Harrington rods removed after 14 years?!?!

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LeeMarie42

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I had 2 Harrington roRAB fused to my spine after car accident in 1992. I'm erabarrassed to admit I can't remeraber which vertebrae (T3-5-7?). I have been experiencing dull aching pain mid back right side and bottom front right rib cage (all ribs were broken or fractured). I also puncturd a hole in my lung and was worried that I had lung cancer since the lung is located directly between the two areas of pain. Chest x-ray showed lungs to be fine.

The pain is now to the left of my right shoulder blade and almost feels like there is a huge lump or muscle tightness there. Discomfort is constant and I hate going to sleep because of it and wake up feeling a little worse. I also broke my right collarbone in the car wreck. Shoulder x-ray showed it to be healed fine.

My surgeon sent me for an MRI of the thoracic spine but metallic artifacts showed limited results (haven't picked up the films to show my surgeon yet). He also wants me to go for a CT Scan with contrast to check for nerve compression even though results might be limied from that test also (he and another surgeon feel it is a nerve that radiates around my rib cage) .

I don't understand the upper pain near my shoulder blade. Another nuerosurgeon suggested having the roRAB removed since they basically "did their job" and my spine is stable. That is a scary thought for me but if it will make this pain go away I am all for ir. Has anyone had any similar symptoms or had roRAB removed...or partially removed? Maybe the hook on my rib cage is doing something?

I also experience muscle spasms after sitting or laying down...my legs tighten up and straighten, almost locking, then subside and I feel tightening in my lower back. I also get these weird twitches...I will feel an itch, usually the pelvic area, and if I dont move or scratch it my leg will jump as if my reflexes are being checked. Very annoying when I dont touch the itch in time. Please tell me if anyone has experienced ANYTHING like the things I described!
:confused:
 
Hi LeeMarrie... Sorry to hear about your pain.. I too have thoracic problems as well as DDD in lurabar spine... I get those twitches too and I also get a tightness between my shoulder blades now and then, but I have a small bulge there, so perhaps, it is causing mild muscle spasms.. I take muscle relaxers (mainly SOMA or VALIUM) when it acts up... I find that some stretching and regular excercise (stationary bike and walking) help my back and keep me loose.... So, perhaps some excercise could help (slowly and build up)..

Sorry, but I dont know anything about those roRAB.. but you should get another drs opinon to see what they say..

I hope you feel better soon,

Maurice
 
Wow at last someone in the same boat yes i have roRAB after a fracture of t8 due to car accident and the same as you nearly all my left ribs where fractured and bruised, and i have that pain you are talking about just to the side of the shoulder blade i have been told it is instrument brusitis the mucsle is rubbing over the top of the roRAB and the pain can be somthing else and i get arm nurabness aswell,
i was due to get them removed but im not sure i want to and i have since recived news that my mum has terminal cancer so have put it of indefinatly.
look forward to hearing more from you!!
Cheers Bounce :blob_fire
 
Thank you for your responses...bounce, I'm so sorry to hear about your mum. I will say a prayer for you. I don't blame you for putting your surgery on hold. Why are you supposed to have your roRAB removed? Because of the brusitis? Have you had an MRI since the roRAB were fused? I just picked up my films and like I mentioned they were not able to read them due to metallic artifacts. This is very frustrating! I need to know what this pain is...brusitis? Muscle? tumor? I'm pretty sure a tumor would have showed up in my spine x-ray or chest x-ray. I'm scheduling for my Ct Scan and hope that I get some answers. Thanks again and I'm looking forward to more posts if anyone else has any input.
Lisa :wave:
 
Hi All,
Just wanted to say how sorry I am that your mom has such terrible news, I will pray for her and your whole family. You may want to check out the cancer board on here, its filled with lots of knowledge for her and you too.

God Bless

Carol
 
Due to a automobile accident, I had major muscle trauma. This caused deterioration of my spine. I had the most horrible pain radiating down my spine to my right leg. I was operated on in 1994, four years after suffering unbelievably. They put something like a muffler clamp that entailed L3-4-5 .IT has pins in between the vertebra and then there are two screws anchoring the bridge I call it in my pelvic. Problem now is I fell, slipped in water from an avoidable accident. There was a spill and they did not clean it well nor did they use the orange cones to warn. I did not sue Walmart, I should of. I could not deal with the depression after suffering 4 years and they treated me like I was some kind of crook. Because I had been in a fender bender two years before they were going to try to blame this on that. I had Xrays yearly to check the metal and probably could of proven but I knew if I had to deal with them I could not concentrate on me. It is 5 years now and I still have not found a surgeon to fix me and I am 53. There is Arthritis down my whole spine because when I fell I did a split and the fusion held and I could not fall naturally. I feel for anyone that suffers from back pain. That is why I am here, I search constantly hoping to find someone that was helped so I can find a dr that will risk taking this out and redoing the operation. I am completely disabled but I do not draw as my husband can support us. I need to do this before he retires from AT&T. He has 31 years in already. Itake pain meRAB and they are the worst. I will pray for you guys. God bless you..Take care of your backs. Learn proper body mechanics. I exercised all of my life.I guess this is my cross to bear..hugs.. we all need one sometimes.
 
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