Re: Re: Vonnie...Broken rods

[Guest guest]

Vonnie, I am SO sorry about your broken rods. I didn't manage to say that before because I was busy with my own surgery. Life just isn't fair sometimes. I really hope it turns out that they don't need removal and your surgery will be ok as is.

Take care.

Sharon

[ ] Re: Vonnie...Broken rods

June NJ,So you had broken rods also,did it hurt as bad as the other surgery's when they replaced the broken rods in dec.? So far they are fine now? I went to the Dr. yesterday and he thinks another one broke so that will make 3 broken rods.I have to have cat scan tom. to see if things are moving but he thinks they are cause the x-rays were different form the last ones he took last month.I am so bummed out about this.I don't want another surgery,I have had 7 to date and didn't want anymore but I guess that's going to change soon..Please let me know on friday when you go to the Dr. if they are stable now.Thanks for the info. Vonnie >> Hi!> I broke a rod last October 2005 while bending to check the contents of my > shopping cart!> Turned out that I had already one broken rod and this one couldn't bear the > weight/pressure of the fusion so it snapped too! I just felt a "release" in > my back with no sound and no pain but later in the month pain in my lower > back was real bad, felt as if my spine was slipping and pressing down! The rods > were replaced with "segmental" rods that December and am do for another > checkup this Friday with Dr. Errico (NYC Univ Hosp.) Haven't lost any weight and > am very much under excercised cuz of more pain in my mid back. I had had > radiation treatment that hit thoracic spine and damaged the vertebra thats why > the rods really broke. Now I hope the pain is from overweight and lack of > excercise. No more surgeries for me-I've had three fusions S1 to T10 and want > no more!> June-NJ>

[Guest guest]

Oh, ie, welcome to the group!

I saw your web site some time ago, as our friend Ann had shared it with us, and I was very moved by your story. I too have congenital defects, but nothing of the magnitude of yours.

I second what Cam said. Dr. Boachie has as stellar a reputation as any for complex scoliosis surgery, and I've heard of nobody in Nevada.

Sharon

[ ] Re: Vonnie...Broken rods

>> Hi!> I broke a rod last October 2005 while bending to check the contents of my > shopping cart!> Turned out that I had already one broken rod and this one couldn't bear the > weight/pressure of the fusion so it snapped too! I just felt a "release" in > my back with no sound and no pain but later in the month pain in my lower > back was real bad, felt as if my spine was slipping and pressing down! The rods > were replaced with "segmental" rods that December and am do for another > checkup this Friday with Dr. Errico (NYC Univ Hosp.) Haven't lost any weight and > am very much under excercised cuz of more pain in my mid back. I had had Hi:My name is ie and I am now 51 years old and have had numerous scoliosis surgeries over the years with Harrington rods first by Dr. Winter in Minneapolis in 1973. In 2001 in Texas I had a very bad surgery that left me much worse than I was going into the surgery. And now honestly I am at the point in my life where I can only have THE BEST surgeon, if I am to have any chance at all at surviving the operation, at least this is what I have been told. I sure would appreciate any suggestions or advice or referrals. I did see wonderful doctor in New York by the name of Dr.Boachie last year, but since I live in Las Vegas traveling is rather difficult for me, but I am willing to do whatever is necessary. Please feel free to check out my website www.ieBush.com and thank you for any help, support or suggestions.ie (see attached)> radiation treatment that hit thoracic spine and damaged the vertebra thats why > the rods really broke. Now I hope the pain is from overweight and lack of > excercise. No more surgeries for me-I've had three fusions S1 to T10 and want > no more!> June-NJ>

[Guest guest]

Oh, lady, didn't you just love that buckle!

Yup, great little conversation starter. I wear mine religiously.

[ ] Re: Vonnie...Broken rods

---VOnnie and Cam,I thought there was some sort of "warranty" with the Bone Growth Stimulator???I have used mne so, so much..never missing a day that the buckle is broken..I guess that is a good thing!!!!FYI...laptop is fixed!!!!, PAIn , "cammaltby" <cammaltby@...> wrote:>> Vonnie,> > Please let us know how the scan goes. I have my fingers crossed, but > since my sense is DrRand is pretty cautious about saying anything > that would be worrisome or upsetting, I have to believe with a > potential 3rd rod breaking that he now is sadly suspecting more > surgery is what has to happen. I know he would not put you through > anything that wasn't absolutely necessary. Is he talking about more > substantial post-op bracing too? I wouldn't be surprised.> > I can't remember....did you have BMP?> > Also, if you had a bone growth stimulator does their warranty that > they pay for any further surgery if there is not a solid fusion > apply?....(not that $$$ is a signifigant part of your decision).> > When do you see Rand again?> > Try to enjoy this holiday week.> Take Care, Cam>

[Guest guest]

Hi Vonnie...

I recently asked a few of the surgeons at UCSF if BMP was routine in either scoliosis surgery in “older” folks, or scoliosis revision surgery and was told that it was not. I think insurance companies are still balking at paying for it.

Regards,

On 11/19/06 5:54 AM, " Vonnie " <vonniec20032000@...> wrote:

Cam,Hi I had the cat scan on sat. so I hope to hear results this week

cause my appt. is not till dec 21 and I don't want to wait that long

for results.He saw that things were different is what he told me and

asked if I felt different and I do.So it's not looking too good for

me right now. I didn't have BMP and I always wondered why I didn't

have one and when I asked him he didn't say much about that..Would

that have helped? Who knows..I just hope it won't be as bad if they

have to replace some rods..I'll let you all know when I hear from

him..Thanks,Vonnie ---

[Guest guest]

Hi Carol...

Well, I’m not sure, but Dr. Hu was one of the surgeons who answered my question. With that said, not everyone who has revision gets cages, and some who do get cages may get donor bone. Perhaps she was referring to the use of multiple cages??

Regards,

On 11/19/06 11:36 AM, " Carol " <dcvaughan@...> wrote:

If BMP is not routine, then how can they even do the surgery? When I

asked Dr. Hu about it, she said there wasn't enough " extra " bone in a

person's body to do the fusion with the cages without it, so I don't

understand how they could even do the revision surgery without it????

Makes no sense to me.

Carol V. (CA)

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Vonnie. I'm hanging in there with the help of my pain meds (and, of course, my long-suffering hubby -- 16 loving years as of yesterday -- YAY!).

Email me with your phone number if you like. I'd love to chat.

Vonnie, I really feel for you because I went through 3 ops in a little over a month's time and that waking-up period is no picnic. And that first wake-up, when I learned I would have 3 ops instead of 2 was certainly hard. Did you have Dilaudid (sp?) in the drip too? I had that stuff by pill for a while as well, and I think it was the cause of some entertaining but scary delirium.

I really wish you the best through all this. I'm a tad lonely right now, so I'd love to chat by phone for my sake as well as yours.

Take care,

Sharon

[ ] Re: Vonnie...Broken rods

Sharon,How are you doing since your surgery? Are you pain free now? Glad everything worked out well for you. I don't know what's going on with me,Dr.Rand will decide after he sees the cat scan I did on saturday.I just hope if he has to go back in that it won't be as bad as the other surgery's..Who knows..It has been hard cause I feel different and am in some different pain.But I hope to get through this,even though I am really getting depressed over it,all I can think about is the pain and that dam meds, that drip,I get so so sick from.YUCK!!! But I will do what he says,of course..Keep up the good work,your doing great..Vonnie > >> > Hi!> > I broke a rod last October 2005 while bending to check the contents > of my > > shopping cart!> > Turned out that I had already one broken rod and this one couldn't > bear the > > weight/pressure of the fusion so it snapped too! I just felt > a "release" in > > my back with no sound and no pain but later in the month pain in > my lower > > back was real bad, felt as if my spine was slipping and pressing > down! The rods > > were replaced with "segmental" rods that December and am do for > another > > checkup this Friday with Dr. Errico (NYC Univ Hosp.) Haven't lost > any weight and > > am very much under excercised cuz of more pain in my mid back. I > had had > > radiation treatment that hit thoracic spine and damaged the > vertebra thats why > > the rods really broke. Now I hope the pain is from overweight and > lack of > > excercise. No more surgeries for me-I've had three fusions S1 to > T10 and want > > no more!> > June-NJ> >>

[Guest guest]

Vonnie, that is puzzling about the BMP. Right before my surgery my husband's work situation forced a change of insurance on us, and given a choice of a couple of different companies we went with the one we knew would cover BMP. I wonder if it was an insurance coverage issue... but then, couldn't you at least have been given the choice of self-paying? We would have gone that route if necessary, as I think most people would if given the information, the choice, and of course, the wherewithall.

I'm just so sorry about this for you...

Sharon

[ ] Re: Vonnie...Broken rods

Cam,Hi I had the cat scan on sat. so I hope to hear results this week cause my appt. is not till dec 21 and I don't want to wait that long for results.He saw that things were different is what he told me and asked if I felt different and I do.So it's not looking too good for me right now. I didn't have BMP and I always wondered why I didn't have one and when I asked him he didn't say much about that..Would that have helped? Who knows..I just hope it won't be as bad if they have to replace some rods..I'll let you all know when I hear from him..Thanks,Vonnie >> Vonnie,> > Please let us know how the scan goes. I have my fingers crossed, but > since my sense is DrRand is pretty cautious about saying anything > that would be worrisome or upsetting, I have to believe with a > potential 3rd rod breaking that he now is sadly suspecting more > surgery is what has to happen. I know he would not put you through > anything that wasn't absolutely necessary. Is he talking about more > substantial post-op bracing too? I wouldn't be surprised.> > I can't remember....did you have BMP?> > Also, if you had a bone growth stimulator does their warranty that > they pay for any further surgery if there is not a solid fusion > apply?....(not that $$$ is a signifigant part of your decision).> > When do you see Rand again?> > Try to enjoy this holiday week.> Take Care, Cam>

[Guest guest]

I wonder if Dr. Bridwell's experience with them was less than impressive due to his choice of model. It seems they vary quite a bit, from those that have fussy electrodes to move around and which must be worn constantly, to the type Dr. Rand prescribes, which is easy and simple to wear, and only has to be worn 4 hours a day. I like my "bionic woman suit", and wouldn't miss a day of it, especially since it was so very effective in tests.

Dr. Rand uses the SpinalStim, by Ortho-Fix:

http://www.orthofix.com/patients/spinal-stim.asp

Its ease of use may well translate into improved patient acceptance and compliance. I am hopeful that my compliance will end in a good outcome for my new fusion.

Sharon

[ ] Re: Vonnie...Broken rods

Dr Bridwell told me that he doesn't prescribe the bone stimulators anymore because he didn't think they made much difference -- at least not enough to justify the cost and the complaints of patients who didn't like them.>> Pa,It is great to have you back online..LOL.. You are funny..I > think your going to miss your stimulator,it's like your support > blanket now...LOL...You even wore your's out,you were good at obeying > the Dr. He never told me to get one..Who knows he's the Dr. and he > knows what he's doing..Good to hear form you,Vonnie -

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Vonnie. I'll look forward to talking to you!

Sharon

[ ] Re: Vonnie...Broken rods

Sharon,Hi my phone # is 781-396-1432 and I get home from work about 3:00 if I don't have water therapy and 4:30 if I do so the best time to get me is either weekends or about 6:00 evenings.But call anytime you want to chat, Vonnie > > >> > > Hi!> > > I broke a rod last October 2005 while bending to check the > contents > > of my > > > shopping cart!> > > Turned out that I had already one broken rod and this one > couldn't > > bear the > > > weight/pressure of the fusion so it snapped too! I just felt > > a "release" in > > > my back with no sound and no pain but later in the month pain > in > > my lower > > > back was real bad, felt as if my spine was slipping and > pressing > > down! The rods > > > were replaced with "segmental" rods that December and am do for > > another > > > checkup this Friday with Dr. Errico (NYC Univ Hosp.) Haven't > lost > > any weight and > > > am very much under excercised cuz of more pain in my mid back. > I > > had had > > > radiation treatment that hit thoracic spine and damaged the > > vertebra thats why > > > the rods really broke. Now I hope the pain is from overweight > and > > lack of > > > excercise. No more surgeries for me-I've had three fusions S1 > to > > T10 and want > > > no more!> > > June-NJ> > >> >>

[Guest guest]

HI , Carol,

Well, granted my revision was almost 9 years ago, but I have 8 cages filled with bone from my rib and scraped from my old H-Rod fusion and did not have BMP. Was it even in use 9 years ago?

Bonnie

Re: [ ] Re: Vonnie...Broken rods

Hi Carol...Well, I’m not sure, but Dr. Hu was one of the surgeons who answered my question. With that said, not everyone who has revision gets cages, and some who do get cages may get donor bone. Perhaps she was referring to the use of multiple cages??Regards,On 11/19/06 11:36 AM, "Carol" <dcvaughansbcglobal (DOT) net> wrote:

If BMP is not routine, then how can they even do the surgery? When I asked Dr. Hu about it, she said there wasn't enough "extra" bone in a person's body to do the fusion with the cages without it, so I don't understand how they could even do the revision surgery without it????Makes no sense to me.Carol V. (CA)