One thing I learned from using stem cells. Steroids damage stem cells along with Motrin etc. my experience with steroids is they worked at first and pain relief lessened as time went on.

Thanks for the info about stem cells. I will look into that.

I have a Herrington Rod and lots of issues related to that.

What has been most helpful for me so far: Swimming (#1), keeping my weight down, PT, jacuzzi, chiropractor, accupuncture, massage, heating pad, getting up and down, steroid injections for radiating pain, cognitive therapy for chronic pain, Laminectomy in L3-L4, L4-L5 (which worked for about 6 years)

What has not worked: periferal nerve stimulator that was just put in the lowest vertebra, Cymbalta, Neurontin, Lyrica, glucosamine chondroitin, meds (I had pancreatitis because of too much ibioprofen, so I take hardly anything.), Flexeril (limited amount some nights)

I just had a sacro-coccygeal injection. It may have helped some. I will know for sure in a few days. If it does not turn out to be the solution, the options I am looking at are: Nevpro periferal nerve stimulator that goes up higher in the spine, laminectomy, spinal fusion all the way down from the original Herrington Rod fusion, and now stem cell therapy.

Hello @bethmcch, welcome to Connect. Thank you for jumping in to the Harrington rods conversation. I hope @sutherlin comes back to this conversation as they were hoping to get insight from another person with Harrington rods regarding pain. You spoke about a bunch of great coping mechanisms and ones that have not worked so well, thank you.

@bethmcch, what sort of pain have you experienced because of your Harrington rods? What other issues have you experienced?

Three rounds of injections with no relief. Very frustrated and upset. Tired of being in pain.

Welcome back @sutherlin, I am sorry the injections are offering no relief. Do you have a specific question you could ask @bethmcch as she also has Harrington rods?

It doesn't sound like she has had any relief either. The drs say because the majority of my back is fused, attempting to fuse the L2-L6 would make it so I wouldn't be able to bend at all and that's no way to live either. I go back on the 19th of January and we will have to do a lot of searching for some answers.

The sacro-coccygeal injection I had on Monday did actually help some. I still feel like I need a cane after walking for 10 minutes, but before the injection, I was in a lot more pain. So, I am encouraged. Maybe I can walk some more and avoid more bone density loss. 🙂