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Rejecting Fusion and or Hardware?

I had a spine fusionL4-L5 with hardware,they sent me home on Oxycotin and percocet.2 days after i got home my feet, ankles and toes swelled to the point I couldnt wear shoes or walk.I figured since the only thing different was the oxycotin I stopped taking it,after asking my dr if i could be alergic reaction.He said yes stop med. after several days they didnt go down.i
I went in and my PC was stumped.The surgeons PA said it was nothing 2 worry about.swelling was there for months.Mind you Im still in pain but tied it to surgery.After 11 months my feet and ankles still swell every other month for at least a couple weeks at a time and the pain is still there but now its continueous.Could my body be rejecting the fusion and or the hardware?This pain is torture and now they say im healed and wont help,I cant even get pain meds anymore.Mind you my insurance has lapped because I couldnt return to work.Help Please
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I had spinal fusion 7/30. My incision burst open, was on a wound vac for 8 weeks but wouldn't heal, had second surgery to clean and close the wound on 11/3. 1.5 weeks after surgery # 2 my fight leg and foot swelled terribly but my back also had a lot of pressure and tingling in my upper back and arms. PA  was stumped. Got checked for all other possibilities, all negative. They had me on 60 mg of Lasix and helped for 1 week then bad reoccurrence all over my body with the fluid and swelling. They upped my Lasix dosage. That was working good for, again, one week and yesterday and a bad reoccurrence. Except now the swelling is down enough that I can feel the pressure build in my lower back first, then moves into my upper back, then my arms and hands start thingling, then it starts moving down into my hips then leg or legs. Very painful, very uncomfortable!!! I am calling my surgeon this morning!! Thank you for sharing. We could be twins with our symptoms! My little voice told me this morning "it could be your body rejecting the hardware" so I decided to look it up. This was article and read # 1. I think God led me here! Thank you again and good luck to all other sufferers. If the Docs knew how painful, debilitating, and uncomfortable this is (feeling like I'm not in my own body) they would probably move a little quicker on it!!
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Avatar universal
I have the same issue going on in my back! They can do a hardware injection into your back around the hardware, if this gives you relief then they know that your body is rejecting the hardware. They told me that it is very common! After 13 months they now want to take it out! So now that there isn't any insurance what avenue are you suppose to take??!! I think in my case, I didn't notice right away due to the meds, but I still needed them because of the pressure and pain in my back.. They don't want to give me anymore medicine unless I have another surgery. Have you had any injections? Is the swelling the only issue? Can you feel the hardware in your back? My lower back hurts bad and the middle of my back burns and stings terribly. I would really be interested to talk to you before I consider doing this again.
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1711789 tn?1361308007
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi there!

Rejection to the hardware is uncommon and generally would not just present with swelling alone. Likely possibilities that may need to be considered include internal/ external pressure on the veins, systemic issues related to liver, heart, kidneys etc. I would suggest a detailed evaluation by an internist at this time to get an unbiased opinion regarding the symptoms. The cause of pain would need to be looked into separately. After a cause(s) if described, it can be managed accordingly.
Hope this is helpful.

Take care!
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2 Comments
I have a question.  I had back surgery infusion in Jan and 6 weeks later woke up with bilateral  drop foot.  All the specialist are stumped!  I’ve had 3 nerve studies showing it’s my L5 which is where my surgery was. Further test MRI shows nothing wrong!  I can hardly walk! Now I’ve tested positive for Lupus or something else that is attacking my immune system.  I’m 8 mths out and no closer to an answer!  I would have been better off not having the surgery at all. Thanks for any comments you may have?
I have a question.  I had back surgery infusion in Jan and 6 weeks later woke up with bilateral  drop foot.  All the specialist are stumped!  I’ve had 3 nerve studies showing it’s my L5 which is where my surgery was. Further test MRI shows nothing wrong!  I can hardly walk! Now I’ve tested positive for Lupus or something else that is attacking my immune system.  I’m 8 mths out and no closer to an answer!  I would have been better off not having the surgery at all. Thanks for any comments you may have?
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