MAW

I can not tell you that I had this done but I too have been faced with having this operation. I know many people have mentioned the negative things but that is what we are asking...what was your experince and or knowledge. I am happy for all who had a positive experience too. I am grateful for all of you who shared what it was like for you. It gives me things to consider I may not have thought about otherwise. I like Neurotalk Community because I can learn and share experinces. Doctors do not always have the time to share everything. I like to research the subject and make an informed decision for many of us it is a very big decision. For each one of us it depends on considering our physical issues.
I have Low back issues, stenosis, MP, a slipping disc., etc. I need to consider the outcome of of not relieving the compression of nerves in my spine. I thank all of you who share here.

Blessings
Lookingup58

I had L5-S1 fused 10 years ago and am now facing the same problem at L4-S5. This time though I am not doing a 'hard fusion' with bone graphs or disk removal. They are going to use flexible scient'x isobar rods which are supposed to take the weight off the disk yet allow for movement in the joint. I'm wondering if anyone has had this done. They have only been available in the States for about 5 years.

Hi! I had a full spinal fusion back in 06...i was in pain for about 4 yrs after surgery and I finally found out what was going on after yrs of doctors appoinents. I ended up having an infection and had to have another surgery to remove the hardware. I feel a lot better now, but was wondering if any of you had to same problem? My doctor who preformed the surgery said that paitents have been coming back more and more with infection 3-5 yrs afyer the rods have been put in. I also want to know if anyone has heard of any recalls on the titanium rods and screw bc of infection rate? Thank you for your time on reading about my surgery problems.

I read your post and have been taken by surprise!!!! I had lumbar spinal fusion in "06" as well. Had material used to grow bone for fusion. I had gone to see the surgeon for visits with xrays until 2 years after the surgery. The pain never ceased. About a year after the surgery, the doctor suggested looking into the possibility of a spinal cord stimulator.

The surgeon would tell me he could see bone growing and pointing this out in the xrays. I guess I just assumed I fused. Lately, I've been reading about some that never fused. I did see another spine ortopaedic surgeon a little over three years ago, (he was the one I originally wanted; but had to wait a couple of months to see him at the time and the pain was horrible; went to Rush Medical Center, Chicago,IL for the fusion/laminectomy). This doctor did a myleogram and also said no more could be done and referred me to a Pain Specialist.

I have been in terrible pain and take Oxycontin and Oxycodone, vallium and Ambien Cr. Eventually had problem with PN; burning feet, ankles and pain in legs got even worse. Spine pain never went away. Even with a pretty high dose of OxyContin the pain is still really bad. (Did do a failed trial stimulator a little over 2 years ago.

As I mentioned....I was surprised by your post about infection. Never thought an infection was possible; especially this long after surgery. I have not seen a doctor specializing in orthopaedic spine surgery in over 3 years. The Pain Specialist has done several procedures (injections, etc., trial stimulator) but he does not specialize in anything other than pain.

Again, I am taken by surprise and wonder what type of pain you had and how was this infection discovered??? I would appreciate hearing more regarding your experience. Thanks.

Gerry

I went throught the same thing for years! No one could figure out what was wrong...i was always in pain..sharp pain, dull pain, you name it I had it,also very tired all the time..i was taking pretty much all the same pills as you. Plus physical theapy. The way they found out it was infdction was an absess at the site of insion. I had it drained and packed. Then the drained site wouldnt heal bc a cyst was protruting out of the drainage insision. They still didnt know untill I went to get the cyst removed at the UofM in michigan. They found my surgen that prformed my surgery at the UofM and she came down to see me...looked right at it and poked around..and said you need those rods out now, they are infected. Then a day later I had to have my hardware removal surgery.

Also I was tested for infection 1 yr. Before and they never found anything...but the infextion was indeed there, they said for a few years. When they took out the rods they were all eaten up by the infection.

Appreciate your response. In your case, the absess at the incision site was an indicator of problems. I have no such things going on. Everything seems to be healed. Tender areas; but nothing to indicate a problem.

The pain has never quit and when I saw your post this sounded like a possible reason for all this pain. I'm glad you were able to get relief; but that's awful what the infection did to the rods.

Other than getting an xray to see if rods are still in place, which might show if rods have deterioated, is probably the way to go. When I had the Myleogram a few years ago, done by the doctor I had originally wanted, showed that one of the screws was close to a vein and should come out because there could eventually be a problem. He told me to go back to the surgeon that performed the fusion.

I did bring the original surgeon CDs of the myleogram. There were two myleograms...one with dye and one witout. It was obvious the surgeon was having a problem even using the CD. I guess he is accustomed to putting an xray on the lighted board and that's about it. The only thing he did finally say was he didn't see that to be a problem and nothing would probably happen. He saw no reason to remove screw. That was over 3 years ago. Have only been to Pain Specialist since then.

Thanks again for your post. Really appreciate your taking the time.

Gerry

I was going to ask about the blood test for infection.

I'm also kind of surprised the rods would have deteriorated (much less caused an infection). I just did some digging, and it turns out that the titanium rods used for surgical implants are actually alloys of Titanium (90%), Aluminum (6%), and Vanadium (4%).
http://www.supraalloys.com/medical-titanium.php

Digging a bit further, I came across this discussion between some doctors on the subject a few years ago:
http://www.fixscoliosis.com/archive/index.php/t-90.html

Apparently, these rods/implants are only expected to have a life expectancy (the rods -- not the patients) of ~20 years. What's supposed to happen after that....? In your case, it wasn't even that long.

From the link above, it appears there may be some studies out there, but why aren't things changing, or patients being fully informed, or a dozen other questions I could think of?

Thanks for the 411. It's something we may be hearing more about with the aging of the Boomers...

Doc

I pray that you do not have an infection. I am not panicked or anything, but maybe a bit worried, as my pain level has been consistant since my surgery too. After reading the posts, and the articles I had no idea either that this kind of possiblity of infection could happen. I hope you go see your surgeon to rule this out. Your pain has been severe all along. So sorry that you have that to deal with that. Your faith keeps you strong. ginnie

6yrslater,

I want to thank you for your post too. I haven't been able to stop thinking about this whole issue (for very long) since I first read it, which tells me there may be something more to it.

I can't guess how many cases I've read about here and elsewhere of spinal surgery patients experiencing unaccountable pain after their surgeries. Now I can't help but wonder if this surgical titanium is all its cracked up to be, and may be responsible for a good number of them.

Further study is in order, but they can't just start opening people up to take a look at all the hardware. There's another option, but it's kinda ghoulish (if medically appropriate).

Doc

I hope to God that this is not the case with the metal that is put in our bodies. I already have immune problems out the yin yang. Read both the articles and was horrified. I asked my surgeon about this and he said titanium is good for life. So did he just not know or is it a case of not telling the patient all the information? I am prone to infection as it is, and I sure don't want any problems down the line with this. It was painful enough to get it put in, much less having to deal with taking it out. It makes you wonder about the consequenses that might occur. I think doctors need to present this information. What I read about it prior to my surgery, said nothing about this at all. I got the name of the device to be used on me, and did look it up.
Information came from the company who makes the device. Hummmm.....not good. ginnie