Harrington rods and complications

I found a great Doctor on the Scoliosis Foundation Website. I had my fusion in 1975 at 16, then 2015 had remaining 4 bottom fused. Feet burn and are numb, I have broken both ankles. Tore my knee and had it replaced. This isnt for sissy's!!!

Yes, Our issues really have not been studied as well as they should have been.

@kathy911959 Welcome to Connect. It must have been a difficult journey for you with all the spine surgery. I'm glad your here, not just for your shared experience, but because members here can also offer support to you. Staying active and involved helps. I am a spine surgery patient and had a single level cervical fusion. My journey was overcoming a lot of fear in facing my surgery, so that is why I like to help on Connect; to help members cope with and understand medical procedures.

I crushed L1 in 1986 and my back was fused with rods and screws. This fusion failed in 1990 and I then had Harrington rods, which were to be removed after a year or two. My surgeon left Canada and I could not find anyone to remove the rods. In 2015, I was losing my ability to walk and was referred to a team of surgeons. They decided to operate and they removed the Harrington rods and installed further rods and screws, which are from T10 to L5. I was able to walk, but sadly I can now only walk the length of my rancher with difficulty.

how is the doctor at duke doing for you?
I have a 12 inch harrington rod now 51 years and the pain in lower back is bad with SI joint slipping - neuropathy when I walk. they don't want to do surgery and I really don't want it. The pain has been getting very very bad last 6 months.

Hi. I just found and joined this forum, so my apologies for being a few years late to reply. Were you able to find a solution? I also have rods that were put in for scoliosis (in 1980) and now feel pressure in my lower spine and have numbness along my right side down to my right foot. Please let me know. Thank you!

Was the surgery at UMC helpful? Did you have Dr. Duke? What is his/her first name?

I am a different person but I had a similar situation. Due to Scoliosis, in 1977, I had a spinal fusion with a Harrington Rod implant. Everything with my spinal fusion has been fine, but over the last few years the area below the fusion developed multiple issues causing chronic pain in my back along with right leg nerve "pain"--numbness.
Your back may not be as bad as mine. I suggest you go to a Spine Specialist--Orthopedic or Neurosurgeon as soon as possible. If you live near a teaching hospital that is a good place to begin. There is much that a specialist can do and recommend. It sounds like you have a pinched nerve.

With the complexity of my back, I saw Dr.Jeremy Fogelson at the Mayo Clinic, in Rochester Minnesota. He specializes in Scoliosis and Complex Degenerative Spine Disorders.

Good luck to you!
Nadine

Hi Nadine. Thank you so much for your reply. My situation sounds almost exactly like yours. Due to scoliosis, in 1980, I had a Harrington Rod implant. My curve was an "s" so I actually have 2 rods. Like you, my spinal fusion was fine but now my lower back and right-side leg (all the way down to my foot) are painful and numb. I'm seeing Dr. Kyle Mitsunaga in Honolulu, HI. He's an orthopedic surgeon, focused on spine, but I'm wondering if I should fly to Mayo Clinic to see Dr. Fogelson. Do you mind telling me if you had another surgery by Dr. Fogelson and if so, what kind? Also, are you feeling better now? Thank you!

Hi Cori,
I suggest you first see what treatment Dr. Mitsunaga recommends.
He did his Spine Fellowships at 2 well respected schools.

If you decide go to Mayo, they will want to see prior scans--MRI and Xrays-- before accepting you as a patient.

I live in California and went to Minnesota to see Fogelson due to his experience in operations on patients with Harrington Rods and Complex Degenerative spines. I hope your spine is not as bad as mine.
(I will attach copies of my xrays. )

I had 2 surgeries.
May 13 2025- Day one-- Sacroilliac Fusions due to arthritis and resulting pain from my Sacroilliac joints.( 2 hour surgery)
May 14 2025-Day two--
Spinal fusion plus doctor made wedges in 3 vertebrae to improve spinal alignment (11 hours)
Immediately after surgery, my prior chronic back pain was gone, as well as my nerve pain.
However, I did experience pain at the surgical site for awhile. And I had some hypersentivity in my nerves in that area for about a week.
But by week 4-5 almost all surgical pain went away. However, it has been, and still is, difficult to sit for very long before my back gets sore. But the time that I can sit has increased. (Now it is week 8.) I still lay down and ice 3-5 times a day--it helps to relax my back.

During my surgery, Dr. Fogelson was able to free up my nerves that were being pinched by my various vertebrae. So, since surgery, I was concerned when I started to feel my right leg nerve pain develop and increase with more activity. (numbness and weird sensations). But I was told this is common and should disappear.🙏

By week 6, I have been taking mile long walks. I take at least 3 walk a day, including the mile walk with some shorter walks.

As other spine patients have stated-- no bending, twisting, and lifting will be a way of life.

As it takes 1 1/2 to 2 years for the spine to fully fuse I will have to be very mindful of what I do.

Since you are in Honolulu. I also want to mention that some scoliosis patients have gone to see Dr. McClendon at Mayo, in Phoenix. I am not certain how much experience he has with cases like yours.

Let's keep in touch. I hope you get good news!

Best Wishes!
Nadine

Attachments--
1) xray before my latest surgery
2 and 3) post 2025 surgery