Re: Help with MRI & scoliosis

[Guest guest]

Liz,

I had my original surgery at the age of 12. Today is my 1 year anniversary for my revision (done at age 40). I had to have my original fusion extended up and down to the sacrum due to the "wearing out" of the discs below the original fusion. I was diagnosed with Flatback Syndrome which resulted from that original fusion since the Harrington Rods used at that time do not allow for a normal lower curve in the spine called lordosis.

Prior to my revision, I had pain down my left leg, was unable to stand completely upright especially by the end of the day, and the pain was really interferring with my daily activities.

I would encourage you to see a doctor who specializes in scoliosis and revisions. Many of us on this site have had more than one opinion. I live in Dallas and I initially went to a doctor here who referred me to a doctor in Amarillo.

Although the surgery and recovery wasn't easy, I have never regretted my decision. Over the past 2 weeks I have started riding my bike outside again! I haven't been able to do that in years. Revision has been a blessing to me.

Where do you live? Who did your recent surgery? Who did your original fusion? Are you new to this site? If so, welcome. This site is a wonderful place to gain knowledge and support from others who have been down the same road.

Sincerely,

Melinda

From: petspal2003 <petspal2003@...>Subject: [ ] Help with MRI & scoliosis Date: Wednesday, July 23, 2008, 1:09 AM

Hi everyone,I'm just curious if there are other members here that have had surgery for scoliosis as a teenager, that are now having ALOT ofproblems as they age with the discs that were NOT fused?I have major double curve scoliosis. When I was 12 they put in a herrington rod in the top curve,(which was the worst one of the twocurves) but did nothing about the bottom curvewhich is 76 degrees I believe. The reason for that, back then wasthe doctors wanted to stop the top curve from progressing with thehopes that the bottom curve would also stop.I'm 37yrs old now...and the bottom curve has stayed the same as far asthe degree of the curve, but I have had alot of increased pain overthe last few years in my lumbar spine with ALOT of weakness andachiness in both legs.I had an MRI done friday and have the report, but I dont see thedoctor again until aug 5th so I was wondering if you all

can help memake heads or tails of it.Here are is what it says:*** Impression:The patient has a prominent rotatory double curve scoliosis.There is disc dehydration of L2-3 and there are reactive changeswithin the inferior endplate of L2 vertebral body. The patient has aminimal diffuse disc bulge present at this level. There is also asmall diffuse disc bulge at L3-4.L4-5 shows a slight diffuse disc bulge with hypertrophic facet diseaseat L4-5 and L5-S1 *********I also had a double cervical fusion in my neck on feb 28th of thisyear. I had spinal stenosis with mylapathy.This was the 2nd cervical surgery for me, (1st one was 8 years ago)the 1st one was a failure but we did not know this until he went into do this second surgery and ended up having to redo the first onealong with the one that he was originally going in to fix this pastfeb 2008.Anyway, is this a common

thing with scoliosis patients as they age???THANK YOU!Liz

[Guest guest]

Dear Liz,

Welcome to the group, wish you didn't need to be among us, but alas, our aging spines, and given the past work we have had done to them often results in further work later on.

I wish I could say that the need for further surgery was unusual, given our Harrington Rod surgery when we were kids, but that wouldn't be true. Just how many of us will require further surgery, I've heard anywhere from 40 percent to as high as anyone who has a harrington rod, and really who knows till all of us that had that surgery hits mid life where many of the problems crop up.Loss of Lordosis is a big problem for those of us who had our rods placed in our lumbar region. Disc problems also show up below the end of the fusion mass, as wear and tear from bending add up. Some of us also develope stenosis, arthritis and other structural problems. My Harrington Rod fusion mass ended at L3, I had stenosis, Facet joint arthritis, disc problems, and a vertebrae clearly falling out of line significantly. Pain is usually what drives us to again search out answers and docs who can once again try and put the whole house of cards back in order. I have had three post Harrington Rod surgeries and count myself among the very lucky, I'm doing very well and lead a very full life with some accomodations for a very fused spine, T1 to the sacrum.

Problems and the level of those problems can vary, so some deal with them with varying options. Most docs have patients try some therapys to see if they will give some relief. PT and exercises given there can be of help, massage can help too, some have epidural injections, and get relief from that too. Many have found swimming to be of big help. Pain Mgt also helps members get through a day more comfortably.

With me my problems were structural, and after trying the above items, I made the decision to move onto surgery to try and get me more comfortable and get my spine in better alignment. Took a lot of work but I'm so glad I did it. Prior to my revisions my world was getting very small, and revolved around my pain that day. I had very limited walking and standing ability. I'm now able to walk as much as I'd like and standing is no longer a problem, huge blessings in my life.

Would love to hear more about you! Where are you located? Who are you currently seeing doc wise? Who placed your Harrington Rod and where, what year? Look forward to hearing what your doc proposes for you at your visit on the fifth. May I suggest whatever Him/Her has to say that you get a least a second opinion and probably a third. Post Harrington Rod Spines are very complex, and the surgeries are too, and should be in the hands of doc's that do this work often. There are a couple of handfuls of docs around the country that do this work often, and it's good to consult one of them for an opinion. Unfortunately many have to travel to see one of them, but it is so worth it, afterall you are dealing with your spine and your ability to walk and function.

Look forward to getting to know you, and once again welcome!

Colorado Springs

[ ] Help with MRI & scoliosis

Hi everyone,I'm just curious if there are other members here that have had surgery for scoliosis as a teenager, that are now having ALOT ofproblems as they age with the discs that were NOT fused?I have major double curve scoliosis. When I was 12 they put in a herrington rod in the top curve,(which was the worst one of the twocurves) but did nothing about the bottom curvewhich is 76 degrees I believe. The reason for that, back then wasthe doctors wanted to stop the top curve from progressing with thehopes that the bottom curve would also stop.I'm 37yrs old now...and the bottom curve has stayed the same as far asthe degree of the curve, but I have had alot of increased pain overthe last few years in my lumbar spine with ALOT of weakness andachiness in both legs.I had an MRI done friday and have the report, but I dont see thedoctor again until aug 5th so I was wondering if you all can help memake heads or tails of it.Here are is what it says:*** Impression:The patient has a prominent rotatory double curve scoliosis.There is disc dehydration of L2-3 and there are reactive changeswithin the inferior endplate of L2 vertebral body. The patient has aminimal diffuse disc bulge present at this level. There is also asmall diffuse disc bulge at L3-4.L4-5 shows a slight diffuse disc bulge with hypertrophic facet diseaseat L4-5 and L5-S1 *********I also had a double cervical fusion in my neck on feb 28th of thisyear. I had spinal stenosis with mylapathy.This was the 2nd cervical surgery for me, (1st one was 8 years ago)the 1st one was a failure but we did not know this until he went into do this second surgery and ended up having to redo the first onealong with the one that he was originally going in to fix this pastfeb 2008.Anyway, is this a common thing with scoliosis patients as they age???THANK YOU!Liz

[Guest guest]

Hi Liz,

Welcome. I am sorry to learn you are also among the post-scoli

surgery problem group. I hope that you are able to get a handle on

what exactly is going on with you fairly soon. It really is

difficult to get your mind wrapped around the fact that you are once

again going to have to stare the scoli-monster down....but that

seems to be the story for many of us.

First off, just to clarify, no one here has any medical training or

expertise, so please take anything your read or see here (or

anywhere on the web for that matter!) with a grain of salt. Many on

us have walked a similar orad to you...but we are all unique cases

so our experiences vary quite a bit.

As to your question about what your imagaing report means, in very

broad terms, I believe the report indicates that the discs below

your fusion are beginning to show signs of having had additional

burdens placed upon them. It is not uncommon for accelerated

degeneration to occur amongst our poplulation, and typical problems

crop up with the discs failing one way or another (ex: becoming

dehydrated or bulging), and the facet joints wearing out prematurely

(hypertrophic facet disease).

You are fused fairly high up, and now have the extra cervical fusion

which means that more than for some of us, balancing your body will

continue to be a challenge for any surgeon. I would also say that

having changes in your cervical area can indicate an

overcompensation for the balance you have (or had) in your thorascic

spine. In otherwords, having a globally unbalanced spine may have

been the source of your cervical problems. As the body tries to

complensate for our fusion (or inabilty to move in certain ways)

a " junctional kyphoisis " can develop that leads to neck problems.

If you have been reading here for a little while you may have read

about D who has just undergone cervical fusion in advance of

fusion in the lumbar area. Both areas are pieces of the puzzle for a

surgeon.

Also, it is common that as never roots in the lumbar spine become

compressed due to the kinds of changes your report indicates the

sciatic nerve (and others) let us know about it by making walking,

standing, and sometimes even sitting, painful.

I know you will get some answers when you discuss this report with

your doctor. As said, no matter who he or she is, with spines

as complicated as ours it would be a terrific idea to get another

opinion from one of the doctors whos practice is focused on our

particular population.

Please let us know what you hear on the 5th...and of course if you

have any other questions or thoughts....blast away. Believe me, we

know those thoughts can (and probably will) include your feeling

completely bummed out about some of this. We are here for you.

Take Care, Cam