scoliosis harrington rod failure

Hi.
Am 41 female, in good health. Had scoliosis all my life, and had harrington rods placed in 2002. My curves were 67* by 56*, approximately, with a spiral.Now that surgery has failed and we're going to have posterior laminectomy L 4-5 fusion, Oct. 8th. I have started losing bladder sensation, and have had pain ever since the surgery in 2002. I also have a complete block at the tailbone, stenosis, and ARC.
Am just wondering and hoping I am making the correct decision about this next surgery........I swore I would never have another.
Any thoughts or comments?
Thank you.

Kris

[cottoncandy99]

I had the same procedure done on my back  but by a group of great doctors at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio only mine was L3-5fusion with the Harrington Rods but I have the problem with loss of bladder function as I was paralyzed from the waist down due to a car accint and no dr here in the state of Texas would touch my back.  They had also put a stabalizer bar that goes from one hip to the other and attached it with screws then the fusion taking part of my right hip
I really can walk now with a walker as it took time but the incontience all came from all the nerve damage that was done.
Hope this helps,
Your in my prayers, and God bless you,
cottoncandy99

[dsanti]

I would like to talk to you. Is there a way to e-mail you. ***@**** is the e-mail.
I have harrington rods, and having problems. I've read so many problems. I will revisit this site and see if you posted your e-mail.

[krissee35]

***@****

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!
Krissy

[dsanti]

I don't know if this site allow you to post your e-mail address.

I would like to meet people that have the same problem as I have. Perhaps find a solution.
Thanks
d Santi

[mikew039]

I have FBSS myself and have my entire spine fused from my neck to my tail bone. Before my surgery in 1981, I had spent my entire life working in the construction field and it was and still is all I know. After my surgery, I was told by the doctor that I would have to change my career. I spent some time recooperating and during that period, I sought for finances for training in a different field but to no avail. It would seem to me that the hospital would have had information or avenues for people to continue there lives...giving direction for evaluation and rehabilitation into the job market. They did not and I found no avenues of help. I was turned down by SSD and lost my home and was forced to move in with my grandparents. I sought deligently for grants or funds or programs that would re-train me and while I was told they were available, they just weren't available to me and thousands like me. Either due to age or my grandparents being a higher middle class...basically came out of the hospital to be put out on the streets.
I eventually went back into plumbing as I was a journeyman plumber...after a few years one of my rods broke and I was disabled for a period of time until I once more returned to work and then the other broke...
I went from a 50k yr job and a great career to now living off of SSD with no compensation, no general assistance and a surgeon and hospital that offer no advice or sympathy to this life altering problem and seem to want to put the entire thing behind them. Infact I have had nothing but a lack of respect or sympathy to my condition from the entire medical field. Treated as if I am a complaining pest and a leech while my legs go to sleep and my hips and lower back degenerate. The last time I went to the surgeon for pain and numbness in my legs, I was twisted and turned and abussed as if there was nothing wrong leaving me in more pain then when I arrived. and practically in tears from the treatment.
People with bad replacement hips and knees and heart machines and even those who have used bad denture cream get compensation from the ga-billions of dollars made from these failed procedures...why not us?

WE NEED REPRESENTATION AND COMPENSATION. IF YOU AGREE WITH ME OR HAVE EXPERIENCED  LIKE TREATMENT PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

Thank you for your time.

M.D.Williams

[yolyv143]

I too am having issues with my back. I was operated when I was 12 yrs, and had Harrington rods put in too. I know suffer chronic back pains and have many herniated disc. Has anyone heard of a class action?  

[andys_angel07]

I had scolosis surgery in 1983. I have harrington rod placement thru T1-T12. I 've had pain ever since. Not alot of pain down spine but all in muscles and hips, legs, shoulders and neck. MRI showed spinal cord compression which was a series of injections in neck only to end with surgery.  I just recently had cervical neck surgery which involved rods and disks between C5,C6 and C7.  Now, am experiencing a burning sensation in my right shoulder and alot of stiffness in the neck.  Had problems before turning my neck now it's even more limited.  Also suffer from right short leg syndrome.  My activities are very limited.  I have problems walking, standing, sitting and stooping for any length of time.  Sitting and typing on a computer for 15 minutes leaves me with no ability to even stand up straight. Pain medicine doesn't help. Muscle relaxers doesn't help. Applying heat and cold doesn't help.  Surgery doesn't help.  I'm just wondering what does!?? I live with pain everyday of my life and have for many, many years. Does anyone have any advice? I would like to talk to someone with similar problems.

Thank you,
Donna

[amy700]

i would like to get a class action suit together. I had harrington rods put in when i was 13, now 41 and in serious pain.

[Toddyberry]

Hi there,I had a Harrington Rod put in when I was 16 back in 1977 in Canada.my back was out 37%,to this day it is still curved so hadn't even really corrected the hump on my right side.
I have been seeing a chiropractor for the past few months and do notice some tiny improvements.
The reason going to him wa I didn't want to go to my family Dr.for him to send me to a specialist and perhaps do surgery.Don't even want to go there.
But my symptons are hard to walk as my legs are so weak,my body has shifted so things are pressing on nerves which cause that along with tingling feet,legs and hands.I find it hard to stand for a while,but I am in no real pain just from the adjustment from the chiropractor as he is trying to get my body back to as normal as it could be so the addjustments can make your body ache for a brief time as it isn't used to being in that place .But I had exray's done and nothing has broken with the rod.
but I cannot owrk,I had to give up my child care as I can't lift or even take them for a walk around the block.I would like to get a class action going too,they don't realize the long term effect we will endure.

[Rosie0119]

I had harrington rods put in in 1975 in Toronto.  I am now dealing with a lot of pain especially from the waist down.  My legs, hips, feet.  My doctor also said I have fibromyalgia now.  She gave me lyrica but there's no relief.  My last x-rays show that I have no cushion whatsoever between three discs.  The pain and the tingling/burning/numbness in unbearable, not to mention the spasms that seem like someone is stabbing me.  I'm not sure what the solution is at this point.  

[Tiggger573]

I agree! I am so tired of living in pain.. I was never told the rods would break.. I was only told I would live a normal life after I had the surgery.. I had it on my 16th birthday..I have had 3 rods removed because they broke put I still have fragments floating around and I still have one rod that is severely bent but no way to have it removed..I have researched and researched and I have found hundreds of ppl like us but no lawsuits against the manufacturers of the "Harrington Rod".. WE Need help!