I didn't mean to alarm anyone or cause any fear/panic. I was thinking aloud, as folks often do here. There are a zillion possibilities for post-operative pain -- I think the most likely being nerve damage that was there prior to any surgery.

I do not think your (or anyone's) doctor kept anything from them. This may be news to most surgeons as well. They go on the best information they have or can get. Besides, at this point in time, I know of nothing better than titanium for this purpose.

It's also possible that this phenomenon happens in only a small number of people due to some sensitivity, genetic difference, contamination of the hardware.... Infections can start many ways, and may just use the titanium as a path of least resistance - like lightning. I can't even figure out WHY infection would attack or effect titanium in this way!

I don't have any solid answers. I'm just going on the same information as you, that makes me think... "Hmmm... I wonder?"
Like I said, it deserves study, but no-one should convince themselves they have an infection festering inside them from titanium implants; it's not logical or warranted at this point.

Concerns should be addressed to doctors/surgeons; not fueled by some guy on the internet musing aloud.

Doc

Yes, I do think that there is something up with the titanium rods, and the fact that they are still using them knowing they dont last as long as they thought is wrong. When they told me I had to have my 1st surgery the doctors told me I would never have to take them out...then I come back 6 years later and im lucky the bars didnt just break in half.


Gerry, I would definitely talk to your doctor who preformed your sugery and talk about possible infection, also having the bars removed.
Before they figured out it was infection, my surgen wanted to take them out 2 years before I had to have surgey again..she said it was 50/50, I would feel better or I wouldnt.
I feel a whole lot better now. I wouldnt doubt it if infection is your problem too.

I'm confused because the material used to grown bone would allow, if wanted or needed, screws and rods to be removed once fusion has taken place. One of the articles Doc gave us to view; stated that the bone and titaniaum might possibly fuse together.

If the rods and screws were removed, it would seem that the bone fusing to the rods and screws would have been removed as well, thereby causing the fusion to be removed along with the rods and screws. Not sure I am making my point here; again this is all so confusing. You really brought something up that most of us never suspected. It would seem that possibly you are no longer fused.

Gerry

If s/he's feeling better and not in as much pain as before, does that matter?

We're kind of guessing our way around this issue, as none of us are surgeons. I spoze it's possible that the fusion covers enough surface area that removing a portion of it to remove hardware would still leave enough intact to stabilize the spine.

Also, in some of these procedures, it may not necessarily be the hardware that fuses, but the cage that replaces the disc, which may be (and often is from what I've read) of a different material than the hardware.

Lots of variables...

Doc

Welcome to Neuro Talk. That is great that you are questioning everything before you do your surgery. The long range issues with me were a factor. I had C6-7 done 7 years ago. I had the domino effect during those inbetween years where my neck got worse. Two years ago, I had C3-7 fused, redoing #6-7. I did not ask the questions that you are. I didn't know I had damage other than the first one at C6-7. I did have trouble and pain right out of surgery, which the doctor didn't believe me. Got my records years later to find out indeed I did have other indications of damage above the site and below. Make sure that you do not have any weakness in the verterbre above and below the surgical site. Your spine has to be strong enough for the hardware. I do wish you all the best. ginni

Hi! My name kittykats59 and I had L-3&4 done Feb. 25th. Well now I have a screw loose and the pain is outrageous. My opinion is, if I could do it over again, it wouldn't get done.