Guest guest Posted December 5, 2008 Report Share Posted December 5, 2008 I went for a consultation with a surgeon today regarding pain that has been intensifying past 6-8 months. I was fused for scoliosis in 1972, but my doctor used bone chips for the fusion, and did not use Harrington rods. I was asking about flatback and the potential for revision surgery. He was quite dismissive -- once you are fused, you do not have pain from the fusion and no further improvement can be made to the fused area he told me; you only have problems from the unfused areas (I have bone on bone - little or no disc - between L4 and L5 and lots of degeneration in cervical and thoracic...don't yet know extent). This doctor said " flatback " (and he made finger quotes when he said it) only really occurs in people with scoliosis who have had rods. He did not address my questions about my forward-leaning posture, some strange changes I'm noticing in my gait, and new intense pain in my hips (except to say it was from the L4-L5 problem). He said I had surgery in the " dark ages " and that people with scoliosis just have lifelong issues with it. So - my question: is flatback syndrome something that is only treated when a person with scoliosis has rods? Even though I have no lordotic curve, are all my problems (and the pain is getting to me the past half-year) just related to degeneration, not flatback? Does this warrant a second opinion (not likely with my insurance)? Any advice or information would be so much appreciated. Chappell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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