Hi

I am fairly new to this board. I think i have posted a couple times. I had a fusion done at L4-5 about 19 months ago. Still dealing with the neverending pain. A month ago, i decided to see if the hardware is the issue. I have found out this wk that there is a possibility that the screw is brushing against the facet joint. It was suggested to get the hardware out. The next step is to do a Ct scan and if the bone is fused then its off to surgery in March. Has anyone here been through hardware removal. What is the recovery like, hospital stay. I heard its not as bad as the fusion recovery. I never thought i would be facing another back surgery within 2 yrs of the first one. But if its a possiblity that the hardware is causing the pain. Then its time to remove it and find out. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks Jennifer

I had my fourth back op. in 1987 then I think in 1988 they took out the hardware, they put a curve in the plate to try and get my spine to curve because it was too flat but all that happened was the pressure just bent the plate and the screws so it was all taken out a year later, from what i remember it wasn't as bad as when I had the fusion done, but I wont kid you it was a bit sore. I think I spent five to six days in hospital but I bet now with technology and improved procedures that is cut down. Wishing you all the best

Rob

Jennifer..
Hi bean, I was nearly considered to have my hard ware removed, but then the surgeon thought otherwise, When i thought i was going to, the surgeon siad it was an easy process, nothing like the fusion and generally done within an hour..

Love pebbles xxxx

Hi thefer http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif
I had laminectomy,discectomy with fusion at L5 S1 in May 2002...they removed the hardware on October 10 2002.
I was only under about 30 minutes...in the hospital overnight....and I MUST say this surgery was a breeze compared to the first!! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif
I was up and around the night of surgery with no problems..
I hope that answered a few of yor questions http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

My husband who's fifty now is about to go into surgery to have a major operation in which they want to remove his implants at L4 and L5 as well as going thru the front to do part of the operation and then sew him up and turn him over and go thru the back to finish with a total fusion of the spine. He is scared to death of the results and what they might be. So I feel for anyone with back problems and am woundering if anyone else has had this done and how there doing today.

HI

Thank you for answering my post. Just from talking to the pain dr on Friday, he said there will be the post op pain which is why we are waiting till spring break to do it cause i am a college student. I am hoping that i will be out within 2 days, so that i can go back home and recover there for a couple days then go back to classes. I was told it will be easier than the fusion. He did tell me the pain afterwards will be rough. This time around, i am going to have the pain dr handle the pain meds after surgery then the surgeon. The good news that may come out of this is that my pain might go down. I am getting tired of predicting the rain. A couple days before it rains, i know. Living in Oregon, i usually spend about 6-9 months out of the yr on pain meds. If you know of any good web sites that discuss hardware removal let me know. Is it common for the hardware to come out or do they do it when it creates problems. Thanks, Jennifer

Jennifer..
In answer to you question, I do not think it is common to remove hardware, or that is what i was told!

They say once you are fused your hardware is reduntant, So why put you through another op if it is not causing any probs.. So it will only be removed if you were having probs..

LOVE PEBBLES XXX

I am contemplating hardware removal too and my surgeon said he is doing it more commonly now. Once the fusion is complete the hardware isn't needed and can be a pain generator. I'm waiting because I dread another surgery and it's no guarantee that pain will be reduced. Scar tissue increases with each cut and may also cause problems. Consider nerve block shots with flouroscopy at the hardware site to see if pain goes away. Good luck.

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Had posterior lumbar interbody fusion at L4/L5/S1 on Jan. 30,'01 with 6 pedicle screws, 2 Steffe plates, 4 Brantigan carbon fiber cages and my own hip graft for spondylolisthesis. Wear leg braces (afo's on both legs)for drop foot from nerve damage.

Hi

I am sorry that i forgot to mentioned this. The big reason for getting the hardware out is that a screw is hitting the facet joint, causing pain and sometimes i get popping in the back. They suspect this might be the cause. I don't want to go through surgery but being as young as i am, if there is a possiblity that the hardware is the cause of the pain and if its fused then there is no point in keeping metal in my back that just makes me hurt worse. Its a tough call. I have been sitting on this for the past wk. Does this make sense. Thanks. Jennifer

Jennifer..
Of course it make's sence babe! If the screw is giving you pain, get the hardware out! at least that's one thing that is least likly to be your pain in the future if you are still unfortunate to suffer..

Hope all goes well, keep us posted..

Love pebble's xxxx