scoliosis

[herb1968]

When I was 15 I opted to get surgery rather than where a Boston Jacket to treat and correct my scoliosis.  A decision that I regret.  Now I'm 40 and wondering if there is any new break through that I can take advantage of to remove this Herington Rod that was inserted inmy back.  It has not improved my posture but made it worse and the occasional discomfort is sometimes intolerable in that I often get chills in my back depending on the weather conditions.

[Gumri3]

By ALL MEANS, if you'd like to hear of my 3 scoliosis surgeries, (going on a 4th) I just saw 4 major spine surgeons who taught me so much that, even as a nurse whose read practically all articles on "idiopathic scoliosis", I've heard from the one doc I trust with my life, that the chance of fusion failures, even in a person's 60's to 70's is so much less. I was thrilled to hear what new procedures there are compared to Harrington rods, Cotrel-Doubousett (Met Cotrel in 1994) the newer procedure & fusion material seems to be far less likely to be "chewed up" or let me put it in medical terms...far less likely to have fusion failures with "PSEUSARTHROSES" I.E. FALSE JOINTS. Please look this word up? You'll get a real education about the past surgeries and what they're using today. Dee

[JenB12]

Herb,

hi, I had a spinal fusion for scoliosis in 1997... in 2002 i had all of my rods removed because they were really very bothersome to me and i felt as though i could feel them through my skin. I've been much happier having them out. My rods were not harrington i believe they are TSRH rods.... I am not sure on the difference of the level of difficulty of removing one vs. the other. They do often have to chip out the rods since many of them are fused with bone after all that time. There are many many wonderful orthopedic surgeons that specialize in scoliosis that do rod removal. Where do you live? I've had spinal operations in both Albuquerque New Mexico and in Chicago IL and had amazing doctors! There is no breakthrough though, it is still a major spinal operation. I am very happy that i had mine removed.... I have zero regrets about it.