I was thinking RSD too, also called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (Complex Regional Pain Syndromes Type I) and Causalgia (Complex Regional Pain Syndromes Type II)(RSD and CRPS)
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum21.html

so if they removed the bones? the actual vertebra??
I'm assuming they put something in those places, a graft or such?
Or hardware??