Connect
Spine Tuberculosis contamination
Howdy my name is Fernie. I'm 51 and 3 years (April, 18 2023)ago the VA sent me to an orthopedic surgeon to fuse L3-L4. The surgery went well but after 1 month I started having severe pain throughout my spine, colorectal bleeding like crazy, massive headaches, weight loss, crazy night sweats and finally by July I was bed bound. Then one day the CDC got ahold of me and informed me that the orthopedic surgeon introduced a bacteria to my spine. A contaminated cadaver bone graft. It was the first time Tuberculosis meant anything. I had active TB in my spine. And it was an outbreak. 36 total contracted Pott's Disease. 3 have died and I have been left with a severe spinal cord injury. Unfortunately for me I lost everything to this, including my job, my sanity, everything. And its worse because I lost my health care insurance and now have to depend on the VA and they have already been extremely negligent in seeking specialized care. Ive been begging them to send me here to the Mayo and after 8 months they approved me but my condition is critical. If anything I want to create awareness so that the VA doesn't do this to more veterans. My injuries stemmed from Iraq in 2004 and I hope my spine can be stabilized so I can get back to my wife and son.
Fernie.
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Spine Health Support Group.
Connect
@fernie74 Welcome. Thank you for your service. Are you still suffering with an infection from prior fusion? Does that surgery need revisions or is the instability related to another place in the spine? Are you able to walk?
Did you get approval from your VA insurance to be referred to Mayo?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsFernie, I'm so sorry. Obviously, you deserve, at the very least, better care. Are you a part of any of the lawsuits filed in behalf of victims.
Bless your struggle with lots of luck.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 Reactions@jenniferhunter Thanks. I had active spine TB for 5 months. There is instability from the cervical spine to the lumbar spine. It has desiccated discs. It also caused 2 syrinx. One in the cervical area. The other in whole of the lumbar spine and is expending and the pain to walk, sit, stand is incessant. My whole spine has been devoured by this nasty bacteria. Supposedly I’m in remission but I’ve been warned about prednisone. My body is rejecting the bacteria contaminated bone graft so this is long term or until my body can’t take anymore. I use a wheelchair and spend 90% of my time in bed. The dr. told me to try not moving my spine too much as the syrinx can rupture. The VA finally approved me after 8 months of begging for specialized care. I’m waiting on the neuro-surgery team at Mayo to review my case. The TB sequelae is what is killing me.