my dad had herring rods put in after he broke his back in 1981. Recently, after getting hurt on the job, he found out that one of the rods is broken. he can not stand for more than 3 minutes, and was told not to lift anything. He can have surgery, however that has a 50/50 chance of causing paralysis from the chest down. HOw common is a herring rod breaking? Should he see another doctor? what can be done other than surgery?