pedicle screw and back

[Puzzled]

I had a spinal fusion for the L5 S1 in 2008.  I have been in pain ever since.  They used hardware and I wound up with a pedicle screw that should have been in the bone but actually wound up outside the bone.  At that point I was told it would be fine but I would need pain meds off and on.  I had it checked off and on and oh no the screw was not the problem.

Fast forward.  My pain level is very bad.  They took an MRI, of which I have had many, and this doctor looked at it and said the pedicle screw is out about a centimeter and near a blood vessel.  My disk above the procedure has down dropped down on the right and my spine is in no way straight.  Everything lists to the right.  It was recommended that I get that screw out.  I am assuming that if i leave things as they are there is a chance of the screw impinging the blood vessel and who knows what and I believe something is impinging a different nerve at this point. 

Has anyone had hardware like this taken out?  It would involve cutting to get to the screws and removing them.  This will come at a high pain cost and I'm not sure I can handle the pain.  I know some have had surgery without pain meds but cannot remember what they did.  Could anyone suggest some way to help get through the surgery and aftermath without adding more pain medications?  I am to drop some pain meds before the surgery but I don't know how that is going to work since I'm in pretty bad pain as it is.  Dropping will just add more pain.

Irish, you said your hubby had to come off of pain meds and I can not remember how you had him do it.  Could you please share with me, though getting off meds before the surgery seems as it will be very hard to do.

Any help, suggestions would be appreciated.

[irish]

I think it would be wise for you to talk with your doctor or his nurse  to find out how to taper off the meds. I am not a doctor and can't prescribe a certain way for you to do get off the meds. Also, I don't understand the whole situation and this is something that needs to all be discussed with the doctor. Ask about the surgery and what kind of meds to have afterwards that may help you more. There is no way to get rid of all pain. I always try to take the least amount of any pain medication including tylenol. I figure if I can get the pain down to a manageable level where I can get some sleep, etc that is fine. When we get up to move around after surgery more pain is expected and sometimes there is no way to knock out all that pain without almost putting people in a coma.

I had a tremendous amount of dental work over the years and learned to place my thoughts in another place thinking and concentrating on other things and that helped me deal with the pain. The thing to remember is that pain is usually worse when you move around and settles down when you are at rest. Discuss with the doctor how to take your meds to obtain the best pain control. Also, ask them about using tylenol along with the pain med. They have some good ways to do this that does help. Good luck. Irish

[cccourt1942]

Puzzled:
   I am in the predicament you were in when you had this surgery--I think. 

1st-I had cervical fusion nearly 20 years ago.  It was quite successful.  At that time, I was told my low back had a problem and that I may face similar surgery in the lumbar region in future years.  When you are in your 40s, you think you'll always feel like you do when you're 40.

2nd-I suffered a strange fall the year before I retired.  I had an injury to my right hip.  I was told then it would cause me to "walk like a gimp legged old lady when I was old.  And...they were spot on.

3rd-Bone density test from 3 years ago revealed osteoporosis in my LEFT hip.  No pain.

4th-For about 10 years my ability to stand for more than minutes has plagued me.

5th-This year (am 75 today) I have had much SEVERE back pain in my LEFT hip.  Osteoporosis does not hurt (so I was told).  This pain has progressed--and the dx is spondylolisthesis: L4-L5 rest on one another when you look this up.  Mine is L3-L4 AND L5-S1.  It has a name, but it wasn't written down, therefore don't recall.  The thing is, surgery is NOT recommended for the dx of that multisyllabic word above.  I do not want surgery..and have told both ortho /BACK & ortho/HIP drs. (YES...two different drs for this) I do not want surgery---as I know how bones deteriorate at my age.  Since I made this decision, I have been told it is sometimes successful.  When I saw your msg, my stomach dropped.

I take pain med (Tylenol #3) and 1/2 mg of Xanax at night.  I am down to 1/4th the amount of Tylenol 3 prescribed, and all drs seem to pleased.  On bad days I use a cane--I have used the motorized grocery cart twice...think I may continue this practice--and have modified my already slowed down life.  By the time one reaches 75, there have been numerous "go slows" in one's life, so for me, personally, it isn't a big adjustment.  Three years ago I moved to be closer to my children.  I continue to be independent but for some exceptions.  I have dental work one day next week-1 1/2 hours est.  Because of hip pain I am going to medicate myself.  I can't drive after taking 1/2 Xanax and 1 whole tyl 3.  Another day I have an MRI and again will self medicate again.  Both those times my dtr will have to drive me.  I can't tell you how happy I am I realized my strength AND back were going 4 years ago and I had to move while I could still do it.  I miss my wonderful last home and friends...but since we all said good bye to 2016, I am absolutely thrilled I acted when I did.  I've been widowed about 12 years. 

You don't say how old you are.  Let your age be your guide.  Foreign objects in one's body can go awry and result in more problems than they solve.  But hey, you know that.

Good luck in whatever you choose...I had a friend who (after an horrific car accident) had several screws in one arm immediately after the accident.  It took her medical team a year to figure out the placement of the hardware while the arm was so swollen/inflamed, they weren't placed properly.  They removed then repaired the arm again (with hardware) and her pain was finally relieved. 

Listen to Irish...she's our guru on this board. 
c3

[Tharrell]

Everybody reacts very differently to surgeries, that's for sure. Puzzled, I am so sorry that your ortho surgeon screwed up and did not place the screw correctly!
I had busted a disc at L4 and L5 in '96 and had it taken out. At that point it was bone on bone and told I was at higher risk of breaking the next one up, which I did in 2007. I went in for a fusion, three plates and 6 screws. Had to wear a hard plastic brace for 9 month after surgery. 2 years later I started martial arts with modifications and no problems. I got my third degree black belt and became a certified instructor. I don't have any problems with my back.
My right hip started paining heavily again, been doing that off and on over the past ten years, but it always went away with rest. 3 years it would not go away. MRI showed MILD osteoarthitis. How can mild osteoarthritis hurt that much? Yes CCcourt, it does hurt! Went to physical therapy for months until I started grinding in hip. I was using a cane to limp around. Was send to specialist who does arthroscopy in 2015. He found impingement and decided to operate. He got in and found my joint a total mess with broken cartilage everywhere which he attempted to fix. I was good for about six month, then I was in severe pain again. Went through total hip replacement on the right last August 31st. Doctor found my joint at end stage disease and replaced it. November 16th I had revision surgery for what we thought was loose hardware, there was none, just severe scar tissue. Doctor still does not know what is going on. I'm still doing physical therapy and on the 26th this month will have a special bone scan to see if I have a possible fracture.
Meanwhile, since the hip surgery my right knee has been painful enough that I can't put weight on it. Again xray shows mild osteoarthritis! How can it be MILD when I can't put weight on it? Thankfully pt is helping. Now my left hip is going out. I refuse to have another hip replacement until they figure out why I'm having problems with this one.
Point is, even in the same person the outcomes can differ! I knew I had to do each one or I would have been in a wheelchair back in '97.
Ps: I'm only 47 years old!

[cccourt1942]

And what a difference in surgical decisions and results with a 30 year difference in body ages. 

I just can't believe surgery on my 75 year old spine ..that is...messing with crumbling bones...is able to help me. I may be wrong, but I have learned to modify my life so I can still move.  Who knows? 

I am still thankful for successful back surgery (cervical) done in my late 40s!

Good luck Tharrell,
ccc