Post-Scoliosis Surgery Back Pain

This is my solution which helps me live a normal life; I hope it helps you: I take an anti-spasm pill (NZ = Norflex) AS soon as I start to feel tight back pain, then having a good night sleep, it cures the problem! I now don't get in "crisis mode" which would see me go from a 1 to a 10 on the pain scale and barely able to function. If that doesn't work, I then have another antispasm pill and anti-inflammatory pill (NZ = naproxen, high dose) until it goes away. Usually a good sleep will correct my back and then it goes back to normal. Things which set me off are lifting and bending so I avoid those as much as possible.

I think you will get pain whether or not you have the surgery. At least if you have the operation it will halt the curvature and you will only have to live with the current level of pain, rather than it getting progressively worse. Having known someone who didn't have the surgery, I thank my lucky stars I had it. If you are in the position to do it, I seriously recommend it.

Sorry I posted this earlier and got the name of the medication wrong, it's "Norflex" the anti spasm medication I take to stop the muscles working themselves into a painful frenzy around the rods.

Please get a new doctor!! You could have a broken rod

buchi2009 wrote:

Guest wrote:

I had two rods put in 11 years ago and have been experiencing a lot of discomfort for the past few years in my lower back, which has now turned into pretty intense pain at some points. My pain is similar to another person's post on here...it feels like something is caught, except mine is at the lower end of the rod where one of my hooks is. The hook sticks out a little and I can hear and feel something grinding on it. It used to be only when i exercised (i played two college sports and had a lot of trouble with pain then) but now it is becoming more constant. It still flares up more intensely when I am active. My surgeon will not see me because I am over 21 (he does pediatrics) and other doctors have no clue what to do with me and keep referring me to other doctors. The last one said maybe i should stop playing sports and being active. I am not the kind of person that can stop being active, it is my life. Anyone have any suggestions. Very frustrated and in pain!!! :cry:

Please see a new doctor! Your rods could be broken

jengut4853 wrote:

buchi2009 wrote:

Guest wrote:

I had two rods put in 11 years ago and have been experiencing a lot of discomfort for the past few years in my lower back, which has now turned into pretty intense pain at some points. My pain is similar to another person's post on here...it feels like something is caught, except mine is at the lower end of the rod where one of my hooks is. The hook sticks out a little and I can hear and feel something grinding on it. It used to be only when i exercised (i played two college sports and had a lot of trouble with pain then) but now it is becoming more constant. It still flares up more intensely when I am active. My surgeon will not see me because I am over 21 (he does pediatrics) and other doctors have no clue what to do with me and keep referring me to other doctors. The last one said maybe i should stop playing sports and being active. I am not the kind of person that can stop being active, it is my life. Anyone have any suggestions. Very frustrated and in pain!!! :cry:

Please see a new doctor! Your rods could be broken

You could ask your primary care doctor to order a CT Scan. I recently went to the 'Spine Center' within a major hospital nearby and the first thing the doctor did was order one for me. All he knows about my back is the X-rays I showed him (pictures I took on my phone) and that I have rods.

It seems that a CT Scan is a good place to start for a new doctor who is trying to get an idea of what is going on.

Btw... the primary care doctor will probably have to set you up with someone to read the 'x-rays' in addition to ordering the scan. When I mentioned the CT scan idea to my primary care, he sent me to the 'Spine Center' and the doctor agreed that that was the best way to start.

I had surgery at age 15 and I am now 37 and in chronic pain.  Not significant enough for me to take any medication for it but the pain is always there.  Some days are worse than others.  I found out in 2009 that my rods are unhinged at the bottom and I'm not sure how much that contributes to the pain I have in my righ hip and lower back but it can't help the situation any.  I also have pain in my neck and shoulders often.  I spent a small fortune on changing out pillows thinking they were the reason I had some much should and neck pain but from reading the stories of others in my situation I see that its common.  Laying flat is the best option.  My current doctor wants to try injections to see if that helps with the pain.  I've been really trying to exercise and lose weight but all core movements are difficult and cause extreme discomfort. I just try to stay hopeful that some amazing person will find a way to relieve this pain and discomfort SOON.

I had the rods put in 10 years ago And now I cant sleep worth a S*** and I hate working9as a cashier) bc it hurts so bad I want to cry.my upper  back feels like someone is cutting it off of my body. please help

 

I to have had many problems, with no docotor believing me.   At one point had to state the I was ready to jump off a bridge, for docotor to listen to me for 5mins!  But still nothing came of it.   I have being doing accupunture with cupping (like a reverse massage-lift the skin up instead of pressing down) for the last few years, and it does seem to the pain a bit.  

I was 12 when I had 2 rods and 12 screws put in my spine to correct Scoliosis. At 14 I was involved in a soccer accident and had a rod bent out of it's place which then knocked the screw out of place. I had all the hardware taken out and had my spine fused with cadaver bone. At age 17 I had to have another surgery to recorrect my Scoliosis. My spine had began to curve again and over the course of 3 years my fusion had broke in 3 places (which the doctor explained to me was like breaking your back in 3 spots over the course of 3 years). It was so painful I had to have another set put back in. I was young and maybe in growing but in my personal opinion it definitely is not worth it!

I have the same problem i talked to my doctor and he said he could take the top rod out if that helps

I posted on here 09/25/11. 3 weeks later I went through a stressful situation and was disabled with pain. My doctor sent me to physical therapy and I did that for a few weeks. I also received cortisone shots in my neck shoulder and wrist.... Pain was spreading everywhere. I finally went back to my doctor and pushed for blood work because it was hard to believe that these rods in my back were causing this intense pain. I told him I thought I had Fibromyalgia or Lupus. after the blood work, I received a call that I was positive for Rheumatoid, an autoimmune disease and needed to see a specialist. Everyone's case is unique but it doesn't hurt to ask to have a panel of blood work done to eliminate things. Things I was earning/drinking was causing joint inflammation. I'm taking vitamins and supplements and take 15 pills a day but glad that I have an answer at last and can learn how to take care of both my scoliosis and this new disease, RA.

Hi, im 17 years old i had Scoliosis Surgery 2 years ago, and i am now starting to get major pains in my back... where my scoliosis was before my surgery... It hurts it feels like i have it all over again.. Went to CVS bought pain meds... but i hate to turn to them.. I graduated in pain.. i couldnt even stand in heels for 50 mins without feeling the constant sharp turning feeling pain sorta like.... Is this my rods??? I hate a bad curve... And now i feel like i have to go back to the MD. Or Orthopedic Doctor. Help??? Is this normal and my body healing... or was the surgery unsuccessful.? 

Did anyone on here find relief. I am one of you. Scoliosis surgery 19 years ago and just now feeling constant pain. I'm waiting on xray results.  I think our parents made the right decision with the information they were given, but I do agree I wish we would have been more educated about the condition. It is more than just a surgery, it effects your life:(

i'm having the same problem and it's becoming unbareable...