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Harrington rods and complications
Spine Health | Last Active: Sep 18 8:38am | Replies (113)Comment receiving replies
Hi Cori,
I suggest you first see what treatment Dr. Mitsunaga recommends.
He did his Spine Fellowships at 2 well respected schools.
If you decide go to Mayo, they will want to see prior scans--MRI and Xrays-- before accepting you as a patient.
I live in California and went to Minnesota to see Fogelson due to his experience in operations on patients with Harrington Rods and Complex Degenerative spines. I hope your spine is not as bad as mine.
(I will attach copies of my xrays. )
I had 2 surgeries.
May 13 2025- Day one-- Sacroilliac Fusions due to arthritis and resulting pain from my Sacroilliac joints.( 2 hour surgery)
May 14 2025-Day two--
Spinal fusion plus doctor made wedges in 3 vertebrae to improve spinal alignment (11 hours)
Immediately after surgery, my prior chronic back pain was gone, as well as my nerve pain.
However, I did experience pain at the surgical site for awhile. And I had some hypersentivity in my nerves in that area for about a week.
But by week 4-5 almost all surgical pain went away. However, it has been, and still is, difficult to sit for very long before my back gets sore. But the time that I can sit has increased. (Now it is week 8.) I still lay down and ice 3-5 times a day--it helps to relax my back.
During my surgery, Dr. Fogelson was able to free up my nerves that were being pinched by my various vertebrae. So, since surgery, I was concerned when I started to feel my right leg nerve pain develop and increase with more activity. (numbness and weird sensations). But I was told this is common and should disappear.🙏
By week 6, I have been taking mile long walks. I take at least 3 walk a day, including the mile walk with some shorter walks.
As other spine patients have stated-- no bending, twisting, and lifting will be a way of life.
As it takes 1 1/2 to 2 years for the spine to fully fuse I will have to be very mindful of what I do.
Since you are in Honolulu. I also want to mention that some scoliosis patients have gone to see Dr. McClendon at Mayo, in Phoenix. I am not certain how much experience he has with cases like yours.
Let's keep in touch. I hope you get good news!
Best Wishes!
Nadine
Attachments--
1) xray before my latest surgery
2 and 3) post 2025 surgery
Replies to "Hi Cori, I suggest you first see what treatment Dr. Mitsunaga recommends. He did his Spine..."
@nlback22 Nadine, I couldn't agree with you more about what an excellent surgeon Dr. Fogelson is. My surgery with him was simple compared to your scoliosis procedure, but he was the only surgeon out of 6 who examined me who got my diagnosis correct and offered to help me. If you look at his education, he was the top of his class and recognized for excellence all throughout his college experience and beyond. I'm glad to hear how much relief you got from your surgery right away. I know there are some residual issues related to inflammation with healing that you're going through, but as they said, that should get better in time. Thanks for sharing your experience here to help other patients. Walking 3 miles a day so soon after surgery! Bravo! That will also help you heal as it increases the oxygen absorption in your body. I don't know that I could walk that far every day, but some of that is because of seriously breaking my ankle 5 years ago. I kind of like to let my horse do the walking for me which also has benefits for core strength.
Nadine, Thank you SO much or this information. You are so brave, an 11-hour surgery is incredible. I'm so happy that your chronic back pain and surgery pain have subsided, that is so great. It's also great to hear that you are doing mile-long walks! I just had my MRI last night (after calling 3-4 times a day for cancellations because I was originally scheduled for 8/16) on the 1.5T machine that everyone in this forum recommended (thank you all!) and will see Dr. Mitsunaga on 8/1. I've been trying to get an earlier appt but that's the soonest I could get to date. Did you consider doctors at UCSF? I see some online and ask because it would be a closer plane ride for me (in case I have to return frequently). Thank you!
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This is so encouraging I want to be able to do this so much
By week 6, I have been taking mile long walks. I take at least 3 walk a day, including the mile walk with some shorter walk.
At 68 I want to travel and see places and things in the US and Internationally this is the time in our lives we all look forward to!!!
Not to stay home walk with a cane in pain 24 - 7 it's no way to live. No quality of life.
I am hoping Dr. McClendon at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix will accept me and get the T10 T11 thru L1 L2 fusion to hopefully allow me to walk like you a mile a day or MORE?
Thank you for your post and healing prayers go out to you ! ! !