Re: Revision caused my flatback!

[Guest guest]

You've been through a lot, Kathy. Wow.

I can identify with parts of your story. My own second fusion in 1986

was technically a revision too. It involved the implantation of a

Harrington rod, resulting in immediate flatback syndrome. Many years

down the road, the flatback apparently reached some " tipping point, " I

became totally disabled seemingly overnight, and eventually I found out

what was wrong with me. The surgeone who put the rod in had known from

the beginning but never told me. I ended up needing several revision

procedures. All in all, I have had eight major spinal operations

(counting each " installment " of my two 20-hour two-parters as an

operation). One I did not know about, because I was apparently

unconscious with a high fever. But they opened me up and found no

infection. It finally came to light that I actually had a massive

systemic allergic reaction to an I.V. antibiotic. I ended up spending

several months on steroids. Another surgery was an emergency procedure

after I developed some kind of spontaneous spinal fracture and rapidly

lost all my correction as the fracture dislodged my hardware. It was

enlarging and was very close to my spinal cord, and I was told I had a

good chance of being paralyzed. Fortunately I was fine, but I needed a

lot of hardware repair and the installation of some new hardware to

shore up the fractured area. That was my fifth operation over a

six-week period, and I sincerely hope it will prove to have been my

last.

Sorry, I do not usually let myself go on so long about " My Hairy Spinal

Adventures " ! I guess I just wanted you to know that some of us can

really empathize -- if not with all the specific details of your

history, at least with having had a history of unexpected problems and

multiple surgeries. I do think the surgical techniques get better and

better, and I feel great confidence about your choice of surgeon too. It

may not as bad as you might fear. I really feel you are on the road to

substantive help and a more livable life.

Best,

>

> Hi - I am one of the rare breed! My harrington rod surgery

in 1979 was successful (somewhat). My sciatic nerve was nicked at L3 &

left my left leg paralyzed. I had to have the broken harrington removed

only 1 1/2 years post-op. I refused to see another doctor after the rod

was removed. I lived for the next 25 years very happily & managed my

own pain. So when I was 45 (2007) my lower discs started to degenerate.

As a pre-emptive move, my surgeon decided to do long rods from between

my shoulder blades down to my tail bone. He thought I was fused from my

previous surgery. I wasn't. So technically he did a revision surgery

with rods & pedicle screws & fused me at L3/L4/L5/S1. I fall into the

category of having hyper-lordosis prior to surgery. I had a dramatic

lumbar curve, but it had never been a problem. My body had naturally

adapted to it. So when the rods went in, he didn't curve them enough

(like some of the after pictures of some members). So I had the

revision & the rods were too straight & my body couldn't adapt to the

reduced lordosis. Lucky me! I have the latest & greatest technology in

me... & he put it in wrong! My body has been SCREAMING at me for the

last 2 years " GET THIS S_ _ _ OUT OF ME " Since my surgeon did " such a

good job " I now have to have a SECOND revision. All of the hardware

needs to be removed & replaced. Again...lucky me! I know what I'm in

for. It took me months to get mentally prepared. Now that I've been

through it once already, it's even harder to wrap my head around having

to go through it again. A second revision is the lesser of two evils.

The only other choice is to live like this... & that's not going to

happen. This group & the Revised Flatback group has given so much good

information about revision surgeons. I can't belive how close I came to

possibly having another failed surgery due to lack of information. Even

though I (like many others) will have to travel some distance to get the

help I need, I look at it as an investment in my future. I will never

allow anything less than the very best again!

>

> Sometimes during one of my pity parties, I wonder if they hadn't taken

out the broken harrington, would I have gotten flatback years ago? I'll

never know. I can only thank God it didn't happen sooner.

............................Kathy

>