HARRINGTON RODS

[croninbj]

I HAD DUEL HARRINGTON RODS PUT IN WHEN I WAS 15! THAT WAS 18 YEARS AGO.  I AM A SINGLE MOM OF 3 AND STARTED DEVELOPING ALOT OF BACK PAIN ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO.  IT HAS TOTALLY CHANGED EVERYTHING IN MY LIFE.  I AM NOW UNABLE TO WORK AND I AM ON DISABILITY.  I HAVE GOOD DAYS AND BAD DAYS, WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLE TO HOLD DOWN A JOB.  I STARTED FEELING PAIN IN MY UPPER BACK NEAR MY RODS WHERE THE CROSSBAR IS.  I COULD ACTUALLY FEEL A CLICKING FEELING WHEN I TOUCHED IT.  IT TOOK ME 2 YEARS TO FIND A DOCTOR TO BELIEVE ME.  OF COURSE ALL THE X-RAYS AND CT SCANS WERE HARD TO READ SO THE DOCTORS COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG.  I ALSO GOT THE FEELING THAT EVERY DOCTOR I WENT TO DIDN'T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH WHAT A MESS MY BACK WAS.  I FINALLY BEGGED A BRAIN AND SPINE DOCTOR TO DO EXPLORITORY SURGERYJUST TO SEE IF HE COULD FIND ANYTHING WRONG.  HE TOLD ME IT WOULD BE LIKE FINDING A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK.  SURE ENOUGH WHEN HE GOT IN THERE ONE OF MY SCREWS HAD CAME OUT AND I HAD ALOT OF SHARP EDGES IN THERE.  WHAT A RELIEF IT WAS TO BE ABLE TO SAY, "I TOLD YOU SO"!!!  AND OF COURSE GET RID OF THE PAIN.  I NOW TAKE SEVERAL MEDICATIONS AND ALSO HAVE AN INTRATHECAL MORPHINE PUMP IMPLANTED TO HELP MY LOWER BACK PAIN.  I HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD TO GET RID OF MY PAIN BUT NOTHING SEEMS TO WORK.  SOMETIMES I WONDER WHY I EVEN HAVE THE PUMP IN.  I STILL HAVE ALOT OF PAIN.  MY LIFE IS GOING TO DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS , AQUATIC THERAPY, PHYSICAL THERAPY, CHIROPRACTOR, ETC.  AND ALL I GET IS PAIN AND MORE MUSCLE SPASMS AFTER PEOPLE MESS WITH MY BACK.  IT IS A BATTLE THAT HAS NO LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.  I SUFFER FROM DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, AND MOOD SWINGS AS A RESULT OF MY BACK PAIN.  I RECENTLY STARTED TO FEEL THE SCREW ON THE OTHER SIDE OF MY CROSSBAR.  I WOULD BE WILLING TO BET ANOTHER SCREW HAS COME OUT.  MY BODY LOOKS LIKE A ROAD MAP OF SCARS FROM SO MANY SURGERYS.  I AM WONDERING IF ANYONE HAS HAD THEIR RODS REMOVED AND IF SO HAS IT HELPED ANY???  I WAS TOLD IF I DID NOT HAVE THE SURGERY I WOULD BE IN A WHEELCHAIR BY THE TIME I WAS 30.  WELL I AM 33 AND NOT IN A WHEELCHAIR BUT MY LIFE IS CONSUMED WITH PAIN.  I WOULD REALLY LIKE SOMEONE IN THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES TO TALK TO.  I FEEL ALONE WITH THIS BATTLE I AM LIVING WITH.  SOMEONE PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!! AND ANYONE WHO READS THIS, PLEASE LISTEN TO YOUR BODY!  KEEP PUSHING THE DOCTORS TO HELP YOU.  WE KNOW HOW WE FEEL AND WHEN SOMETHING IS WRONG.  DON'T GIVE UP JUST BECAUSE A DOCTOR TELLS YOU THERE IS NOTHING WRONG.  GOOD LUCK TO ALL!!!!!!!  MY PRAYS ARE WITH YOU.

[louise99]

hi hav u ever considered havin them removed??? iv watched my brother all my life in awful pain

[hdymond]

The doctors do not believe me or know what to do I do not know where to turn someone please help I live in Baltimore MD anyone know which direction I need to go I feel there is No help for me!

[hdymond]

I had herringrods placed in when I was 15 I am now 28 I have numbness in my legs and arms a pinched nerve in my neck and constant headachs and stabbing pain along my spine. I have been dealing with this pain for over five years and still I have gotten no answers. No doctors that I have been to have been able to help me! I want to cry thinking about it now. I just saw a ciropractor and he claims he can help that my neck and lower back along with myspine is out of allignment. I do not know what to do know doctors believe me and we have spent everything we have on doctor bills and pin meds they have me on lyria which only takes some of the pain from my legs and arms away I have to drown myself with meds to feel half way normal!  I want kids and I don't even know if I can I know I can't right now because of all the meds or if its going to effect my rods now I'm at the end of my rope I can't afford this ciropractor he wants 2k on top all my other medical bills the pain won't stop I don't know what to do anymore I just want this nightmare.     to end

[LADYDI1063]

YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH ALOT,I KNOW HOW PAIN EFFECTS YOUR RELATIONSHIPS EVERYBODY ALWAYS LET`S  GO HERE DO THIS AND THAT I JUST DON`T FEEL LIKE IT ALL I WANT TO DO IS LAY ON THE COUCH MY DAUGHTER IS 17 SHE SAYS MOM YOU DON`T EVER  WANT TO DO ANYTHING WITH ME SO I GET UP AND TRY I JUST DEAL WITH THE PAIN I ALSO GET NUMBNESS IN LEGS.I CAN FEEL THE RODS WHEN I DO DIFFERENT THINGS,I START THERAPY 16TH HOW DID YOU DO IN THERAPY  WHAT DO THEY HAVE YOU TO DO? WELLBUTRIN WAS NICEAT FIRST BUT I THINK IT IS NOT WORKING NOW I`M SO MOODY I LIKE TO STAY IN MY OWN WORLD NOBODY UNDERSTOOD ME UNTIL NOW.I HAVE 4 GRANDCHILDREN BY MY SON HE IS IN THE ARMY,I DON`T SEE THEM OFTEN JUST IN THE SUMMER I TRY DO THINGS WITH THEM I`M SO TRIED AND DEPRESSED ALL THE TIME I TRY TO HIDE IT WHEN THEY ARE AROUND BECAUSE THEY REALLY DON`T UNDERSTAND,SO FAR I  HAVE NOT HAD ANY OTHER SURGERIES I`M GOING TRY NOT TO HAVE TO BE CAREFUL.I WILL CONSIDER THE PUMP.I`LL EMAIL YOU SOON SO YOU CAN GET MY EMAIL ADDRESS.TALK TO YOU SOON.DIANE

[croninbj]

DARN IT, IT BLOCKS OUT OUR EMAIL ADRESSES!!!  I'LL TRY IT THIS WAY:

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[croninbj]

I'M SORRY YOU HAD TO GO TO THE E.R. I'VE BEEN THERE MANY TIMES ALSO.  I HOPE YOU ARE FEELING BETTER.  ONE DAY AT A TIME, RIGHT?  IS THE WELLBUTRIN WORKING FOR YOU?  I AM ON AMITRIPTALYNE FOR DEPRESSION AND ZOLOFT.  THE AMITRIP. IS NICE BECAUSE IT CAN ALSO BE USED FOR PAIN AND NUEROPOTHY.  IT WORKS ON THE SPINAL CORD.  I'M STILL DEPRESSED BUT I'M SURE IT IS MY FRAME OF MIND.  IT'S HARD TO STAY POSITIVE WHEN YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH SO MUCH ****.  I'M MOODY, DEPRESSED, AND IN PAIN!!!  IT EFFECTS ALL MY RELATIONSHIPS WITH FRIENDS, FAMILY, ETC.  FOR FUTURE REFERENCE IF YOU GET TO THE POINT WHERE YOU ARE ON ALOT OF PAIN MEDS YOU MIGHT WANT TO GET INFO. ON A PAIN PUMP.  I WAS SO MESSED UP ON ALL THOSE PILLS.  I WOKE UP LATE ONE NIGHT IN PAIN AND WENT TO THE FRIDGE TO GET SOMETHING TO DRINK SO I COULD TAKE SOME PAIN MEDS AND I FELL ASLEEP STANDING THERE WITH THE FRIDGE DOOR OPEN AND FELL BACKWARDS, HIT MY HEAD ON THE GARBAGE CAN.  WHAT A NIGHTMARE. THAT IS WHEN I SAID ENOUGH OF THIS **** AND DECIDED TO GO WITH THE PUMP.  AT LEAST IT IS DISTRIBUTED RIGHT TO MY SPINE WHERE THE PAIN IS AND DOESN'T EFFECT YOUR MIND.  I PERSONALLY HAD A BAD EXPERIENCE WITH THE PUMP BECAUSE MY DOCTOR WAS TERRIBLE.  DIDN'T SEW MY STOMACH UP PROPERLY WHICH CAUSED THE PUMP TO BE EXPOSED.  I HAD TO HAVE IT TAKEN OUT AND A NEW ONE PUT IN ON THE OTHER SIDE AND HE PUT THE WRONG DOSE IN ANOTHER TIME.  BUT, THAT WAS A UNUSUAL SITUATION.  HE WAS REALLY BAD.  THANKS TO HIM I HAVE A LARGE SCAR ON EACH SIDE OF MY STOMACH, ONE ON MY SIDE AND ONE ON MY LOWER BACK.  LIKE I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SCARS ALREADY.  I LOOK LIKE A ROAD MAP.  HA HA  I DON'T WANT TO DISCOURAGE PEOPLE TO LOOK AT THE PUMP OPTION BECAUSE OF MY BAD EXPERIENCE, LIKE I SAID THAT WAS A RARE DEAL.  THAT IS USUALLY THE WAY MY LIFE GOES THOUGH.  IF IT'S GONNA HAPPEN IT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO ME!!!  2 POSITIVE THINGS THOUGH ARE WE CAN EDUCATE/SUPPORT OTHER PEOPLE IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS AND IT MAKES US STRONG PEOPLE!!!  :-)  MY EMAIL IS (***@****) KEEP IN TOUCH!!!!!  BILLIE

[LADYDI1063]

HELLO I`M SO GLAD YOU EMAIL ME BACK I JUST WENT TO THE  EMERGENCY ROOM LAST NIGHT WITH MY NECK KILLING ME THANK YOU SO MUCH NOW I KNOW,I`M ON WORKSMENS COMP I GOT HURT ON THE JOB SO I`M GOING TO TALK WITH MY DOCTOR ON THE 22ND ABOUT DISABILTY YOU ARE SO RIGHT I TRY TO BE STRONG PUT I CAN`T ANYMORE I DON`T RIDE ANYTHING BECAUSE I`M AFRAID,YES MUSCLE SPASMS I GET THESE ALL THE TIME THATS FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTION I SO GLAD I FOUND YOU TO,I THROUGHT I WAS ALL ALONE IN THIS.I`M ON WELLBUTRIN FOR DEPRESSION THEY GAVE ME PAIN PILLS LAST NIGHT AT HOSPITAL,I`M NOT BIG ON TAKING DRUGS,I CAN`T BE MYSELF .MY EMAIL ADDRESS ***@**** YES LETS KEEP IN TOUCH THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!  DIANE

[croninbj]

I'M SO GLAD SOMEONE RESPONDED TO MY POSTING. SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE I AM THE ONLY ONE IN THE WORLD WITH THESE PROBLEMS.  AS FOR DISABILITY, EVERYONE TOLD ME THAT U GET DENIED THE FIRST TIME YOU APPLY BUT WHAT HAPPENED IN MY CASE IS THAT I HAD USED UP ALL MY FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE ACT TIME AT WORK AND I ACTUALLY WAS TOLD I WOULD BE FIRED IF I DIDN'T COME BACK TO WORK SO I SAID FINE FIRE ME!!!  I COLLECTED UNEMPLOYMENT FOR 6 MO. AND AT THE END OF THAT 6 MO. I GOT A REWARD LETTER FROM DISABILITY.  SO I GOT IT THE FIRST TIME.  THE KEY IS FILLING OUT THE PAPER WORK WITH EVERY LITTLE DETAIL, LIST ALL YOUR DOCTORS, THERAPISTS, ETC.  AND DON'T HOLD BACK ON THE LITTLEST THINGS THAT BOTHER YOU.  WE ALL LIKE TO ACT TOUGH LIKE IT ISN'T SO BAD BUT I REALLY WROTE DOWN EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN HARD FOR ME IN MY LIFE WITH THESE RODS.  THINGS OTHERS MIGHT TAKE FOR GRANTED.  EXAMPLES ARE:  MY KIDS LIKE TO BOWL, (I CANT DO THAT W/OUT PAIN OR FEAR OR BREAKING SOMETHING), GOING ON RIDES WITH THEM, STANDING FOR A LONG TIME OR WALKING ALOT, COLD WEATHER, DEPRESSION, ANXIETY!!!  WE ALL HAVE SOME KIND OF MENTAL OR EMOTIONAL STRAIN CAUSED BY THE PAIN WE GO THROUGH. ALL THESE THINGS ARE A RESULT OF MY BACK.  HOW ABOUT MUSCLE SPASMS?  I ALWAYS GET THEM OR PULLED MUSCLES.  THIS IS A RESULT OF NOT BEING ABLE TO MOVE THOSE MUSCLES REGULARILY.  I GET MIGRAINES ALOT BECAUSE THE RODS TEND TO PULL YOUR NECK FORWARD.  ALMOST ALL SCOLIOSIS CASES CAUSE YOUR NECK TO HAVE NO CURVE IN IT AND YOU SHOULD HAVE ONE!!!  I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS LIKE HOLDING A 10 POUND BOWLING BALL ON MY HEAD. GREAT HUH?  I AM REALLY GLAD I FOUND YOU!!!  I HOPE WE CAN TALK AGAIN.  AND I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THINGS I HAVE GONE THROUGH.  KEEP IN TOUCH AND GO FOR THE DISABILITY, DOESN'T HURT TO GET STARTING ON IT NOW!!!!!!!!!  BILLIE

[LADYDI1063]

HELLO I`M GLAD I READ YOUR COMMENTS ON RODS I`VE HAD RODS SINCE I WAS 17 I`M 44 NOW.I`M OFF WORK BECAUSE OF BACK PAIN I`VE WORKED IN A CHEMICAL PLANT FOR 15 YEARS.I DON`T KNOW IF I CAN GO BACK I`M IN THERPY NOW,MY JOB CAN BE VERY PHYSICAL,DID YOU HAVE A PROBLEM GETTING DISABILITY? IN CASE I HAVE TO GO THIS ROUTE MY HUSBAND THINKS IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME.I WAS TOLD IF I DIDN`T GET THE RODS I WOULD HAVE ALOT OF MEDICAL PROBLEMS WHEN I GET OLDER I`M OLDER AND STILL HAVE PROBLEMS.HELP!!!