After reading all the posts on here, I realize that I'm not being a whimp. I had scolisis surgery in 1979 at 12 years old. I'm 46 now. I have had good results up until 2 years ago. The pain has gotten so much worse. It is hard to get out of bed now and there is never a day without pain. I went to a pain specialist a few weeks ago and they are wanting to perform a Rhizotoomy Ablation. Has anyone else done this and how much does it help? My fear is that my pain isn't just in my lower back where they want to do the procedure; it is also above the rod. Thanks to everyone that has posted here. I makes me feel much less alone. God bless each and every one of you.
Lisa
Hello all, My name is Annette. I had scoliosis surgery when I was 13 in 1995 I am now 32. After the surgery I always noticed my left thigh has always been numb and now that I am 32 that numbness has become a pain. I notice the pain becoming worst everyday and moving into my left butt cheek area. I have also noticed the veins in my left leg are becoming more visible each day. I am scared that this will only get worst each day. Is anyone experiencing these symptoms? Please any words of wisdom would help.
Thank you :)
Hello Everybody!
I came across this website about a year ago and posted about my pain after by back surgery. It has now been 3 and half years since they fixed my scoliosis with 2 harrington rods and 22 screws. I am still in pain everyday, but there are good days and bad... Also, I have found that the pain changes from day to day. Sometimes it is my shoulders, or my ribs, or lower back, or neck or even nerve pain. I keep a Pain Journal, it's just a small notebook I keep in my bag and that way I can track and rate my pain for the day. I break it up to the different areas and types of pain, then rate them all out of 10. I fell that this really helped me manage my pain mentally and that way I could look back and say "today was better than yesterday".
I still use my reverse incline board occasionally, and I have an IFC tens machine, which is an electric massager where there are 2 pads that stick to the area of pain and it sends electric pulses through the muscles not only to relax and massage, but to work them out and make them stronger over time. Hot water still seems to be the best releif, hot showers, baths, and a hot tub once in a while.
As to finding something for exersize; I don't go swimming anymore becuase I am too busy and the gym membership was so expensive, although I know it did help me. I stretch often to keep the muscles in my shoulders moving. I am also going to try Hot Yoga because I have spoken the the director of a studio here and she has so many amazing stories on pre and post surgery people. I think the heat of the room coupled with the active movements will be really great for me. She is fully aware of my back and the pain that I experience and is willing to help me personally. I would recommend anyone that is interested in Hot Yoga to contact one in your city and talk to someone about trying it out, explain everything, I am sure they will be happy to help you.
I don't take painkillers anymore, I slowly stopped taking them and I haven't taken one in over a year. I just didn't like feeling foggy all the time, and I didn't like the long term results that were going to happen if I would have kept taking them. I know that winter and cold is my worst enemy, as I live in Edmonton, Alberta. I deal with the cold for about half the year. When the bars get cold my back gets very tight and sore. I take muscle relaxers to help with the pain, I try to take only one a day and only once I am at home after work. I also invested in a heated jacket. You can buy them at Mark's or Canadian Tire. They are a little pricy but totally worth it. Just do a google search for Milwakee Heated Jackets and I'm sure you'll find them.
That's all I have to offer for now, I hope some of you find this helpful. Also if you have any tips or stories worth sharing, I would be happy to hear from you too.
Thank you for all getting out there are sharing your stories, I am grateful to have found this website where I can talk to people going through the same things as I am.
-Patricia
Hello everyone! I am 46 I had scoliosis surgery when I was 12. My back pain began around the age of 23. I have three grown kids. I have been to the doctors too many times to count. when I go they look at me like I'm drug seeking. Usually the Doctors are very impressed by scar, and tend to forget my pain. I'm currently not taking anything for pain, I usually just lay down and wait for it to get better. I have chronic pain everyday all day, some days worse than others. I haven't been to the doctors in years for the pain, I feel like they think its a joke. The last time I went I believe in 2009 the Doctor said my pain is caused by one leg being shorter than the other and I should wear a lift. I was like what? I have leg pain and numbness now I'm beginning to have neck pain.There has to be some doctor out there that can help us. It's nice to vent and not feel like this pain is all in my head. I hope we all find the help we need.
Amy, im having the same problems right now. im 44yrs I had my fusion done 29yrs ago, it sounds like stenosis to me. Iv got a specialist appointment here in the UK this morning. Will post the outcome... Kelly
I had my first surgery when I was 15 and the rest of my spine fused at 50. I am in so much constant pain. I'm almost at the end of my rope. I can't work and am trying to get financial help. No one understands!! Good Luck to you!
Kcamp62, Did you have the revision surgery? Or did you just have the rest of your spine fused? I am so confused on what to do now. I'm afraid that surgery may not solve the problem, and possibly be worse off. Sorry you are in such turmoil, believe me when I say I understand the way you feel.
Hi Amy! I am curious if you ever found out what was wrong and what was done to fix it, if anything. I am 37 years old and had scoliosis surgery in 1988, when I was 11. I started experiencing those very symptoms you described about a year ago. at first they were minimal and slowly got worse! Now, I have been out of work for a week due to loss of feeling on my left side that comes and goes, weakness that comes and goes, loss of balance and the sharp pains in my joints are horrific!! I am also having severe leg cramps that debilitate me for up to an hour!
Hello Jess. I am sorry you are experiencing so much pain. I'm a Posture Alignment Therapist, certified through Egoscue and have successfully worked with a number of people with spinal fusions and rods. A current client had her rods removed due to unbearable pain and had a second surgery to reinsert rods again. I think you might find it helpful to speak with her about her experience and how she is now experiencing a pain free life. She and I have worked together over the past few months to realign her joints through corrective muscular engagement and restore nearly full function to her body. For the most part she is now pain free and back to doing the things she loves to do. I'm sure she'd be happy to share her experience with you. Just drop me a note and I'll put you in touch with her.
Hello, my name is Dawn and I'm 41. I am fused from T3 -L4, Harrington rod in 1986. The last 4 years have been a nightmare. I'm still working full time and a single mom. I've devoted most of my free time researching and seeing doctors. Here's what's happening to us. Those with Harrington rods, the fusion of the rod never compensated for the natural curve in our spines. Therefore, our discs are deteriorating. I have a shooting pain down my right leg below my knee, that's L4/L5 disc issues. I have shooting pain down my arms and my fingers are constantly tingling, that's cervical disc issues. Headaches and chronic ear infections are also caused by cervical disc issues. google "failed back syndrome" or " flatback syndrome". I was told by an orthopedic surgeon that revision surgery would not help me in anyway. I would need to develop "lifestyle changes." A big factor is weight. The first time in my life I have ever been told to lose weight. Yep, I weigh 105 and I'm 5"1. I need to stay around 100. Stay active, walk everyday, swim, I bought an eliptical. See pain management. Cortisone injections worked at first, now they do nothing but cause me more pain. So now I am taking Tramadol and Amrix daily, bring my heating pad to work, and I should by stock in Icy Hot and Therapudic patches. I try to stay active, but the pain is getting the best of me. My next step is joint facet injections. Good luck to you all, maybe someday we will be pain free
ONE DAY AT A TIME...I would like to share a bit about my story concerning broken Harrington Rods. My name s Chris and I had the rods placed in my back to fuse a couple of bones do to my Spinal Kyphosis. They were put in my back in 1984 one year after I graduated from High School in the Rochester NY area. The hospital was Strong Memorial Hospital and I believe the surgeon was Dr. Lee. They started to brake almost immediately from top to bottom. After the surgery they tried to put me on the Stryker frame to flip me from stomach to back so I would not receive bed sores, but my chest was so large they could not lock down the clamp to flip me, So they decided to place me in a regular bed surrounded by pillows. After the surgeon came to visit me a few times and let me know the surgery went fine, I was never told that the rods would need to come out in about 7-8 years. So to date I still live with the broken rods still inside me. Now I am permanently diabled do mostly from the chronic pain from the broken rods, spinal stenosis and a couple herniated discs. I am now 50 years old and feel like I am 70-80 years old. My days consist of doctors appointments and watching tv, moving from couch to love seat and chairs just to try and get comfortable from the pain. I take heavy types of sleep meds just so I can get about 6 to 8 hours of sleep. The broken rods broke even more and separate in 2005 causing me to lose my business and full time job. The only thing that keeps my going is my Beautiful and loving wife who not only understands my pain but helps me every single day. Without her I'm not sure were I would be right now. I have been to many surgeons and always hear the same thing, the rods have been in there so long the growth around them prevents them from helping my situation. My life is at a stand still, It's pain meds every four hours just to get an hour and a half of relief, wait two and a half more hours and take more meds. I can not even get on the floor and play with my Grand babies. Live is tough and I have to take it one day at a time...
Would you honestly have felt better walking around with a crooked back.
I had my op at 13 I'm now 32 and yes I struggle with ongoing day to day pain but im still thankful to the doctors,nurses and my specialist for helping me out to look normal.
In 2005 I decided I couldn't live with this pain anymore and had one of the best orthopedic surgeons install rods. Brackets. Hardware( I look like a toaster oven)
Today I am in worse pain than I was back before surgery
I had a 62* curve and my specialist said it would improve my quality of life
Yes I wore a brace and did the recommended PT
I HAD THERAPISTS COME TO MY HOME, I did minimal workout at a gym. I feel like I have 2/4's in my Lower back all the time
I've been on every pain med you can think of plus now I am seriously depressed
I take Gabapentin 3x daily just to take the edge off
I don't remember the last time I slept comfortably and that was only because I had a morphine drip
I would never have elected to go through with this
My family and friends are tired of hearing me complain
I am considering asking a pain management Dr to give me some help
I just can't do this anymore
I apologize for this rant but I am so tired of pain
Ps. My dad had MS. So I know what pain is!!!!!