Metal rods in spine

IvanOpinion

Over the last few years DWs spine has been slowly collapsing .. unfortunately in the last year or so things have deteriorated quite a bit. It was always on the cards but it appears the time has come for her to consider an operation to get metal rods and plates inserted to try to stabilise her spine. She has been warned that due to the number of disks involved it will seriously limit her ability to bend.

I was wondering if anybody else has had experience of this? Did it help? Did it relieve the pain?

pavlovs_dog

Hi Ivan,

sorry I can't answer your question, but it's lovely to 'see' you, even if your return is not for the happiest of enquiries.

best wishes to you and your wife :grouphug:

gunsandbanjos

My daughter has had metal rods in her back since she was 2. She has a severely deformed spine, on a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being perfect and 10 being as bad as it gets her consultant says she is a 9:eek: The rods my daughter has are growth rods and she gets them lengthened every 6 months.

So we have some experience of this:p She does get some pain yes, but it is manageable. She isn't allowed to do forward rolls, headstands etc I'm sure your wife won't be too bothered about that though:D She has to be quite careful generally but it doesn't limit her too much.

Feel free to ask any questions.

tadpoleuk

Hi,
My heart goes out to your wife, even if she was expecting it, the thought of a major operation is still a shock.The good news is many people have this surgery these days with good results.

I had interbody spinal fusion 4 weeks ago. My discs were so damaged the spine was collapsing, pinching the nerve causing severe pain and numbness.I have had 3 vertebrae bolted together with rods and screws and hopefully the bones themselves will fuse together within the year stabilising the whole back.

I am 35 and had been in pain for years. In my case the sciatica, lower back aching and numb feet feeling were gone the moment I woke from surgery. The place where they harvested the bone for the fusion was more uncomfortable than the actual spinal surgery.

For the first week in hospital I was on very powerful painkillers and so I didn't "feel" pain. It did hurt for a moment the first time they made me sit up though. I was walking unaided in 2 days and home in 5.

Once I was off the powerful drugs and on normal paracetamol I became more aware that I had had a major operation. There was no pain, sometimes an aching if I have sat for to long, or a stiffness if I have walked to far but nothing compared to the agony I was in before the operation. But being aware you have had an op is good because I was recovering to fast and trying to do to much to soon.

With regard to having less movement, your wifes problem sounds much more severe than mine. But can she bend at the moment ?
To be in that much pain for that long sort of stops you wanting to do anything. She can live without touching her toes ?

If your wife decides to go ahead here is a little advice.

The first week your wife comes home she will need everything doing for her, after that she should be fine pottering around.

Before she comes home from hospital have everything ready and in reach for her, find a sturdy chair with arms for her to use for the first few weeks.

I bought a zimmer frame and stick from a charity shop. The zimmer frame will help with getting in and out the bath and on and off the toilet (without leaning on you and possibly damaging your back).

I use mine now to help me get up again if im washing my hair or now im starting doing light housework.

The stick is not to be used to help her with walking, hopefully she wont need it. It is a visual aid for when she starts to go out to stop others bumping into her. I call it my magic stick. Cars slow down when I cross the road. People move out of my way when shopping and I can get a seat on the bus at the front

I just bought myself a wonderful mini shopping trolley, now I can bring things back from the shops. More independance reclaimed !

4 weeks on, yes I am certain I did the right thing going for the operation. I know it is early days but as its still fresh in my mind I wanted to offer my story.

Try not to read the back-forums as an indicator to success as the people posting there need help. The success stories are out disco dancing