Bone graft site/Alpine

[Guest guest]

Alpine,

I have a lot of pain and burning in my left hip from the bone graft site of a surgery in 1988. The bone was taken to place in my neck at C1-C2 so the pain has nothing to do with scoliosis or flatback surgery.

In 2004 when I found out I needed surgery for scoliosis I was not a happy camper when Dr Lenke said he was going to take bone from my right hip. I voiced my concern but he brushed it off saying that at least my pain would be distributed. I don't think he realized the magnitude of my pain. He did take bone from my right hip and I have not had any pain what so ever from it.

I just read your post of how depressing it can be when you are home alone with your thoughts. I don't have any children, my husband works and I can't drive at the present time. It's not fun, especially when you are limited with how much time you are allowed to sit at your computer without making your back and hip pain unbearable. This is the first post I have made to the group in over a month but I just wanted to tell you that taking bone from the hip doesn't necessarily mean you will have pain from it.

You wanted suggestions for easing the pain. My doctor had me on Neurontin until the first of this month (I'm not sure if it helped) at which time he switched me to a new drug called Lyrica. I think it is helping but I have dozed off 3 times while typing this post. One of the side effects.

I know your surgery is right around the corner and I know you are scared out of your wits but, for me, the closer the time came the calmer I got. Just pray about it and I will pray for you.

I'm sorry for the long post but I feel like I was just released from my cage.

Joyce E

[ ] Question about bone harvesting

I was wondering if any of you have pain from the bone harvesting from your original harrington rod procedures. 21 years out I still have so much pain from the bone graph site in my lower left hip in the back. My curve was low enough in my back that Dr. Dawson was able to take bone out of my backside instead of the front of my hip. Dr. LaGrone said that there is nothing he can do for this pain. Is anyone suffering from this? Does anyone have suggestions on how to ease this pain? Dr. LaGrone also said that he would use cadaver bone for the revision surgery. Is there any concern about contracting disease? Does anyone know how this cadaver bone is cleaned/prepared before it's inserted into our backs?