Scoliosis/Pregnancy/ Herring rods placed in spine/Birth

I had herrington rods put in my back at 16years old then my body rejected the rods and caused an infection so they had to be taken out 2 years later. i am now 27 and pregnant with my first child. I am due in 2 weeks. I was wondering if the epidural would be effective. My back is still numb to this day at the surgery site. Just seeing if anyone can relate.

I have had rods in my back since I was 11 years old. They have never been a problem to me. I was told when pregnant with my first that it was not likely that I could have an epidural or if I had it it wouldn't work because of the scar tissue. I went 16 hours naturally but since my water had broken they gave me pitocin to speed up the labor. I finally begged for an epidural and they gave me one. I think I could have gone natural without the pitocin.

The epidural worked pretty well for me. The key was I had my x-rays with me. He said he wouldn't have done it without them. I could still feel some contractions in the top of my belly. On my second baby I brought x-rays again and got the epidural right away. It worked half the time. He kept having to come and give me a booster of the the drugs I guess. It worked every other hour which at least gave me a rest.

I think the key is to bring your x-rays and you can even go for a consultation with the anistegiologists ahead of time to find your options. I have no regrets. I would do whatever it takes to have my two precious girls. I would hate to be knocked out but if that was the only way I would do it. You may not have the normal birth experience with your rods but the most important thing is having a healthy baby.

i had 2 rods placed as well as a full fusion when i was 16 (i believe 2000) i am now 25 and pegnant with my second child. i had my daughter in 03. i couldnt have an epidural, so they gave me iv pain meds. the meds they used slowed my daughters heart rate considerably, and the dr had to get her out immediately. they used forceps, just to find out she was stuck in the birth canal as i am a small person. they knocked me out with horse ketamine (a tranqulizer) and ripped her out in 8 minutes. i was unable to breastfeed her because of the ketamine in my system for days. my current ob has suggested a c section, where i will have to be completely under with general anesthesia. i worry about the risks of this and possibility of breast feeding my son. any advice and opinions would be appreciated.

I have a T rod in my spine, with my first child I was adminstered the epidural without a problem. It worked me over so well, however with the birth of my daughter they tried twice and could'nt find the spot and it was very stressful and painful for me. I suggest as others have said to bring an x-ray if possible you never know. I am pregnant with my third child and hoping for an easier delivery or a c-section.

So happy to find this site...I am 27 and had the rods put in when i was 15 and again when i was 16 so i have rods on either side of my spine. Dh and I are TTC but am very nervous. So wonderful to read everyone's experiences and i will make sure i take an xray to my first doctor visit and to the birth. ThanksXX

Hello,

I am 25 years old and have been married for 3 years. I am wanting to have a baby but am extremely nervous and scared to do so. I have had 12 back surgeries and have 2 metal herrington rods in my back. I am 4ft 9in tall and have major back pain daily. For one thing, I weigh 147 lbs. and need to lose some weight. My husband and I are wanting children someday soon. I was wondering if anyone has had a doctor previously tell them that after 30 yrs old that it would be more difficult to have children. I am concerned that as I get older that it will be more difficult. My husband is afraid that he may lose me in this process. My doctor currently tells me that I will not be able to have an epideral and that I will have to have a c-section. That is fine with me. I want children! How much longer is safe to weight? Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Stephanie

I had my surgery in 1993 when I was 13 years old. It's been 17 years and I still have my Herrington Rods but I've been reading statsitics about the spine returning to it's old curve [post-surgery] over a matter of years or the rods breaking in half. I am not pregnant but I was wondering about those of you who had your rods removed. Did you have to replace them or is your spine strong enough to support itself? How do you keep your spine from curving again?

i am also trying to find out any info i can on scoliosis and pregnancy epidurals. i've had harrington rods since 97 when i was 11 years old. when i was pregnant with my first child in 2003 i automatically knew i would want an epidural and asked my obgyn what the procedure was because i had the rods. she told me to consult with the anesthegiologist a month before my due date. i did so and took copies of my xrays after the rods were placed with me. he examined me and my xrays and marked the spot where i was to get the epidural. during labor the epidural was put in with no complications at all. i was pregnant again with my second child in 2008. i told my new obgyn at that time that i needed to see the anesthegiologist before birth but she told me he said he did not need to see me (of course it was not the same anesthegiologist from the prev time). when i went into labor with my second child they attempted 4 times to give me the epidural and each time i lost the feeling in my legs and was in extreme paid before they even had a chance to inject the fluid. they said they were hitting a nerve. i ended up delivering naturally in even more pain because of so much trauma to my back at that time. not only that, i was forced to try so many times because the ob who was going to deliver my baby told me that my contractions were slowing down so if i did not get the epidural to help speed up delivery she would have to discharge me and send me home and let the labor progress on its own. at that time i was 5 1/2 cm dilated and had already had that large needle stuck in my back 2x and was in severe pain and did not want to go home in that condition especially with the fear that i was so far dilated that i may not even make it back to the hospital to deliver. it has now been 15 months since i delivered and i still experience severe headaches and i lose the feeling in my right leg spiratically and it has even caused me to fall down the steps and get a concussion and get in a car accident (luckily i was only parking at the time). i plan on seeing a specialist to get evaluated just to make sure i dont have an infection or any type of severe nerve damage. but if anybody finds any info on procedures that need to be followed for a person in that situation during childbirth please share that info because i plan on filing a lawsuit against that hospital for doing this to me. thank you

I am 8 months pregnant. My doctor told me that 90-percent of patients with the herrington rod are still able to get epidurals. I just called my spinal surgeons office and learned that my curve was from T-2 down to L-3. I also had my rods removed. I may not know for sure whether or not I will be able to undergo an epidural. But, at least there is some hope.

Also- for those thinking of carrying a child... I have no abnormal back pain. My curve, at its worst, was 74 degrees. The surgeon wasn't able to correct it all and it is still around 30-40 degreese curved. The only pain I've had is in my lower back and in my ribs, where the baby enjoys being.

I wouldn't tell anyone who had scoleosis surgery not to have children. It is something that everyone should be enouraged to do (if so desired)... Good luck!

I too have had harrington rods "inserted" back when I was 11 years old. I am currently 6 and a half months pregnant, due April 14th. I've research this topic as extensively as possible considering that there is little information out there. As per the British and Canadian Journals of Anesthesia, administration of epidurals in patients who have had spinal augmentation is not an exact science. Depending on where a person's particular rods and/or fusion is, will in part determine if she can or cannot have an epidural. You must speak with the anesthesiologist at the hospital where you will deliver before-hand if you wish to have an epidural. He or she will need to see your operative report and possibly your x-rays from the procedure. This will tell him or her exactly where an epidural can be placed. If it can be placed. Caution: due to internal and external scarring from surgery, an epidural may not be fully successful. First, it may take several attempts to correctly insert the epidural. Second, the scarring may partially or even completely block the pain medication of the epidural, leaving you with very little or no pain relief. This will vary from individual to individual. A spinal on the other hand is administered slightly deeper and will therefore (once in place) provide you with pain relief as it would in any other patient. It is for these reasons that I have personally chosen to have a spinal and a c-section. I hope this bit of information has helped :-)

I also have harrington rods since i was 13, I am now 29 and just had my first baby. I was told by my back surgeon that I would be able to receive an epidural...I met with the anesthesiologist a few weeks before my due date and showed him my xrays and he also confirmed I would be able to get an epidural but that it would be difficult...When the big day came, it took THREE anesthesiologist to try and give me an epidural with no luck :-( I was extreeeeemley scared and nervous as the contractions got worse, but i made it and had a beautiful healthy 9 lbs 8 ounces baby boy! If I would of known i wouldn't be able to get an epirdual i wouldn't even let the doctors try because for a few days after birth my back bothered me alot in the spots where they tried to do the epidural. I also kept running fevers do to an infection that the doctors couldn't figure out from where...While pregnant I read alot of posts similiar to these saying women got epidurals with a spinal fusion and had no complications...to this day i don't know if infact it was my fusion that didn't allow the doctors to perform the epidural or maybe i didn't find the right anesthesiologist to perform it. They did say i had alot of scar tissue and there's very very little room between the 2 discs that aren't fused. So for any women out there that are pregnant, stay calm do your research but keep an open mind...and take lamaze classes...i had a feeling something like this would happen so I took a birthing class and learned some breathing techniques which helped me alot during birth.

I have a form of Harrington rods that were placed into my back when I was 16 (back in 1986). I have two wonderful children. The first was born a 8.5 lbs and was delivered after 3 attempts to get an epidural (14 hours of hard labor) I had given up hope but prayed that the second child would be a better birth and it was. I went to the hospital and immediately asked for an epidural and it took the first time. I have experienced both natural child birth and those with a epidural. It sure was a wonderful experience both ways so I'll take it PAIN free if I had to do it a third time. You get more time to spend contemplating your impending birth instead of being in complete pain. Just my opinion. My children are now 11 and 13 and I never thought I'd have problems with childbirth.

Just curious. i have spinal fusion when i was 15 years old. now im 20 and was wondering can i get pregnant and have natural childbirth??
please help me out if anyone knows?????

I had scoliosis surgery 13 years ago and one of my rods became defused about 8 years ago. I have had 2 children and without epidurals they were afraid to give me one. i had both of my boys natural with little shot of pain medication

So i am worried about this: i dont know for sure if i HAVE 2 have this surgery but it's a pretty good chance.. if I have the metal rods in my back will I HAVE to have a c-section?? How does it affect the child?? I'm only a teen and I'm not planning on getting pregnant till AFTER marriage.(Because it's against The Holy Bible 2 have sex before marriage) but what I am wondering is "Has any woman had any problems giving birth, birth-deffects, or had any problems with their child AFTER the sergery?????" I just want to take pre-cautions because I want to be able to have kids when I grow up after God Willing I get married and was wondering.. Can any woman help me?? this is scarying me because I've always wanted kids after marriage and I just want some answers from women who have experience.. Can any1 help????? Again: "Did you HAVE to have A c-section, is there ANY birth defects, any Health problems of any type wrong with the baby, and what is everything I need to know that happens *during and *after the surgery??* Any answers will be GREATLY appreated Thank God for you ALL!! and May God Bless!! *Bible&Prayers!* I'll read the comments as soon as I can.. Please help.. ?

--Scared Teen %-)