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I’ve had all my hardware removed after T2-T10 fusion. Ask me anything.
I was in a car accident and fractured several vertebrae in my thoracic spine, including a T6 burst. Fused T2-T10 in 2012.
Pain was unbearable for years and never improved.
In 2017, I got all the hardware removed. Every single piece of it. Not replaced, not revised, completely removed. It IS possible.
Realistically, your pain will not disappear. You will still have bad days and worse days.
For me, though, on a good day my pain is about 50-80% less than it was. Even my bad days and awful days (which are fewer and farther between) are nowhere near the pain I experienced before getting the hardware removed.
I searched for a couple of years for info on hardware removal but the internet is not always your best option. This was my process:
I found a new primary care doctor within a large medical system (Houston Methodist) with several hospitals and clinics in my region, so that all my medical info would be portable and easily accessed by all my doctors.
I went to see her and said simply and clearly, “I want to talk to a surgeon about hardware removal.” She did some digging and referred me to an orthopedic surgeon. I told him the same thing, answered all his questions regarding my pain, and he agreed it was a viable option.
The insurance company insisted on a procedure to make sure it would work. I was referred to a pain management doctor who gave me numbing injections at every level of my fusion. I had to rate my pain levels for a week before and a week after.
They required a 30% reduction in overall pain levels to cover the surgery.
A few weeks later, I had the surgery! I was warned in advance that they might get in there and see that some or all of the hardware was still necessary, or would be unable to be removed. Luckily, that didn’t happen. All the hardware was removed. Surgery took about an hour!
It was absolutely the single best decision I have ever made. Am I still in pain? Absolutely. Is it anywhere near the kind of pain I experienced daily before the removal? Not even close.
Hardware can removed about a year after fusion, but there is a point at which it can no longer be removed. I recommend seeing a surgeon sooner rather than later. If your doctor says no, go see another!
Photo of my removed hardware is attached (yes, I got to keep it lol).
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Thank you for sharing. I am fused from T3 to S3. Had 3 fusions. I had been in pan for 6 years in the thoracic area. Constant pressure and it feel
Like there are bricks in my back. I have had PT, Steroids shots. Nothing helps. I want them removed and would love anyone’s opinion.
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2 Reactions@lucille409
I was fused T 11 to L4 in December 2025 and also had the feeling of hard slabs or bricks along my spine over the months as my back healed. I felt pressure when I leaned back in the seat of a car or sat in a chair. My physical therapist and I have discovered that it is scar tissue from the surgery. She has been massaging and breaking the scar tissue down and it’s almost completely gone now. My back almost feels normal!
Wishing you the best,
Sherry
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2 Reactions@sherrym25
Thank you Sherry. My first surgery was my lumbar. All went well T9-S3. Then my upper discs collapsed and they put in a second rod T3-T9. That’s when all the pressure and tightness started. I continually complained about severe tightness and heaviness in the thoracic area. They then discovered T-8-9 did not fuse. They refused the segment and replaced the upper rod. I continued to have severe pain. It’s been 3 years I have been complaining of pain and feel my body just doesn’t want the hardware in my body. I seriously am thinking I want them removed. Anyone with feedback please feel free to share. It’s so frustrating not feeling well.
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2 Reactions@hannahavela906
Did you have surgery?
Do you mind sharing who and where was your doctor prayers for good outcome.
I had 3 spinal
Fusion. First was lumbar. T9-S1 second surgery T3-T9. Third to replace rod because severe pain and slight slippage of rod. I’m am 69 yrs old in good health. Always severe heaviness and tightness in back. From your experience would you do it again and how was recovery?
Lucille T.
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1 Reaction@hannahavela906 How
Many levels were you fused and where was they removed from. What part of the spine? Are you in less pain? Was it worth being removed?
LucileT
Are you saying you wish you'd never had the fusion? I, for one, am facing the option of fusion surgery, T-10 to pelvis but I read these horror stories and I'm pulling back. I've been to several neurosurgeons and all but one said, don't do it unless your pain is so bad you'd rather die. Well, my pain is not that bad, I just cannot walk far anymore without using a grocery cart or some such aid. So, do you wish you had never had the fusions? Just curious if you could say where your fusions were done, Houston?
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1 Reaction@sherrym25 Hi Sherry. I’m curious about this feeling we seem to share. Does it hurt? Mine doesn’t hurt. It feels gross and I don’t necessarily like it. I still have the extreme sensitivity on the sides. My upper thighs and hips still feel numb. But no pain. I’m curious about the pain that came on for others. Did something happen or did you ever experience pain free days after the surgery and then this new pain came? My greatest fear is breaking a screw or rod and having to return to surgery. I don’t want to choose to go back into surgery if I can prevent it. Blessings to all on this journey. It is not an easy choice.
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1 Reaction@bassetmom
My first fusion was lumbar T9-S1. In NYC. All went well recovery tough but manageable I was extremely tired for months but it was a success. After 2 years has the thoracic area done T2-T9. Because upper discs were collapsing I-have been in a lot of pain since then. I want the rods removed but very confused if it would really help the pain. The right doctor makes the difference and being in good health.
LucilleT.
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1 Reaction@bassetmom
I wish I had never done my fusion and I just did L4-5. I now have arachnoiditis! Hideous
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