Re: Removal of fusion hardware?

Thanks for the thoughts and concerns Wayne.

Pain and numbness have gotten even a bit worse just from yesterday. I
am having trouble standing and walking. I could never do that for too
long. But now I can only stand for about 2 minutes.

I will definitely think long and hard if they tell me I need another
surgery. I've gotten the two lumbar surgeries and one cervical fusion
all within the last 2 years. I'm very blessed that I have a state
government job and am fairly protected with taking time off, etc. I
just really don't want to do it again. After my last surgery
(cervical fusion last march), I told myself and others that I wouldn't
ever have another "elective" surgery...only if it was required, or an
emergency. I fear that this may be the case. I can't live with this
type of disability if it gets any worse. I need to be able to walk
and live. I've already had to modify my living activities so much. I
just turned 30 and have a long time to go (hopefully...I can only
imagine how I'll feel in 20 years). We have just been trying to have
kids and start building a family. I have to be able to help my wife
out. I have to be able to work. I just have a desk job, but I still
come home exhausted and in pain. I do have an incredible wife, and
firmly believe that she would walk through hell with me if she had
to. I want to give to her. I don't want her taking out the trash
because I can't lift it.

The reason I was asking about the hardware removal is because I was
trying to research that on the internet and found the stat that 15% of
fusion patients wind up getting their hardware removed for whatever
reason. And that many times the hardware can be a source of pain if
it becomes loose. I concerned something is going on because I've had
such a huge spike in pain, burning, numbness in such a short period of
time like never before. Like I said, the pictures show that my fusion
is pretty rock solid. So I could afford to loose the hardware since
my vertebrae is no longer relying on it. If the hardware is loose it
could be pushing on the nerve(s). And just removing that could
relieve a lot of the pain. From what I've read the surgery is not as
bad as a fusion. I just really hate surgeries and braces, and can't
afford to miss any more work.

After the first fusion failed, when they did the second fusion, they
removed the old hardware and replaced it with new. I was reading the
report and it said that one of the screws was found loose. Probably
due to the lack of fusion...there was too much movement going on back
there. Or maybe my vertebrae just don't take to holding titanium! ( :
I assume that a ct scan or mri will be ordered and if hardware is
loose it should show up.

Sorry about the long post...just a lot in my head right now.
Still curious if anyone has ever had this done?

.

Relevant Pages

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