Good doctor in Worcester or Boston MA

[Guest guest]

Hi i am and had harington rod surgery back in 1977 and am experiencing

complications from flat back syndrome in my lower and upper back. I saw a doc

Dr. Lapinsky in Worcester who suggested lower spine surgery to strenthen me up

but i'm looking for a second opinion. Any advice would be great. Thanks so

much and i am sooo glad that i found this site.

[Guest guest]

,

Dr. Rand is in your area, Boston, has a rep, does revision a lot and has patients here, one being Cam the groups founder.

Dr. Rand

125 Hill Ave.

Boston MA 02120

617-754-5744

www.bostonspinegroup.org

Welcome to the group, sorry you find yourself needing to be among us, but we get it, been through it, and are glad to be of help.

Look forward to hearing more from you as you move through the surgeon selection process!

Colorado Springs, CO

[ ] Good doctor in Worcester or Boston MA

Hi i am and had harington rod surgery back in 1977 and am experiencing complications from flat back syndrome in my lower and upper back. I saw a doc Dr. Lapinsky in Worcester who suggested lower spine surgery to strenthen me up but i'm looking for a second opinion. Any advice would be great. Thanks so much and i am sooo glad that i found this site.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

What are the specific complications you are having and which of your vertebrae are fused? I had my surgery done in 1977 as well and am fused from T4-L3. I started having severe pain in my right lower spine that radiated across my lower back and down my right leg. I found this site when I started searching for answers to my problems. There are so many people here and who have such a wealth of experience that you are sure to find some assistance here and lots of support.

Jeanne

[ ] Good doctor in Worcester or Boston MA

Hi i am and had harington rod surgery back in 1977 and am experiencing complications from flat back syndrome in my lower and upper back. I saw a doc Dr. Lapinsky in Worcester who suggested lower spine surgery to strenthen me up but i'm looking for a second opinion. Any advice would be great. Thanks so much and i am sooo glad that i found this site.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Yes, like you I had surgery at the age of 15, in 1975 with Pappas. I may have

been on a slow decline to flatback as far back as 1980. I had hip pain all those

years. I personally think (which means in my opinion) Pappas was in denial of

flatback long after it was a known factor in the medical community but I kept

going back until in the late 90's when he told me to " live with it " . Then I

looked elsewhere. The xrays showed a slowly progressing S in the lumbar area

that finally gave way after my child was born. I was in unbearable pain as he

gained weight and I had to carry him in the carseat and as a toddler. When I

stopped lugging him, it lightened up a bit but I was more bent to the left and

the pain in my hips and lower back were tear wrenching. Still I waited. When I

had surgery, I was way bent over to the left, I would twist my head upward to

see and a few steps were all I could manage unassisted. When my son was six I

did my research and settled on Dr. Glazer at Beth Isreal Deaconess Medical

Center. I was seeing Dr. Sullivan from the Spine Group for pain

management. Who is excellent by the way. He is in Southboro. Meanwhile, I was

researching surgeons and was impressed by Glazer's published papers and

continued research into the development on corrective hardware for scoli and

flatback and research on BMP which is like a bone mending substance. Once I

decided to see him and was perfectly satisfied with his manner, intelligence,

engineering, etc. I settled on him. I had a two day surgery, first day anterior

for caging, spacing in the lumbar. Second day was removal of the harrington rod

posterior and put in titanium, (erector set) type hardware (the best

description) 17 screws, cage and three osteotomies, (wedge cuts into existing

discs) to bring the spine back up to to a vertical position. As most will tell

you, recovery depends on your overall health and complications but most are on

their feet in 72 hours, some of us braces for 6 months, some use bone growth

stimulators, mine was 120 days, 24 hours, others less. Walking in 72 hours, no

lifting first 3 months or so, then gradual 5 pounds then 10 pounds. No bending

or twisting for about a year though as time goes on you learn to stoop or do a

knee drop if necessary to pick up items. Light driving 8-12 weeks. You have to

wait until you can stomp on the brake without causing damage. I was working 10

hours from home at 8 weeks, then 20 hours at 6 months by the end of my work

disability about 18 months I was full-time. Others have gone back to work much

quicker, some not at all. Most rules are surgeon dependant. Pain-meds, I was

weaned off by the end of my 4th month, but again, a very individual thing. So,

was it worth it? My surgeon gave me hope of being upright and a 50% reduction in

pain. I have a 80% reduction in pain most of the time and I am about 3% short of

upright. It was worth it but it is a very trying surgery and recovery. After

three years I am still finding improvements. You have to consider you are taking

a very crooked body, straightening it out and major surgery then OK, GO RECOVER.

It is long and arduous journey and trying on the emotions. Your mind will heal

in 8 weeks, your body about a year or more. It takes 5 years for a full fusion

so even have to be very careful all those years out. Read some of the post op

journals under files (on the left side) on the website. Take

care, C