Re: pain in hip 29 years post Harrington rod placement

[Guest guest]

Hi Jan,

Welcome to the group.

I am sorry you are having troubles with your hip. Most of us found the first

symptoms that cropped up, assuming we had fairly asymptomatic post Harrington

placements, are hips, low back ache/tiredness, or sciatic pains. If you havent

actually had a diagnosis of flatback, then hopefully you will find that your

situation is not going to involve and extensive interventions to get you

comfortable. I hope so.

If you have been able to run those distances, that often, right up until now, at

least you are probably at a good weight and general fitness...so no matter what

comes you start from a good place.

Where do you live and who do you plan to see tomorrow? Most of this membership

has found very little has come of the treatment or information that they got

from their local ortho. Treating us requires a fairly specialized skill set. I

am not saying you wont get usable information...but just dont be disappointed if

you dont walk out of the office tomorrow with a solution in hand. Years of all

the other joints in your body taking up the slack for your unmovable spine can

play out in accelerated degeneration, arthritis and a number of other problems.

Of course...it could be that you just have an overuse injury and that a little

rest will set you right.

Please tell us more about yourself and how things go tomorrow.

Take Care, Cam

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Cam. I live in GA and had my surgery in Savannah. I currently live in

the Atlanta area. I agree that it takes a specialist to diagnose our problems!!!

I cross my legs in an awkward way, especially when sitting in the car or in a

bar-height chair. I know that this has exacerbated my hip pain, but it makes me

more comfortable because my back actually hits the back of the chair this way.

Does that make sense??? I am living on Glucosamine Chondroitin and Aleve and I

feel best first thing in the morning. Sitting for long periods makes it a lot

worse! I suffered from lower back pain 3 years ago and x-rays showed nothing. I

was working with preschool children and just had to adjust my environment. I had

to raise the table height and chair height to make it where I was bending a lot

less. I will post after my doctor's visit....Prayers are needed! I know that God

is bigger than any pain! In fact, I am going to Africa this summer on a mission

trip, which is the real reason that pushed me to go to the doctor. I need to

know that I can sit on a plane for that many hours and still be able to

function!!!

>

> Hi Jan,

>

> Welcome to the group.

>

> I am sorry you are having troubles with your hip. Most of us found the first

symptoms that cropped up, assuming we had fairly asymptomatic post Harrington

placements, are hips, low back ache/tiredness, or sciatic pains. If you havent

actually had a diagnosis of flatback, then hopefully you will find that your

situation is not going to involve and extensive interventions to get you

comfortable. I hope so.

>

> If you have been able to run those distances, that often, right up until now,

at least you are probably at a good weight and general fitness...so no matter

what comes you start from a good place.

>

> Where do you live and who do you plan to see tomorrow? Most of this membership

has found very little has come of the treatment or information that they got

from their local ortho. Treating us requires a fairly specialized skill set. I

am not saying you wont get usable information...but just dont be disappointed if

you dont walk out of the office tomorrow with a solution in hand. Years of all

the other joints in your body taking up the slack for your unmovable spine can

play out in accelerated degeneration, arthritis and a number of other problems.

Of course...it could be that you just have an overuse injury and that a little

rest will set you right.

>

> Please tell us more about yourself and how things go tomorrow.

>

> Take Care, Cam

>

[Guest guest]

Good news, I think....... The orthopedic surgeon said that it doesn't look like

I have " flatback syndrome " . My one Harrington rod stops at T-9, which means that

I have a little more movement in my spine. This explains why I have been able to

run religiously for the last 15 years. I am going to have an MRI next to rule

out any bulging discs, which could be putting pressure on some nerves, which may

be where the pain is coming from. He suggested that I switch to an elliptical

machine and less road running at least for a while. Yay, he didn't demand that I

quit running! He really didn't give me any direction for rehab, though. Like, he

didn't prescribe physical therapy or any other exercises/stretches, or

modifications in my life. Therefore, I am still very skeptical....I want to know

what to do to get better!!! Hopefully, the MRI will be in the next week and I

will get answers. He did rule out bursitis.

I will keep you posted!

Jan

> >

> > Hi Jan,

> >

> > Welcome to the group.

> >

> > I am sorry you are having troubles with your hip. Most of us found the first

symptoms that cropped up, assuming we had fairly asymptomatic post Harrington

placements, are hips, low back ache/tiredness, or sciatic pains. If you havent

actually had a diagnosis of flatback, then hopefully you will find that your

situation is not going to involve and extensive interventions to get you

comfortable. I hope so.

> >

> > If you have been able to run those distances, that often, right up until

now, at least you are probably at a good weight and general fitness...so no

matter

> what comes you start from a good place.

> >

> > Where do you live and who do you plan to see tomorrow? Most of this

membership has found very little has come of the treatment or information that

they got from their local ortho. Treating us requires a fairly specialized skill

set. I am not saying you wont get usable information...but just dont be

disappointed if you dont walk out of the office tomorrow with a solution in

hand. Years of all the other joints in your body taking up the slack for your

unmovable spine can play out in accelerated degeneration, arthritis and a number

of other problems. Of course...it could be that you just have an overuse injury

and that a little rest will set you right.

> >

> > Please tell us more about yourself and how things go tomorrow.

> >

> > Take Care, Cam

> >

>

>

>

>

> ------------------------------------

>

> scoliosis veterans * flatback sufferers * revision candidates

> Groups Links

>

[Guest guest]

I am not in the place to advise yet!! I am in the process of diagnosis! I liked

my doc today, but haven't researched surgery. I saw Dr. Kessler in Newnan, GA

> >

> > Hi Jan,

> >

> > Welcome to the group.

> >

> > I am sorry you are having troubles with your hip. Most of us found the first

symptoms that cropped up, assuming we had fairly asymptomatic post Harrington

placements, are hips, low back ache/tiredness, or sciatic pains. If you havent

actually had a diagnosis of flatback, then hopefully you will find that your

situation is not going to involve and extensive interventions to get you

comfortable. I hope so.

> >

> > If you have been able to run those distances, that often, right up until

now, at least you are probably at a good weight and general fitness...so no

matter what comes you start from a good place.

> >

> > Where do you live and who do you plan to see tomorrow? Most of this

membership has found very little has come of the treatment or information that

they got from their local ortho. Treating us requires a fairly specialized skill

set. I am not saying you wont get usable information...but just dont be

disappointed if you dont walk out of the office tomorrow with a solution in

hand. Years of all the other joints in your body taking up the slack for your

unmovable spine can play out in accelerated degeneration, arthritis and a number

of other problems. Of course...it could be that you just have an overuse injury

and that a little rest will set you right.

> >

> > Please tell us more about yourself and how things go tomorrow.

> >

> > Take Care, Cam

> >

>

>

>

>

> ------------------------------------

>

> scoliosis veterans * flatback sufferers * revision candidates

Links

>

[Guest guest]

Jan,

That is good news. I hope that you are on the road to recovery.

I am sure your doctor told you that those of us with a lot of fusion in our

spines are at increased risk for accelerated degenerative disc disease. The long

fusions can also place additional workload on your other joints, hips & knees

usually. Taking steps to modify your routines to accomodate that risk might be

worth consideration. I am sure a well qualified physical therapist who has had

experience working with spine patients will be able to help you form a good

routine.

The main thing is you have started the process of understanding your own body

and health much better, and will be able to find the right next step in

maintaining yourself. Many of us were very surprised to see this all crop up

again later in life. We had been led to believe our spines were " done " and all

would be well. Many of us have found ourselves wishing we had known we needed to

be a little kinder to our backs to avoid some of the later complications of long

fusion. Sigh.

Good luck with the MRI and hoping to hear how the next exam goes.

Take Care, Cam