Hi all. I had a spinal fusion with a Harrington rod placed in 1973, when I was 12 years old (my spine had 2 severe curvatures). The surgery was done by Dr. Stanley Hoppenfeld, who was an esteemed author and well known orthopedist. He specialized in the application of the Harrington Rod. After many office jobs, at age 31 I started bartending and then I did Nursing, with no complications. They are both very active jobs. At age 44, I helped to move a patient of mine and I felt a tear in my neck and back, which eventually disabled me from ever working again in either a bartending or Nursing capacity. The main source of the pain was where the rod starts. Then, 5 years later I started having pain in my lumbar spine, where the rod ended. For the last 13 years I have had lower back pain that at first was manageable but is now severe. I still have chronic pain where the rod starts. I recently had 2 Medial Branch blocks of the lumbar spine and because they were both successful I had the main procedure, a Radiofrequency ablation. The ablation was not successful, (30% of patients do not get pain relief). Aside from having the Ablation procedure repeated, (which I plan on doing), I have been told that the only other option to relieve the pain (and the Flatback Syndrome that I have, which is a result of the fusion) is surgery. I am currently in Physical Therapy for core strengthening for the Flatback Syndrome, and the Dr. has said it can become worse. And of course, at age 62, I have arthritis. So I agree with you, I have had severe problems in the areas where the rod starts and stops. The Orthopedists have said that the muscles at these locations have taken the brunt of the movement for 50 years and that causes all of the pain and the inflammation. From what I understand, the Harrington Rod is no longer used, now there are several rods placed along the spine to straighten the curve(s). Unfortunately, I have read that there are numerous back issues for so many, years after the fusion. The injury changed my life for the worst and it has not been a pleasant journey. If I do not get relief from the second Ablation, I actually may consider a revision surgery to correct the Flatback Syndrome (which I said I'd never do) and hopefully alleviate the pain. It is very painful to always try to stand straight and I have been told that the condition can get worse. Once the the core muscles become weak it is difficult to reverse the problem. It is a shame that surgery that saved our lives so many years ago has caused so many to have chronic pain and back issues so many years later.

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