Scoliosis Surgery: Broken Titanium Rods

Hy is there any way to get rid of pimple and pimple...

I have roto scoliosis waited till the age or 40 to have rods placed the full length of my spine. I broke both of them rolling up a car window. Replaced in a 13 hour surgery only to break again. now wear turtle shell brace not allowing them to be replaced again. they did to much damage the first time they tookthe broken ones out. Deal with a lot of pain
titilltheythedon'break. with out them breaking

I am so sorry...I cannot imagine going through this again.I had no choice, one of my rods was ready to poke through the skin..Sending you the best of wishes...

Hi, I had surgery on my lumbar section when I was 57 years old. That was in 2005 and then I had surgery again in 2006 because I had a broken rod and nerve damage. Now here it is 2017 and I hurt everyday and night. Might average 3 hours of sleep a night. Some nights no sleep at all. It has been twelve years of constant pain. I was told now that I I have another broken rod and more nerve damage. I am at a loss of what to do. I know it needs to be fixed, but hate to go thru surgery again. Any suggestions on what might help?

I know how you feel..Oh my, I cried every day once I knew I had to have surgery again. I had no clue they could break....Many leave the broken hardware in if it does not pose a serious problem. We know the risk with each new surgery. You and your surgeon need to make this decision. Mine was ready to poke through the skin I had no choice. If your surgeon and you decide it can stay all I suggest is a good pain management doctor. I have been seeing the same one about 12 years. Pain meds are no fun, I know, Todays world makes it so difficult for legit pain patients. Only we understand this life, and how we miss out on so much of living. Think on what the surgeon tells you & what you want from life...I have read posts where a patient had 3 revisions and she was an RN. She wished she never did the 1st one. Best Wishes..Please update on your progress..

I was 66 when I had spine surgery due to scoliosis. There are rids and screws from L4 to T10. I've had pain ever since. Doc said I have some broken rods and loose screws. My pain is off the chart now. I am 70 years old and don't know if I could survive a repair surgery. I am in a Butran patch, 15mg, which doesnt help the spine pain. My pain clinic wants me off of opiates due to the government crack down of them. Norco and Percocet are the only things that help. However, I'm not suppose to have them now. Thank you, government. I don't imagine the law makers know this kind of pain.

If surgery is NOT an option pain management is all you have, If your not with a Pain Management Clinic (doctor) get with one, PCP 'S are where you will find the issues with these meds. If your are with a pain management office and still having problems, I'd recommend a NEW office. I am mid 50's and see mine ever 4 weeks for my meds. I have been going 12 years and will for life.. NO WAY can people like us function with out these meds. The blame is with the people who abuse them. We as pain patients must never share them, and keep the locked up from others. I wish you the best of luck..DO not accept pain and give up on living...

how was the recovery from the surgery where they took ur rods and screws out? i have t5-t12 and its hurt like a b***h for 11 years. cant take it anymore, but idk if id survive another experience like the initial fusion surgery. I have a broken screw and my surgeon says we should leave it be. 50/50 chance of it being better after another procedure.

Hi Seattlebee - not sure if you're still on this post but I would love to know more about the issues you had with your fusion. My story is very similar to yours in that having the rods removed in 2008 gave me huge relief (original Harrington Rod surgery and fusion in 1988) but I've since found out my curvature is progressing. Did you encounter a similar issue? Thanks, Tania

I had a spinal fusion S1, L5 & L4 in 2002. I have had increasing pain in the last couple years. I recently had a MRI and the result was alarming. My left rod is broken into. The break is not near the screws. I am having ablation injection end of next mo to possibly help alleviate some of the hip pain. My Neurologist was quite shocked as well. Titanium isn't suppose to break. His advice there are 3 different types of surgery, go thru the back again -remove the whole fusion and start again and now since the vertebra above the fusion is (of course) needs to be addressed/included in next surgery as well. Or there are two new types of spinal surgery where they go thru the side. Neurologist told me the ablations won't hurt and could possibly help but won't stop the sever pain in the spine, knee nor in the groin areas. At this point I can't possibly be laid up for 7+ months recovery. I am a car taker for my 90 yr old father who lives with me. Praying the ablation injections will give me enough relief to sleep. My concern is by being age 66 am I doing additional damage on my spine? If I stall, what type of difficulty could I have later? I certainly do not want to end up with floppy foot syndrome. My Surgeon was the very best outside of Chicago and I do not blame him at all. I am still trying to understand why the titanium broke. Should I talk to someone abt recalls or just forget about it? Someone posted many yrs ago on your site to contact atty. What do you think?The surgeon no longer has any of my medical surgery records. I have made calls to records dept. at the Hospital where surgery was performed - No luck yet on getting my records. Side note: Please warn others that on any major surgeries they have had done, to keep full copies for themselves on Everything. If you have any suggestions or advice I am all ears.
Thank You

I had a broken rod for five years before deciding on my second child (it broke during birth of my first.) I handled it quite well. I did not work during my pregnancy so i was able to rest when I needed. I had her via c-section while under general because we cannot have epidurals. I was advised again not to have any more children so i had had a tubal. It can be done.

Mine broken 14 years ago in the L2-L3 region. I have some bad days here and there but I get a cortisone/steroid shot here and there as well to help. Only in the last year has it progressed. I am looking at heating the nerves to stop pain. My surgeon does not believe surgery would help and advises against it.

I have one broken rod L4-5 area. Just recently started having bad pain with it. Like you, very tender to touch. Pinching, itching, stabbing pain that can't be touched. Driving me crazy. I have appt next week for x-rays. I am 64 and fused from T-3 thru S1 or 2. I have horrible pain in my sacrum but the surgery has been a true blessing. I had rotating scoliosis and now I'm not wearing myself out trying to hold myself up straight. But this one little broken rod....hurts like hell, lol!

Lol...I waited until the age of 62 to fix mine. Sooo blessed to have it done. Feels good and feels bad at the same time, haha. Guess we will always have pain. Surgery stabilized the spine but still hurts in lower back with leg numbness. Pain medication helps but I'm so afraid of addiction that I don't ask for any increase or change. I'm afraid the government will cut me off completely.

Hi. Had. Surgery in. The. 70s. Now. The. Harrington rod. Is. Broken. I. Can't. Walk. Stand. Sit. Or. Do. Things. Without. Pain. In. Legs. My. Back. Feels. So. Heavy. And. Can't. Stans. Straight. I'm. Scared. Too. Don't. Know. What. To. Do.