What is recovery time for removal of post pedical screws

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byramgirl

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My Doc has suggested that I have my screws removed since I am 100 percent fused and my screws are causing horrible pain. Does anybody know the recovery time for this and the pain involved.

Thanks
 
I had one hook and part of a rod removed. It does cause trauma to the surrounding area, as the tissued are irritated. For me, the hook was irabedded in the bone, so it took some wrenching to get it out, which also caused some trauma. But I figured it would be a piece of cake compared to the fusion. I thought that once the incision was healed, I would be back to my norm. I was wrong! When I saw my doctor a few weeks later, I told him I was still having quite a bit of pain, and that one hip was now giving me a lot of pain that I hadn't had before. He said I was trying to get back into things too quickly, that it would take a few months for the irritated tissues to calm down.

It might be less traumatic to have screws removed, if they can actually "unscrew" them, or at least not have to wrench them out. But it will still take more than a week or two to completely recover from it. If you're working and have a desk job, you could probably go back to work after a week or two, but you'll still need to take it easy for a while after that.

Hope this helps,
Emily
 
My bf is 8 months post op hardware removal surgery and he is in agony 24/7. His surgeon couldn't promise that removing the hardware would help the pain. It made it worse so be very very careful of your choices and go for more than one opinion. His life has not been the same and he regrets ever going for any surgery now.

Lynne
 
Had my hardware out and put back in.. Was painfull for a few months.

If you have a good Dr. he shouldn't remove the hardware if it isn't fused.. My surgeon said the only way to know if he actually went in and did a visual and grab the hardware and shake it and pull on it to make sure the bone is solid . I would get a second opinion .. :)
 
My daughter had 2 screws removed and the recovery time was not bad for her. For one thing, it was really just the incision pain that she was recoverying from and I believe it took about 3 weeks for that to happen. The relief that she got, from taking the screws out, was so great, that it out weighed the incision pain. I remeraber that she was home with me, for 2 weeks, and then started to slowly get back to work and school. She was able to feel the relief of the pain, from pre-surgery, w/in the 1st 2 weeks.

Lorie:angel:
 
Thank you
I did have another myelogram about 6 weeks ago and they did xrays at the office last week. He actually wants to try nerve blocks 1st but those never worked preop so I hate to go through that and then have the screws removed anyway. Before my surgery the pain was only on the left side butt and leg but now it is on both sides and he thinks that the screws are irratating (sp) my sciatic nerve on both sides.
 
Please be doublely (sp) sure it is fused. I would recommend a second opinion for this. If they remove it and you are not 100% fused, it can break apart. This is what they are thinking part of my problem is. I don't mean to be negative or sound negative in anyway. I just care and don't want this to happen to anyone else.
 
I agree with Diet 100%.
When I had my second fusion on upper levels (above prevous fusion) my surgeon told me he wants to remove old hardware, but he can't promisse me since they have to be 100% sure I am fused otherwise it can cause severe problems.
I would definitely check with another DR and see what he suggest for you to do: MRI, CT, Myelogram to confirm your fusion.

Best of luck to you!:angel:
 
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