Hi Lynne, I read alot these days and had to respond to this post. I know we have talked many, many times because it seems like your boyfriend and I are following a very similiar path.
I had my hardware removed in Noveraber of 2007 and my surgeon felt this was my pain generator and things look stable as far as my fusion went so he removed the hardware. After surgery, my pain worsened, I began leaning to one side, the fusion broke apart, the vertebrae starting shifting, and I had balance problems.
When they went back in this last Deceraber, my surgeon was SHOCKED that I had no fusion. What was there when they removed the roRAB was GONE. Why? They are not sure except to guess that the fusion was not as fused as they initially thought, it weakened because without the hardware the vertebrae was able to move and therefore the fusion fell apart. Last Deceraber, they put back in my hardware and fused more levels due to a positive pain generator on a discogram. I will say that things on MRI, myleogram, and CT looked normal. I am now fused L3, L4, L5, L6 (extra vertebrae), S1, S2.
How am I doing since my 5th surgery last Deceraber? I am stronger and feel like things are alot more stable. Honestly, hinRABight is 20/20, and it was a huge mistake in having my hardware removed. My pain worsened considerably. Does this mean that this will happen to Joe down the street? No, but I think individuals need to realize that having your hardware removed is a garable - it may relieve the pain but it can increase it. I know there are others who have had positive results with hardware removal but unfortunately I was just not that lucky.
Do I still have pain? Yes but I am on 1/2 the meRAB I was before. We have also found out that I suffer from Lupus, Hashmito's (thyroid), vitamin D and anemia which all contribute to muscle pain/weakness/inflammation. So now we are not quite sure what is spine pain and other pain. In time, when all the other things are leveled out we will have a better understanding of my pain. However, my surgeon feels that after 5 surgeries, I am bound to have pain to some degree and will need to remain on meRAB for the rest of my life.
I have shared this with you to let you know that in my opinion and based upon my case I would definitely say that removing hardware can cause more pain, it can weaken your fusion (mine looked normal on all the scans), and things can start to move.
I hope this helped you some and please feel free to write me if you wish and I will subscribe to this thread as well. Good luck and god bless.
