Fusions on back - Ever break?

Not sure what happened, but get it checked out ASAP. From my experience, a lot of these fusions are totally unnecessary. I have talked to many people who have had spinal fusions {including myself) and the end result was either no change in pain level or pain became worse. I would get multiple opinions on this. Wish I had done that before jumping into the spinal fusion that I had done back in 2017.

2015 (lumbar fusion) surgeon cut a nerve by leaving a bone shard in…at L-5…woke up with drop foot…next day, another surg. to fix…..shin to foot still numb….thn, I stooped so bad, another surg. Redid 1st surg, fixed some through stomach, then days later, the big one. Stood straight

Definitely call your surgeon and his team and tell them what happened. I have had 11 spine surgeries, am fused C6-S1…and have had screws pull out on a couple different occasions, it happens. From your brief description I have a feeling that is what happened. A few years ago, I was closing a sliding glass door about 6 months after surgery and felt something pop in my back and had excruciating pain right after. It ended up that one of my osteotomies had popped open and screws in a section of my upper back had popped out. Ouch! So, definitely call and tell the you want them to order an X-ray/CT to make sure everything is holding! Don’t wait! Good luck! Side note: we replaced the sliding glass door too! 🤣

@cbeasley Welcome to Connect. I see you have had some responses from other members. I was wondering about bone quality. My mom had a spine compression fracture related to her osteoporosis. I mention it as another possibility if bone quality is an issue. Do you have an appointment to get some answers?

Alreayhad appt scheduled with Ortho, 6/1…. I called to see if I needed a CT for this new problem first….his NP called me but got no voice & hung up. Called back..,appt person said they’re experiencing phone problems since data breach! What??? Oh no!

So fearful of added surgery to fix this! I hope a quick CT will show what I did….late 60s, female, osteoporosis - how will anything hold from now on I wonder?!

Talk with your surgeon about utilizing bone growth proteins in your graft/s. My surgeon also utilized an internal bone growth stimulator with my last surgery. He was extra careful to make sure everything healed correctly. We added extra calcium and vitamin D to my daily vitamins, a lot of walking too. The battery of the bone growth stimulator has to come out after a year but a small procedure, well worth things healing correctly. Ask about your options but hopefully everything is ok!

I take D, was taking calcium until a front tooth crown broke off…oral surgeon put in bone graft said go off calcium , not sure why that is.

@cbeasley Are you being treated for osteoporosis? You may want to consider a consult with an endocrinologist who specializes in osteoporosis.

My mom has had these issues, but is much older than you. Her issues were made worse by a parathyroid gland problem that was pulling calcium out of her bones that went on for a few years before it was detected. There are 4 parathyroid glands on the front of the neck near where the thyroid gland is. She had a couple of the bad ones removed. To find this, they have to monitor blood calcium levels. When hers were very high, she had to stop taking calcium or eating foods rich in it, but the damage had been done. I guess too much blood calcium can be a problem.

When she had a spontaneous compression fracture in her spine, the osteoporosis made her not be a candidate for a bone cement procedure. Instead she had a back brace while she healed, and wasn't good about wearing it, so now she has added a 43 degree curve to her spine.

How about putting the question about stopping Vitamin D to all of your specialists and discuss with them what the others have said? An endocrinologist may be a good one to discuss this with. You could also consider hormone replacement to help with bone mass. I have been doing the natural bio identical compounded hormone replacement for several years. I don't have results yet, but I did have a DEXA scan to check my bone mass recently. From what I understand in your post, you have had extensive spine surgery. Bone mass is very important to keep screws in bone held tight as there is a lot of pressure at the lower end of the spine because it bears most of your body weight.

My last Dexascan said I’d break a wrist before a hip….it’s time for another one.
I had a gastric bypass when young, a lot has come back, but not all. Bypass keeps vitamins & minerals from absorbing. I’ve had kidney stones removed, another thing bypass can cause, low in potassium too. Dentist is one told me not to take calcium until implant was put in.