t-1 thru t-12 harrington rod

i have had a harrington rod in place since 1986 when i was just 7 years old, i am now 32 and are experiencing severe pain in my middle spine radiating into my ribs and down my right arm. the pain is so severe that it hurts to breathe, lie down, or sit up. i have severe scoliosis and also spina bifida which has left me wheelchair bound my entire life. i am wondering could this be a problem with my rod since i believe i also have flatback syndrome and if so what can be done about this problem. please e mail me @ ***@**** with any information you may have because i am now scared that my pain is life-threatening due to the breathing problems and a mysteroius drop in my o-2 levels

[Photohappy03]

My quick story to share about my fusion, I know most of you may not have scoliosis but I had a fusion also.

I had harrington rod/fusion surgery for scoliosis almost 23 years ago. In the last 10-15 + years, I have had terrible complications from the surgery, neurosurgeon calls it flatback syndrome. My 2 rods start at T3 and end at L2, they took bone off my left hip at the time of surgery to fuse the spine.

I have been in and out of doctor's offices, counselors, physical therapy, seen many massage therapists, chiropractors, multiple prescription use, and also have used many modalities of alternative medicine. Because I suffer from chronic pain all the time, fibromyalgia symptoms, myofascial pain (tons of knots in the muscles...everywhere), pinching and burning of nerves and especially around the rods/fusion and my legs, extreme dizziness/vertigo, migraines that last for weeks, TMJ disorder, bulged disks, abnormal forward curvature (at least 30%) of the cervical spine, degenerating disks, pre osteoarthritis, arthritis, bursitis, sciatica, numbness , burning, and tingling of extremities, muscle fatigue and weakness/atrophy, edema, shortness of breath, thyroid issues, gall bladder issues, hypoglycemia, poor concentration, memory problems, moodiness and depression, sleep issues... I think that just about covers it all :(  I never had any pain or any issues before my surgery, even though I was only eleven.   Many other scoliosis friends that have had fusions are suffering with the same things as well because of the long term outcomes.