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Harrington rods and complications

Posted by lisa7777 @lisa7777, Jul 1, 2020

I am new here but like many of you I had scoliosis resulting in surgery, and Harrington Rods .I was 15 and I am 59. I had 48 degree curve in my thoracic area. For the last 14 yrs. I have numerous other spine problems. everything above and below my rods is starting to give me issues. I've been in pain management for yrs. I just need someone to tell me that the problems I'm having now are the results of having spinal fusion 45yrs. ago when I wasn't done growing

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lisadt | @lisadt | Jun 15, 2023
In reply to @ladysamsara "Hi all. I had a spinal fusion with a Harrington rod placed in 1973, when I..." + (show)
@ladysamsara

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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Hi,
I have a similar issues to you except I only have 1 Harrington rod in the lumbar. Mine was done when I was 15 years old at the twin centre scoliosis hospital in Minneapolis, Mn. I’m now 63 yrs old and have chronic back pain for several years now. I also have arthritis in my L4&5 can’t stand up straight all the time. I’m on Celebrex (anti-inflammatory) for the arthritis and have had 4 nerve block injections in my spine 10 months ago that have helped a bit. I will be going back for more injections next month. Apparently I’m allowed to get them every 3 months if needed. I’m not thrilled to get them cus it hurts being injected but I do get some relief.
My doctor has said I may be able to get the ablation done, can you please let me know if it’s helped you after the second round?
Also you said you’d go for surgery again. Would you be having the rods removed? Or what can surgeons do for you surgically at this point?
I’m hoping to get in to see a spinal orthopaedic dr soon. I live in Calgary, Canada. So I’m on a very long wait list. It may be up to a year wait.
Thank you for posting, it’s helped me feel not so “alone” with this issue.
Cheers, Lisa

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marcigirl | @marcigirl | Jun 15, 2023
In reply to @scottymac "I am a polio survivor ( 1954 epidemic) and soon after developed scoliosis. After emerging from..." + (show)
@scottymac

I am a polio survivor ( 1954 epidemic) and soon after developed scoliosis. After emerging from an iron lung that kept me alive I was fitted with a series of torso braces as I grew up and as the spinal curve increased to a state of alarm Eventually as a 14 year old teenager, I given the choice of wearing a St Louis brace which appeared horrifying or Harrington rods. It was explained to me that I would never be the same flexibility wise but I chose the rods and Dr. Harrington performed spinal fusion and implanted his rods in 1965. The rods have never broken or in themselves been a problem but I am 70 now and over the years my spine has been slumping and my hips are no longer even resulting in one leg being a fair bit shorter than the other which makes walking a wobbly adventure. I have been contemplating whether I should return to wearing a back/torso brace of some sort. Burt don't know if this would do any good. Anyone have a similar experience?

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What a journey you’ve been through! I will say I was fused T2-L2 when I was 18 years old to correct my severe double scoliosis curves. After about 10 years everything below my fusion had basically crumbled. I’d had a couple surgeries on L4-L5 but no relief. I had developed flatback that progressed into kyphosis. I was then confined to a wheelchair for about 6 months as walking became impossible. I had flatback revision done anterior and posterior and they also put a cage in my lumbar to give me a curve in my low back again. That surgery was life changing. I went on for 7 years. If you find a surgeon you really trust I think the revision would absolutely be worth it.
I have to say I was extremely interested to read about the polio. I was vaccinated for polio in 1985 and for my entire adult life have been convinced that the vaccine gave me scoliosis. Have physicians ever linked your polio and scoliosis?

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marcigirl | @marcigirl | Jul 2, 2023
In reply to @scottymac "I am a polio survivor ( 1954 epidemic) and soon after developed scoliosis. After emerging from..." + (show)
@scottymac

I am a polio survivor ( 1954 epidemic) and soon after developed scoliosis. After emerging from an iron lung that kept me alive I was fitted with a series of torso braces as I grew up and as the spinal curve increased to a state of alarm Eventually as a 14 year old teenager, I given the choice of wearing a St Louis brace which appeared horrifying or Harrington rods. It was explained to me that I would never be the same flexibility wise but I chose the rods and Dr. Harrington performed spinal fusion and implanted his rods in 1965. The rods have never broken or in themselves been a problem but I am 70 now and over the years my spine has been slumping and my hips are no longer even resulting in one leg being a fair bit shorter than the other which makes walking a wobbly adventure. I have been contemplating whether I should return to wearing a back/torso brace of some sort. Burt don't know if this would do any good. Anyone have a similar experience?

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Do you think polios causes scoliosis? I’ve been wondering for years. I for some reason have always strongly felt that the polio vaccine gave me scoliosis so I was curious to read your post!

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1 reply
scottymac | @scottymac | Jul 3, 2023
In reply to @marcigirl "Do you think polios causes scoliosis? I’ve been wondering for years. I for some reason have..." + (show)
@marcigirl

Do you think polios causes scoliosis? I’ve been wondering for years. I for some reason have always strongly felt that the polio vaccine gave me scoliosis so I was curious to read your post!

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You have been on quite a journey yourself! Scoliosis is not transmittable other than by genetics. My understanding is that the female gender is much more prone to develop scoliosis than males. Perhaps the pair of X X chromosomes is responsible in some way. Yes, scoliosis can develop as a result of polio depending on the severity as in my case. You can disregard the notion that a polio vaccine was the source of your scoliosis.

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bluetiffany | @bluetiffany | Jul 5, 2023
In reply to @ken82 "@peggyparker When I lived in College Station, TX.. I had to go to Houston for some..." + (show)
@ken82

@peggyparker When I lived in College Station, TX.. I had to go to Houston for some cardiologist work.. The Medical Centers of MD Anderson, St.Lukes, and others are top notch.. but the problem is those rods were put in to stabilize a spinal curvature problem that existed. Now the surgeons use fusion of vertebrae to stabilize the stack. Not knowing how long your rods are, how they were attached, and resultant scar tissue that developed we can only imagine the problems. I had spinal fusion in OKC in 1995 and have had little problem ever since.. That doctor is retired. But the main issue is if rods are taken out, fusion must take place to help hold your body erect.. K

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Had Harrington rods on 2000 with cervical laminectomy in 2009 for spinal cord compression in his neck. Now have terrible pain in neck where neck connected to Harrington rods with lunacy. Can anyone explain this painful condition. Dropping and twitching on right side. Need neuro name and info about this this condition from Mayo.

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2 replies
ken82 | @ken82 | Jul 5, 2023
In reply to @bluetiffany "Had Harrington rods on 2000 with cervical laminectomy in 2009 for spinal cord compression in his..." + (show)
@bluetiffany

Had Harrington rods on 2000 with cervical laminectomy in 2009 for spinal cord compression in his neck. Now have terrible pain in neck where neck connected to Harrington rods with lunacy. Can anyone explain this painful condition. Dropping and twitching on right side. Need neuro name and info about this this condition from Mayo.

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@bluetiffany .. sorry, I don't know what that is called.. I have appointments at Mayo MN spine center tomorrow and Friday.. concerning my pinched nerve at C6.. will try to ask..

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debrajean674 | @debrajean674 | Jul 18, 2023

Well your f you're the first person that ever knew have Harrington rods I have two Herring to rods on each side of my spine from a car accident when I was 17 I'm 59 now the last five yours have been hard I'm pretty sure it's from the rods I would go to a specialist and talk to them about it I have a bulging disc I have a couple of compound fractures that have been held up I mean it's almost a relief that somebody else feels like I do kind of not that I want you to feel that way if you have any questions just private message me my name is Debbie I live in Las Vegas Nevada

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1 reply
debrajean674 | @debrajean674 | Jul 19, 2023

If you go to YouTube they have a lot of things about the Harrington rods on there and there's one lady that had them removed but it's a big big surgery you have to check it out and see thank you Debbie

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jul 19, 2023
In reply to @debrajean674 "Well your f you're the first person that ever knew have Harrington rods I have two..." + (show)
@debrajean674

Well your f you're the first person that ever knew have Harrington rods I have two Herring to rods on each side of my spine from a car accident when I was 17 I'm 59 now the last five yours have been hard I'm pretty sure it's from the rods I would go to a specialist and talk to them about it I have a bulging disc I have a couple of compound fractures that have been held up I mean it's almost a relief that somebody else feels like I do kind of not that I want you to feel that way if you have any questions just private message me my name is Debbie I live in Las Vegas Nevada

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Hi @debrajean674, please note that I have removed your phone number from the public forum. I recommend using the secure private message function to share personal contact information.

I might also add that by sharing here in the forum, you are connecting with several people where all can benefit from group support.

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debrajean674 | @debrajean674 | Jul 20, 2023

Well I think that we're all having about the same amount of problems they really didn't know what kind of problems with the rods create so many years down the line flat back is the worst one and I'm having a surgery for that and a couple other things I have a couple of compound fractures in my back and I have a growth out of my back it's not normal I have a bulging disc and a couple other things wrong but I'm going to UMC in Las Vegas Nevada and they have high tech stuff in there but I hear Dr Duke is one of the best orthopedic surgeons that you can find thank you Debbie

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