living with broken rods!
Hope everyone is doing well and pain free.
Thanks,
Evelyn (aka Confusedmom)
Sorry I have been MIA for quite a while. I was doing so well that I wasn't even thinking about my back. However, I recently found out I have three breaks in my rods!!
Quick background: I was fused T4-S1 in 2012 by Dr. Lawrence Lenke in St. Louis. I had been fine - no complications - until early December. I heard a small pop while slightly bending. Pain didn't start right away. But about 2 weeks later, after I had been lifting some heavy things, I started to be in pain. It has increased significantly each day. Last week I saw my local doc, who took x-rays and found the three breaks in my rods. He said probably they just wore out during the past almost 8 years since my surgery. He prescribed pain meds and a muscle relaxant.
I had a CT to attempt to determine whether I am fully fused, but I don't have the results yet. He suspects I didn't fuse at the levels where the rods broke. (Around L3-L4, just above where I had cages with BMP inserted during my first surgery.)
So, I am starting the work to find out if I need revision surgery and, if so, where. My local doctor did say there is a possibility I won't need revision surgery if I can get the pain under control. I had not heard of people living with broken rods, but I guess that's a thing? Anyway, the fact that I do have pain, and it is getting worse, not better, points toward revision surgery. The doc did say I should wait six weeks, however, before making any decisions. He wants me to do physical therapy during that time. Not sure that is going to work, as I can hardly walk without pain.
Anyway, I am trying to make a plan in case I do need revision surgery. Dr. Lenke is now at Columbia Presbyterian in NY. Dr. Munish Gupta took his place at Washington in St. Louis. Of these two, which do you recommend? It will be harder for me to get to NY, since I live in Indianapolis. (A 4-hour drive to St. Louis, but about 12 hours to NY.) But, I will go to Lenke if he is clearly the better choice. On the other hand, my initial surgery by Lenke has now failed, so hmmm. Does anyone know the scoop on Dr. Gupta? Is he supposed to be a good revision surgeon?
There is also my local doctor, John Dietz at OrthoIndy. I fear he does not do enough adult revision surgeries, even though he is a fantastic guy. Would love your thoughts on these surgeons, as well as the concept of living with broken rods!
Hope everyone is doing well and pain free.
Thanks,
Evelyn (aka Confusedmom)
Comment