Harrington Rods

[Guest guest]

Welcome! In my situation, (and everyone is different) I had good luck

with a chiropractor doing flexion and distraction for my lower back for

7 years after my first symptoms started. It was not til last spring

that I started hurting more and leaning forward noticeably.

The docs I have spoken to indicate that flatback is a mechanical problem

with a surgical " cure " only, but that does not mean everyone will need

it. Your symptoms may not be bad enough to take a surgical route

without exploring other options.

Some people have all rods removed; some have only enough removed to

allow the doc to realign the spine and fix the flatback. I am sure

others will weigh in on this topic.

lovetoknit2001 wrote:

> Hi,

>

> I just joined this group. I have just recently been diagnosed with

> flatback syndrome, so I've been researching this condition on the

> net, which is how I got here.

>

> I'm wondering, does anyone know if there has been any estimates of

> some kind of percentage of people who have had surgery for scoliosis

> where a harrington rod was used and then needed reconstructive

> surgery? Will everyone eventually have to have their harrington

> rods out? Are alternative therapies been effective in not needing

> surgery (like accupuncture, yoga, etc.)? I realize these don't

> correct the spine, but can they keep pain at bay?

>

> I hope these questions aren't the same ones you've heard before. (I

> tried checking the archives first.) TIA.

>

> Robin

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I knew Dr. Harrington. He did my surgery in Houston in 1967.

There is no way I would ever want to be part of an action to taint

his memory, his great contribution, or the good people who

manufactored the rods I have in my back. I had the best possible care

at the time. That is what matters. Dr. Harrington is not responsible

for possible misapplication of his invention. He did not control who

did the surgery or how well trained they were.

And what of those who had excellent surgeons and still had " bad "

outcomes? No one could predict 20 or 30 years down the road what

would happen. I've survived mumps, chicken pox, measles--both the

German and the " hard " kind, and every other kid disease that there

are now vaccines for. I'm not mad I got sick, I'm just glad my

children and grandchildren can skip all those things.

I'm not angry either that I am having problems with my back after all

these years. I'm just grateful for the good years I had and hopeful

there are other Dr. Harrington's out there striving to make my life

better in the future.

KC

[Guest guest]

Hi Simone - I had double contoured rods put in 3 years ago. My surgeon, on

several occasions, referred to them as Harrington rods. I can't say for sure,

but I think he calls them Harrington's more as a generic term, not

literally......................Kathy

>

> Hola

>

> Hope we are all well, I would like to pick the brains of you clever people, a

question has come up today on my forum regarding Harrington Rods and their use

in today's surgeries, I said they are not used and as far as I was aware they

were taken out of circulation in the 90s, am I wrong?

>

> I would hate to be telling somebody something that was not correct but I knew

that beth would give me a straight answer here

>

> Re the clothes I was discussing with you, I am hoping to launch a website

early next year for howtolookgoodtwisted and I am meeting a company who make

clothes to suit certain disabilities so I am excited about this, I have taken on

board everything that has been said to me about what annoys us twisties and hope

to bring clothes that we know will suit us and make us feel comfortable

>

> I really hope everyone is OK, thanks for your time and look forward to what

you have to say regarding the HR

>

> Simone xx

>

[Guest guest]

This didn't seem to go through the last time I posted it so trying again.

Well in Saint , NB, Canada, they won't do any MRI or CAT scans if you

have a Harrington rod. My doctor has requested one a few times and they just

rejected the request and take X-rays. I have asked them about it several

times and they won't give me an answer other than they won't do it.

Apparently the older the metal the more problems it causes. The newer

materials aren't an issue. The material from the seventies is. So it might

be policy in some places not to do them just in case. Anyway that's what I

have been up against here in New Brunswick for several years.

[Guest guest]

same here so instead of an mri- they did a body scan-with some weird dye.

From: Leger <legerpj@...>Subject: re:Harrington Rods Received: Tuesday, September 21, 2010, 9:15 AM

This didn't seem to go through the last time I posted it so trying again.Well in Saint , NB, Canada, they won't do any MRI or CAT scans if youhave a Harrington rod. My doctor has requested one a few times and they justrejected the request and take X-rays. I have asked them about it severaltimes and they won't give me an answer other than they won't do it.Apparently the older the metal the more problems it causes. The newermaterials aren't an issue. The material from the seventies is. So it mightbe policy in some places not to do them just in case. Anyway that's what Ihave been up against here in New Brunswick for several years.

[Guest guest]

It's not that they can't do an MRI because of your rods, its more likely that

it would be a waste of time...your back jewellery will cause distortion in the

images. If what they need to image is in a portion of the back that is full of

metal instrumentation, the radiologist has probably decided that they would be

further ahead to try something else.

That would be my guess at why they have not used MRI.

>

> This didn't seem to go through the last time I posted it so trying again.

>

> Well in Saint , NB, Canada, they won't do any MRI or CAT scans if you

> have a Harrington rod. My doctor has requested one a few times and they just

> rejected the request and take X-rays. I have asked them about it several

> times and they won't give me an answer other than they won't do it.

> Apparently the older the metal the more problems it causes. The newer

> materials aren't an issue. The material from the seventies is. So it might

> be policy in some places not to do them just in case. Anyway that's what I

> have been up against here in New Brunswick for several years.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I know of two hospitals in Toronto that will not do them

From: Leger <legerpj@...>Subject: re:Harrington Rods Received: Tuesday, September 21, 2010, 4:15 PM

This didn't seem to go through the last time I posted it so trying again.Well in Saint , NB, Canada, they won't do any MRI or CAT scans if youhave a Harrington rod. My doctor has requested one a few times and they justrejected the request and take X-rays. I have asked them about it severaltimes and they won't give me an answer other than they won't do it.Apparently the older the metal the more problems it causes. The newermaterials aren't an issue. The material from the seventies is. So it mightbe policy in some places not to do them just in case. Anyway that's what Ihave been up against here in New Brunswick for several years.

[Guest guest]



Was that a CT Myelogram? That's what I had about a year and a half ago to figure out where my nerves were compressed. My rod still distorted any images near where it is placed. Fortunately, my problem was below the rod so they could diagnose my problem.

re:Harrington Rods Received: Tuesday, September 21, 2010, 9:15 AM

This didn't seem to go through the last time I posted it so trying again.Well in Saint , NB, Canada, they won't do any MRI or CAT scans if youhave a Harrington rod. My doctor has requested one a few times and they justrejected the request and take X-rays. I have asked them about it severaltimes and they won't give me an answer other than they won't do it.Apparently the older the metal the more problems it causes. The newermaterials aren't an issue. The material from the seventies is. So it mightbe policy in some places not to do them just in case. Anyway that's what Ihave been up against here in New Brunswick for several years.