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Lower Back Pain Caused By Scoliosis Surgery Years Back

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kyoung58

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 14 Apr 2005
Posts: 3
Location: Houston
Lower Back Pain Caused By Scoliosis Surgery Years Back
Posted: 04-14-05 03:06am

I had rods placed into my back in '98 due to my scoliosis... I'm 21 now and my backs been killing me for atleast 3 or 4 years now. Most of the pain is targeted in my lower left side of my back. I really don't know what to do. I'm not even sure what is causing the pain. One specialist told me removing the rods wouldn't even help my pain and also said I will have this pain forever. But another says removing them would open up an entire new life for me and he highly recommends a doctor in ohio he believes is the best. I don't know anyone at all with a similar situation as me, and I just found this site. Anyone out there can relate to me? I'm so young and i'm suffering from extreme lower back pain. And it just ruins everything for me in life. :cry:

i don't know what to do... Does anyone have any suggestions or helpful information?

-kathleen
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kyoung58

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 14 Apr 2005
Posts: 3
Location: Houston
Pt
Posted: 04-14-05 03:13am

And also I have been going to physical therapy 3 times a week... But the pain has not decreased but my back has become a bit stronger. That is all

anyone at all??? Any help you could offer i'd very much appreciate.
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Tamadrummer

Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 15 Oct 2004
Posts: 710
Location: Zephyrhills,Fl

Posted: 04-14-05 13:41pm

Surgery may be a great option for you. I don't know if removing the rods and not putting anything back to maintain your spine shape would be a good idea though.

You may want to contact that doctor in ohio and also call the florida spine institute (dr. Scott webb) and in texas, they have the texas spine institute that does tons of surgeries a year to help people with "unfixable" problems.

I live in florida so fsi was good for me but for you, texas spine has a website as does www.Floridaspineinstitute. Com , you should check them out and speak to the doctors that do this stuff daily, it sounds like the doctor you spoke to that wont help you, is a bad doc and should be avoided if you can avoid him.
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relientkelli

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 16 Feb 2008
Posts: 2

Posted: 02-16-08 12:29pm

this is going to sound CRAZY, but i had my surgery july of 2003 and i'm experiencing what sounds like the same exact pain in...in the same exact spot. the only thing is, i've had some tests but because of the rods i'm limited to what tests they can do further limiting how much they can see into my back.
i went to pain management and that doctor tried as best he could to help me and couldn't.
he was the only pain management doctor i could find to take on my case in my area...the other doctors said it was "too complex"...bologna!
i'm going back to my surgeon (at childrens hospital of philadelphia) to see what options i have left.
i did PT as well and all i got out of it was a TENS unit (which is for my tight muscles in the top of my back)

i would like to know a little more about your pre-operative scoliosis if you don't mind... how many curves did you have? were you braced before the surgery? how much of your spine did they fuse?
maybe our backs are similar and there is some underlying problem that the docs are failing to catch on to...
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smallemilo

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 27 Feb 2008
Posts: 1

Posted: 02-27-08 14:04pm

I also had scoliosis surgery in '98, and i am now 23. I think i have the same problem, but the pain is on the right side of my back. My surgeon said he could take out part of the rod and hook, but doesn't know if it will do any good. It is my last year of college, and i have been playing sports and it gets much worse when i'm in season. One pain specialist said i had no reason to be in pain, which really made me mad because he has no idea what its like. Another one told me to simply stop playing sports if it hurt. Ever since i turned 21 my surgeon said he couldn't see me because he works at a childrens clinic. Everyone i go see refers me to another doctor. Any advice from anyone? very frustrated.
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relientkelli

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 16 Feb 2008
Posts: 2

Posted: 02-28-08 18:05pm

i just got back from my doctor today.
i'm getting my rods removed (along with the screws and other hardware)
hopefully it will stop most, if not all, of the pain.
i had hardware in my ankle before and i had pain from that so they removed the hardware. my ankle felt SO much better afterwards.

as far as your doc not seeing you since he's a children's doctor...i am 20 and i'm still going to the childrens hospital of philadelphia...i'm pretty sure there is some sort of deal that your surgeon who did your surgery can possibly do to keep you as his/her patient since they did the initial surgery.
i wouldn't want someone taking out what someone else put in, simply because surgery is like being a craftsman...each surgeon has their own way of doing things and only he will know the work that he's done better than any other person. (am i making any sense?)

i suggest going to your surgeon at the childrens hospital and just telling him how you really would like him to be the one to do the surgery. he may make you exhaust all possibilities like my surgeon did. (ie: a few different physical therapist [since physical therapists have different methods for treating things], pain management, spine doctors, and so on)

i'm getting my surgery on may 19th. i could keep you updated afterwards and let you know if i get any relief.

oh! and my surgeon told me that getting the hardware out isnt half as bad as the initial operation of getting them in. THANK GOD!!
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kyoung58

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 14 Apr 2005
Posts: 3
Location: Houston
update
Posted: 08-07-08 10:08am

Wow.. Haven't been on this forum in a long while. Good to see some replies. Well I had surgery to remove the rods in August 06. Still have plenty of back pain. =( the left side has kind of numbed down.. and the majority of the pain is now on the right. but my back pain is all over and my back is stiff. So pretty much, the surgery was unsuccessful, but I do just feel a lot better emotionally about not having rods and hooks in my back.
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reebop

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 19 Aug 2008
Posts: 1
scoliosis surgery
Posted: 08-19-08 22:42pm

I came across this site by google. i am relieved to see people experiencing the same pain as myself. I had surgery in 1991 @ Childrens hospital of Philidelphia. am 30 years old now. Everything was great for the first 5 years but have been in pain ever since. It was about once to twice a year but lately has been ALOT more frequent. I have severe muscle spasms that are right beside my rod or may be the hook. I have spoken to several Dr's and they suggest removing the rods but my original surgeon @ CHOP didnt think it is necessary. The pain i guess i am used to but would love to be relieved a little bit more than i feel. My thoughts are with everyone going through this. and am interested to know and share routines with others. Take care. blowkiss
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expatient

Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 24 Nov 2005
Posts: 128
Location: Finland

Posted: 08-20-08 01:04am

Many times twisted pelvis (ilium upslip/rotated innominate) causes scoliosis and tension to whole body. Once pelvic malalignment is corrected by manipulation pains are gone. If you only correct spine with surgery you don't correct the cause of pains. Scoliosis is just an symptom, not the cause.
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littleonefb

Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Aug 2007
Posts: 381
Location: ,
Thanks: 16
Thanked:0

Posted: 09-08-08 12:21pm

Please stay under the care of of spinal surgeon, and do not just attempt to find various self treatments for you pain.

If need be, continue to seek the advise of the best spinal surgeons you can find.

Self treatment with various advertised methods, is the worst thing you can do, especially after having spinal surgery to start with.

Chiropractic care post surgery, is not a good idea.

Fran
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