Re: Pam's Post #2

[Guest guest]

Hi Pam

First and foremost sorry to hear you are in pain and I do hope that you find a

solution that leads to a happier life for you.

I too am having pains from my Harrington Rod operation 13 years ago. I am also

thinking of starting a family and I am very scared what pain I can expect to

have during pregnancy and of course birth, I also worry how I will manage when

the baby arrives, all the carrying and bending etc.

Do you think I should have cause for concern or just being a little too

cautious?

Once again I wish you all the best and hope you find a solution

Best Wishes

Simone

Pam's Post #2

Hi,

I am a new member. I had my HR in 1975, fused from T5

to L3. Did fine

until I had my second child in 1986. After that I had

a lot of

backaches related to being on my feet too long or

sitting in bad chairs.I had

a 3rd child in 1992, last 3 months of pregnancy I

couldn't even walk.

No one ever warned me about having children. In fact

the literature

I've read says there's not correlation.

I don't agree. I'm a part-time librarian so have done

a lot of

research on the subject this past year. Over the

years I've learned to

manage, never related my backaches to my fusion

surgery (until I started

researching this past year).

Anyways, in June, 2003, I was in a minor car accident,

and have been

miserable ever since. I've been thru several dr's,

none of whom know

what to do with me.

My 2 discs below my fusion are pressing on my spinal

cord due to

weakening of my lower back from my fusion. I have a

lot of sciatica pain

down my right leg, numbness and tingling in both my

calves and feet, and

back pain. Currently I can take no medication,

because I am having a

lot of stomach trouble, probably due to all the years

of taking NSAID's.

I also have a lot of neck trouble, with tingling and

numbness in my

arms and hand. I have recently developed severe pain

every time I stand

up, but have not noticed any leaning forward. I live

in Toledo, OH. I

recently went to an ortho in Cleveland who told me I

wasn't bad enough

for surgery yet, and that I should try Neurontin, and

epidural steroid

injections.

I had tried Neurontin in the past, but it gave me bad

hot flashes. He

said my backmade him nervous, because what he saw on

the CT scan wasn't

as bad as symptoms I'm having. I used to walk 3 miles

a day, now I

limit my walking, and work out in pool instead. I

stay off my feet as

much as possible. Although lately sitting and laying

down seem to give me

just as much numbness. No one has ever mentioned the

word flatback to

me, so it is very interesting reading your posts.

Pam

Support for scoliosis-surgery veterans with Harrington Rod Malalignment

Syndrome. Not medical advice. Group does not control ads or endorse any

advertised products.

[Guest guest]

Everyone is different, but for the most part I felt BETTER when I was

pregnant, except when the baby or babies gained a lot of weight

suddenly. I did take a few Darvocet here and there during my

pregnancies and had a couple of days where I missed work, but overall it

was not a huge problem for me. As i said before, the epidural and

spinals were not a problem either, once the anesthesiologist looked at

my films and knew where to place the needle (which is tiny and not worth

getting worked up about, in my opinion!)

Disclaimer***** Everyone different, etc etc

Nutty wrote:

>Hi Pam

>

>First and foremost sorry to hear you are in pain and I do hope that you find a

solution that leads to a happier life for you.

>

>I too am having pains from my Harrington Rod operation 13 years ago. I am also

thinking of starting a family and I am very scared what pain I can expect to

have during pregnancy and of course birth, I also worry how I will manage when

the baby arrives, all the carrying and bending etc.

>

>Do you think I should have cause for concern or just being a little too

cautious?

>

>Once again I wish you all the best and hope you find a solution

>

>Best Wishes

>

>Simone

> Pam's Post #2

>

>

>

> Hi,

> I am a new member. I had my HR in 1975, fused from T5

> to L3. Did fine

> until I had my second child in 1986. After that I had

> a lot of

> backaches related to being on my feet too long or

> sitting in bad chairs.I had

> a 3rd child in 1992, last 3 months of pregnancy I

> couldn't even walk.

> No one ever warned me about having children. In fact

> the literature

> I've read says there's not correlation.

> I don't agree. I'm a part-time librarian so have done

> a lot of

> research on the subject this past year. Over the

> years I've learned to

> manage, never related my backaches to my fusion

> surgery (until I started

> researching this past year).

> Anyways, in June, 2003, I was in a minor car accident,

> and have been

> miserable ever since. I've been thru several dr's,

> none of whom know

> what to do with me.

> My 2 discs below my fusion are pressing on my spinal

> cord due to

> weakening of my lower back from my fusion. I have a

> lot of sciatica pain

> down my right leg, numbness and tingling in both my

> calves and feet, and

> back pain. Currently I can take no medication,

> because I am having a

> lot of stomach trouble, probably due to all the years

> of taking NSAID's.

> I also have a lot of neck trouble, with tingling and

> numbness in my

> arms and hand. I have recently developed severe pain

> every time I stand

> up, but have not noticed any leaning forward. I live

> in Toledo, OH. I

> recently went to an ortho in Cleveland who told me I

> wasn't bad enough

> for surgery yet, and that I should try Neurontin, and

> epidural steroid

> injections.

> I had tried Neurontin in the past, but it gave me bad

> hot flashes. He

> said my backmade him nervous, because what he saw on

> the CT scan wasn't

> as bad as symptoms I'm having. I used to walk 3 miles

> a day, now I

> limit my walking, and work out in pool instead. I

> stay off my feet as

> much as possible. Although lately sitting and laying

> down seem to give me

> just as much numbness. No one has ever mentioned the

> word flatback to

> me, so it is very interesting reading your posts.

>

> Pam

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Support for scoliosis-surgery veterans with Harrington Rod Malalignment

Syndrome. Not medical advice. Group does not control ads or endorse any

advertised products.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I live in Toledo, Ohio. Does anyone know any good doctors near here?

Thanks,

Pam