Harrington rods and complications

@rwdixon4
This is the Mayo connect website and requires a different login access than the patient portal where you can send messages to the nurse and view your medical records, etc..
It was a little confusing for me at first until I created a shortcut for each one on my phone😊

@nlback22 You are welcome. Please stay in touch. I am excited for you and the big positive change in your life. It's hard to imagine what that must feel like as I haven't had your experience with scoliosis over a lifetime. This is why I am here on Connect. My spine journey was different than yours and was a major life lesson to me in overcoming fear, and I was loosing the coordination in my arms and I am an artist and didn't want to accept that condition in my life. Getting back my strength and coordination was a profound change in my life, and I'm sure you are experiencing that feeling too, but in a different way. It's hard to describe it in words.

Sending you a hug
Jennifer

@rwdixon4, I'll add to the helpful comments from @nlback22 and @sherrym25

It sounds like you are looking for Mayo Clinic's patient portal called Patient Online Services (https://onlineservices.mayoclinic.org/PatientOnlineServices).

- Patient Online Services is the patient portal where you can see medical records, contact your doctor, see reports and test results, as well as schedule appointments.
- Mayo Clinic Connect (this forum) is an online patent community where you can share your experiences and find support from people like you.

If you are having technical issues with Patient Online Services, contact POS tech support https://profile.mayoclinic.org/help?applicationId=24e83c70-19b1-4a2f-9412-fd5838c56be7

To get personal help with setting up or using your account with Patient Online Services, contact Mayo's Concierge Services https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/minnesota/concierge-services.

I found it again I had seen it when it was created and forgot it was a different log in. All the images are there just not sure if fusing T10 T11 to L1 L2 will do it & L3 L4 L5 are done ! ! !
I'm holding alot of hope and prayers ~

@rwdixon4 I will pray for you!!😊

Thank you, Jennifer.
We are both testaments to dreams coming true at Mayo.

I am so happy that you were able to return to things that you love.

I still have a long ways to go. My husband and I have remained in Rochester for the initial stage of my recovery and to take advantage of the P.T. and O.T. I have my post-op with Dr. Fogelson on 7/24 and will be returning home 7/30.

I'll keep connected!

Best wishes to everyone!

Nadine

@nlback22 Nadine, that is something to look forward to, and please say hello to him for me if you remember. I think he will be pleased with your progress. Mayo is my happy place and yours too! If you can walk well enough, you may want to take a tour of the Mayowood mansion that was the home of Charlie Mayo. Tickets are purchased through the historical museum. It is wonderful if you like history.
https://www.olmstedhistory.com/mayowood
You can also visit the historical suites (free) on the 2nd floor of the Plummer Building. Just take the elevator to the 2nd floor. It is that old building with the carillon bells and the fancy brass doors across the courtyard from the Gonda/Mayo building. It has the original offices of the Mayo brothers and old instruments, etc.

When I broke my ankle in 2020, I contacted Dr. Fogelson, and he recommended a surgeon at Mayo who helped me. I had an appointment set up right away just a couple days later and was scheduled for surgery right after that. That was a long tough recovery (worse than my spine surgical recovery) and only last year was I able to hike a long distance for the first time without trashing my ankle. I figured out how to equalize the tension in tendons and ligaments all around the ankle, and after that, it was pain free and I could do a lot more. I'll send you some information in a private message.

Jennifer

Nadine, Thank you SO much or this information. You are so brave, an 11-hour surgery is incredible. I'm so happy that your chronic back pain and surgery pain have subsided, that is so great. It's also great to hear that you are doing mile-long walks! I just had my MRI last night (after calling 3-4 times a day for cancellations because I was originally scheduled for 8/16) on the 1.5T machine that everyone in this forum recommended (thank you all!) and will see Dr. Mitsunaga on 8/1. I've been trying to get an earlier appt but that's the soonest I could get to date. Did you consider doctors at UCSF? I see some online and ask because it would be a closer plane ride for me (in case I have to return frequently). Thank you!

Hi Jennifer,
So sorry to hear about your long ankle recovery. Fortunately, you figured out how to make your ankle feel better. It sounds like you will be walking a mile before you know it! 🙏 (Your persistence and determination to feel better both with your ankle and cervical spine had positive results.)

It's good to know that Dr. Fogelson took the time to provide the recommendation to an ankle surgeon and that you got in so quickly.😊

I will definitely tell Dr. F. that you said "hello".

Thanks for the recommendations of things to see. Mayowood is on my list. We are renting a car for the last week of our stay so we can explore a little more of Rochester.
We toured the Plummer building and was so impressed with the design features and beauty. Plus the visit to the historical suites was really informative and interesting. It is hard to imagine walking into a medical clinic as beautiful as the Plummer Building ---especially back in 1928.

I had a busy day, I'll check the private message tomorrow,.

Thanks for everything!
Best wishes!
Nadine

Hi Cori,

You're welcome! Great Job on scheduling those appointments.

I didn't check out UCSF very closely, but Dr. Kyle Mitsunaga did a Spinal Deformity fellowship there. Addtionally, Dr. Mitsunaga is Course Director and Chair at a 4 day UCSF educational conference in Spinal Surgery.

Should Dr. Mitsunaga not be able to help you, he should be able to let you know if anyone at UCSF has experience dealing in cases like yours.

It looks like Dr Mitsunaga has strong Spine surgery background.

When you see him you will want to ask him questions to determine whether he is right for you. Below I listed the link to 40 questions to ask your surgeon. You would want to pick the top questions you want to ask. (AI could also help you with a list of questions.)

The main thing you want to know, is how many cases like yours (with Harrington Rod) has he treated and what was the outcome for those patients?

What type of surgery would he recommend for you? (Get details on what he would do)

Would he leave in your existing Rod?
(My rod and that section of my back were fine so my old rod was left in my back. )

What would he anticipate for your outcome? ( My doctor, said if all goes as planned, that I should have 95% less pain. )

What would recovery look like? How long?

Risks/ Concerns?

The main thing to remember is that the more number of surgeries a doctor does of a certain type, the better he will be.

Should you wish to seek a second opinion you can ask the doctor for a recommendation.

Here is the link of to the list of potential questions--pick 5-10 that are important to you:
https://www.spine-health.com/blog/40-questions-ask-your-surgeon-back-surgery
Good luck, Cori!

Nadine