Posted by Sheryl C
on 4/29/2006, 10:39 pm, in reply to "Harrington rod surgery in 1978 - current problems - need any advice or info."
66.69.76.101
Dear Lisa, I feel for you. I had harrington fusion for my first surgery at the age of 38 in 1990. Well, I had so many of the same problems you had and kept trying to tell the doctor that I felt like my rods were broken. He insisted and insisted that they were not. He went in and did an anterior/posterior fusion from the cervical spine to the sacrum, a very huge undertaking. When he got in there he found the broken rods hiding behind a bolt. You couldn't see the fracture of the rod due to the problems of really being able to see due to metallic artifact spray. Kind of like trying to view a chrome fendor in bright sunlight. So, I suggest you go to a very skilled surgeon to get a full evaluation. I was sorry that the surgeon I went to was not exxcellent in his field. I subsequently had to have 5 other surgeries due to complications, flatback, kyphosis, and collapse when upper rods were removed...long story. But just make sure you do your research and get in to see someone who is really qualified. As I have stated in other parts of this message board, a good scolisois surgeon should be a fellow with the Scoliosis Research Society and also the AAOS, American Association of Orthopedic Surgery. You can go to both of their websites to check out doctors in your area, or specific doctor's credentials with those organizations. I wouldn't put off seeing someone though. When I had the very exact symptoms you had, I waited and waited, mainly because my surgeon kept saying I didn't have broken rods and that he wanted to do that really elaborate surgery (he was with an HMO); I now wish I had gone to someone really qualified in Adult scoliosis revision surgery and with the credentials I mentioned above. If you tell me where you live, I could try to help find you a good doctor. Good Luck, you are in my prayers because I've been right in the situation you are in and I know what you are going through.
Sheryl C
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