Harrington rods and complications

I have two Harrington rods in my back and I understand about the pain but the only way you can make it better is to have surgery again you have to speak to a surgeon not to a doctor to a surgeon ask for a referral that's the only way you're going to get relief I don't take any payments but I'm in a lot of pain once in a while take a quarter of a pain pill but those pain pills are horrible once you get on them you can't get off of them I really do feel for you I know how you feel but the only way to get rid of the pain is to talk to the doctor about it I mean a surgeon you need anything let me know thank you Debbie

Not payments pain medicine LOL

Peggy there's a girl on YouTube that had her runs taken out just put in Harrington mods and you should come up she had them taken out it was a long recovery I mean a long long recovery

Rods taken out sorry I'm talking into the phone

I had one harrington rod fused to my spine at 15. Never had any pain from the surgery or after. At 59, all of a sudden I started having neck pain, and have a hard time turning my head without pain to the left. My scoliosis was severe. Arthritis runs in my family, including degenerative osteoarthritis. I thought I just had a kink in my neck but some days it is worse than others. One day I think it is almost gone, but then I woke up today and the pain is severe. I've never been diagnosed with arthritis. Can the pain I now have come on that quickly? The pain will shoot to the top of my skull, down my left arm, and throughout my neck. Sometimes I have to hold my neck to roll over at night because I feel like my neck will break. Any ideas? My surgery was done in Minneapolis, Minnesota, at the time there were only 2 hospitals that specialized in Scoliosis.

Hello. I am new here. The condition is called dystonia. I myself have injections by neurologist every three months in my neck (at least 5 injections on both sides total). This condition was caused by my scoliosis and Harrington rod that I had placed at age 15 in 1978 in Virginia. I have had pain since age 15, I am now 60. I am on a heating pad every night when I get in bed to acclimate my back to a flat position. I am now trying to find a doctor here to help me with this constant pain. I am prescribed Botox for medical management that is injected by a neurologist trained in the sides of my neck. This stops the neck from twisting and bending forward. Although after 30 years of these injections, I will probably need to have then more often than every 3 months. This condition happened in my 40s at work when one day my neck felt it snapped and immediately twisted to the right. I hope this helps.

Hello. Cervical dystonia is your neck issue. I get Botox (medical) injections every 3 months. Have had them for over 30 years as I too have a Harrington rod placed age 15 and now am 60. It provides some relief with the twisting (deadens it), but it is all related to the spine and Harrington rod.

Welcome, @simonetta. I'm glad to hear that you are finding some relief with the medical Botox injections.

@dena63 and @bluetiffany, here is further information about cervical dystonia from Mayo Clinic that you may wish to explore:
- Cervical dystonia https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cervical-dystonia/symptoms-causes/syc-20354123

Simonetta, should you wish to connect with others talking about cervical dystonia, please see these related discussions:
- Anyone else have cervical dystonia?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/kaia-hi-kaja-this-is-kevin-kelley-just-read-your-post-on/
- Cervical dystonia (Spasmodic Torticollis): Looking for support
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/spasmodic-torticollis/

Hello, I am a recent graduate of a complete fusion with screws and some flexible rods- per the X ray. I am 75 and my surgery was to stop the aggressive degenerative scoliosis I developed later in life- three curves, two at a 74% curve , one at 60%. I am fused from the top of my spine to the bottom of the pelvic bone. I now have developed a curve in my neck. I was scheduled for fusion for this last fall but canceled because I would no longer be able to drive with a fusion of seven of the vertebrae. A Scoliosis surgeon, Dr. Darrell Hanson and a neurologist, Dr. Holman did my surgery, one on each side. I consider the surgery a success, I was wearing a very rigid brace that was hot, and I could do nothing without having it on. It was difficult to sleep with those curves...I have lost two of the inches I had gained back, my spine is again curving forward and some to the side. I believe we need to keep exercising and enjoy life. I am about to have the third set of surgeries on each of my ten toes, one foot at a time. Apparently, an injury to the spine can cause bone issues for other areas- like the toes.
All the toes have curved- this time I am lucky because they now have screws to put in the toes.
We are blessed to live in this day and age where we are able to have access to so much medical care. I use aqua therapy, Pilates and weight training. I cannot walk for exercise, but perhaps I will be able to soon.

PS I use Botox for dystonia in my neck and have used steroids for this in the past. You need to be careful about the dosage of the Botox and steroids. I stopped the steroids, because my head started leaning to the left.