I've had Harrington rods in my spine for 27 years. I was diagnosed with scoliosis at the age of 10. I wore a brace for a few years but it didn't help. Eventually my spine curved into the shape of an S and that's when I had surgery at 16 years old in a military hospital. My entire spine from the top to the very bottom was fused. For a while everything was fine but when I got into my mid 20's the pain started to progress. Now I have so much pain..especially my lower back. I have flatback syndrome and the discs near the base of my spine have deteriorated. My doctor said it's like my spine is sitting in quick sand with no support (they said my original surgeon should not have fused so far down my spine because that gave me know range of motion). Two doctors suggested surgery and one said it would be a very complicated surgery - that they would have to cut me open from both the front and back (removing part of the rod and inserting screws in my discs...along with some other things...it's been a couple of years since I last seen this particular surgeon). Right now I am just trying to find alternatives to surgeries. I have done everything in the past...injections, shots, PT, etc. Sometimes it helped, most often it didn't. I used to take traditional pain medication but I stopped that years ago. I just purchased one of those inflatable braces and I will soon start CBD oil. I also have high blood pressure and I know it's because of my pain/inflammation. I am not overweight and I eat really healthy. With all that being said I'm looking into more alternative treatments. My primary care physician suggested a chiropractor that he knows that who offers non-evasive treatment options (to patients like me - so he says). I will see him on Saturday. I also read about stem cell treatment. I'm just glad I'm not alone in this and I hope to find more non-surgical alternatives that will help.

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