Hello @recoverychris and welcome to Connect. I moved your discussion and combined it with another discussion already taking place on Harrington Rods. We are glad you found this conversation, as other members have discussed the same frustrations and concerns that you have.

In this discussion you will meet @sutherlin, @bethmcch and @suee who all have Harrington rods and may be able to address you questions about recovery.

@recoverychris, what sort of things are you currently doing for recovery? What treatments and therapy have your current physicians offered for relief?

Hi everyone, I am currently taking Tramadol for pain, Tizanidine for muscle spasms, and Gabepentin for nerve conduction. I am riding a stationary bike for 10 to 15 minutes almost daily, walking 15-20 minutes almost daily and doing some abdominal exercises and stretches I was given by my physical therapist. I was recently "graduated" from physical therapy, I didn't agree with that decision. I found a Brooks re-hab here in Daytona because I know their strong affiliation with Mayo Clinic, where I had my surgery in Jacksonville. I use a large ice pack and also use a heating pad for relief. But, I am still miserable with strong muscle tension that feels like its pulling me down, from my 10th thorasic vertebre through my low back. It's excruciating and the only thing that gives me comfort is to sit down or lie down. I am really frustrated, I would love to hear what others do that I might try for relief. Thank you for hearing me. On the outside I look like I am fine, others do not understand how much this pain keeps me from being myself, living my life. My body has changed, in that my rear is disappearing, flat back syndrome I think it is called. I am fused into both of my pelvic bones. I would appreciate any input. Thank you all!!

I am surprised your physical therapist 1. Did not tell you to modify exercises that cause extreme pain and 2. To lie down and rest your back for 20 to 30 min. a day. I hope you can get your body and core stronger without so much pain.

I. Have. Sharp pain. Mostly. On. Right. Leg. Down. To. My. Feet. Then. My. Back. Feels. Heavy. Stiff. And I get. Really. Tired. When. I. Cook. Clean. Can't. Finish. What. I'm doing. I. Need. To. Sit. Or. Lie down. I. Tryed. Massaging. The. Muscle. On. My. Leg. It. Helps. For. A. Little. While.

@recoverychris I had a fusion surgery on my back just last month at Mayo clinic at Rochester. It was a big surgery. I don't know if I had Harrington rods put in, but I have two rods one on each side of my spine. I had degeneration that cause scoliosis and the surgeon had to go from T-10 to L-5. I had stenosis at L-4 and 5, where I had nerves being pinched. So the surgeon had to do a lot of work to get the nerves not being pinched. My surgery was 9 hours long.
The surgery takes a long time to heal of course for me it has just been a little over a month. I wear a brace and can't bend, twist, or lift anything heavy. I still have pain, mainly in L-4 & 5. I walk every day and I just got off of Oxycodone and just on Tramadol, but I woke up really hurting today.. I am 68 years old. I hope you go back to the surgeon and let him know about the pain. By now you should not have pain.