Broken screws and such

[iowaopll]

Hi all! Have not been on here in a while. Big George I cried when I read about your stimulator for pain relief. It gives me so much hope that there is still possibilities for my pain. Well I was told in April 2014 that I had 2 broken screws at t2 posterior. I had surgery on 5/28/14. So surgeon left broken screws there and went in anterior and removed hardware from surgery in 7/98 at level c5-c6. Put new plate and 4 screws at t1-t2. I have to say it has been difficult since surgery. Have any of you had broken hardware. Surgeon also said there was one broken screw from surgery in 1998. So I have 3 broken screws still in there. I have also been having a lot of pain on the right side of my abdomen. Am wondering about damage to the vagus nerve? After 4 trips to ER and hospitalized for 3 days I got in to see a GI specialist. I go for an endoscopy and colonoscopy next week. Just looking for some answers and pain relief. I am very thankful for my husband and 2 adult children to help. Bless you all and stay strong.

[JAN MCKIM]

Hello Lisa,

I am so sorry that you've had such problems with your surgeries.  Broken screws sound terribly painful.  Does your surgeon have any explanation for why he didn't remove the broken screws?  How many surgeries have you had now, and where were they performed?  You mentioned one in '98?  Have you found a dr. who can offer a solution to the broken hardware in your neck?  Have you had a CT Scan after your surgery?  I hope that you can find a good surgeon/doctor whom you can trust and who can communicate well.  Let us know how you're doing because I know that I'm not the only one who is listening and hoping for the best for you. ;)

Hugs,

Jan

On Friday, October 17, 2014 12:24 AM, iowaopll <iowa...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi all! Have not been on here in a while. Big George I cried when I read about your stimulator for pain relief. It gives me so much hope that there is still possibilities for my pain. Well I was told in April 2014 that I had 2 broken screws at t2 posterior. I had surgery on 5/28/14. So surgeon left broken screws there and went in anterior and removed hardware from surgery in 7/98 at level c5-c6. Put new plate and 4 screws at t1-t2. I have to say it has been difficult since surgery. Have any of you had broken hardware. Surgeon also said there was one broken screw from surgery in 1998. So I have 3 broken screws still in there. I have also been having a lot of pain on the right side of my abdomen. Am wondering about damage to the vagus nerve? After 4 trips to ER and hospitalized for 3 days I got in to see a GI specialist. I go for an endoscopy and colonoscopy next week. Just looking for some answers and pain relief. I am very thankful for my husband and 2 adult children to help. Bless you all and stay strong.

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[iowaopll]

Hello Jan, thank-you for your reply. My surgeon said he does not know why the screws broke. He said it would be alright to leave the ones broken in the posterior and stabilize things from the anterior. He said this would be an easier recovery for me. I still have much pain and pressure in my neck and sometimes a feeling of choking in the front. But I am very happy to report the abdominal pain that radiated to my back is much improved! Woohoo! It went away immediately after I had an epidural for a torn disk and calcification at L5/S1. Dr. explained it as an odd radiating pain he had seen in other patients. I am doing physical therapy and water therapy now to strengthen my core and massage and gentle flexing of muscles in my neck. I want to say I went thru a very dark and painful time, but am happy to report that I am much improved. So if anyone reads this, NEVER give up. There is always hope!

[iowaopll]

I forgot to say that my first surgery was in St. Joe Missouri. And last 2 were in Omaha Nebraska.