Re: RHBMP2

[Guest guest]

Kathy --

Ah, yet another new complication to research! Thanks so much for the

heads-up -- this is one I missed.

How well I remember all the hoopla about that new and exciting product

of genetic engineering, bone morphogenic protein. Dr. Rand told me he

was definitely planning to use this in my revision, along with cadaver

graft and my own autologous graft tissue (which he removed on Day #1 of

my two-part surgery and parked in the freezer for a week before returnig

it to my body on Day #2, along with the BMP).

You undoubtedly know more than I do about this dubious material at this

point, but it seemed to me that when they were first promoting it, it

always went hand-in-hand with those " cages " so many of us acquired

during our revision surgery. The cages were packed with the morphogenic

stuff and other stuff, holding it in place while it supposedly fused

over time. The cages were, if I'm not mistaken, implanted during the

anterior portion of the surgery.

The information you have now provided is positively hair-raising, and I

am halfway grateful I knew nothing about it at the time I was signing on

the dotted line to have vast portions of my spinal column replaced with

any fool thing that had slipped by the FDA.

What next?! Do any of you guys get sick of being perpetual guinea pigs?

Thanks,

>

> I am going to post this message on both flatback group sites that I am

a member in. So if some of you are members of both also, I apologize

for the double delivery. The nightly national news ran a segment on how

the makers of Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenic Protein 2 (rhBMP2) paid

doctors up to $23 million to promote & use their product, in addition to

being misleading about the severity & percentage rates of complications.

I think everyone who has had spinal fusion surgery that used synthetic

bone, as opposed to having bone harvested, should keep current on this

issue. Here is a website for more info:

>

>

http://www.spine.org/Pages/ConsumerHealth/NewsAndPublicRelations/NewsRel\

eases/2011/pressrelease1_062811.aspx

>

> As many of you already know, I had a failed fusion surgery in 2007

that caused flatback. My surgeon at the time, described that fusion

material he used as " bone cement " . In 2009 I had a consultation with

Dr. Pashman at Cedar's in Los Angeles. He told me that I had " vacuum

disk phenomenon " . Basically, where bone filler/fusion material replaced

my disks were now open & empty. I asked him " What happened to the bone

filler? " His response was that my body had absorbed it. Body aborption

of bone is one of the side effects of RHBMP2. There are also reports of

neurological damage, severe leg pain, hardware displacement, male

sterility, & even cancer.

>

> I'm not trying to scare anybody...I just think we should all be

diligent & keep up on medical research that pertains to our situations.

BMPs are today's " latest & greatest " technology...just like the

Harrington rod was the " latest & greatest " at one time.

>

> ...............................Kathy

>