major Pain and swelling

Don't mess around around when it comes to your spine and hardware if you feel there may be damage go get x-rays as soon as you can. Seriously. I did and my rods were fine turned out I was having pain from fibromyalgia.

I had a spinal fusion done in childhood . In my early 40s, my lower spine developed a compensatory curve and the pain was so bad I could barely walk. I was told I would need another surgery, but instead I started practicing Bikram Yoga. Bikram is a gentle stretching yoga practiced in a hot humid room. Within a week I started getting pain relief, and now five years later I am completely able-bodied and pain free as long as I practice a few times a week. I highly recommend it!

I am trying something a little different. After emergency fusion at 14, due to swift progression and severity, I was in surgery 2 months after diagnosis. I am now 43. I had some hip pain and could feel my rods when I moved wrong (strained against them). Aside from that I was always pretty pain free and very active. I did many things I should not have done. My work has mostly been physical, I even worked as an in home care taker for a 200 lb invalid who required manual transfers only. With proper mechanics I was able to do this (and many other things), with what I thought was no damage, as I felt no back pain aside from some muscle pain. Last year my feet started hurting like I was always walking on sharp rocks and I always felt like i'd been out dancing all night in tight heals, even barefoot. (I do not wear heals or tight shoes). Soon aftward I got a sharp pain in my lower back. I've spent over a year trying to find solutions. I finally found my original orthopedic came out of retirement. At the same time I found a chiropractor who specializes in unfused scoliosis. After many tests my orthopedic is scratching his head. My kypsosis and lourdes (keep in mind that my entire thoratic spine is fused with rods intact) changed from 40 degrees each 28 years ago to 80 degrees each. I do not know when, as I had not been under care all of those years. Under the supervision of my original orthopedic, my chiropractor is going to do an intense PT visit with me next week with stress x-rays. If I respond in a good way then we will start working on reducing the unfused portions of my spine, while keeping it balanced, and this should reduce the constant severe back pain and hopefully reduce strain on nerves causing the siatic and foot pain. I'm cautiously optomistic. After so many years relativly pain free, I was dismayed and frustrated to have an onset of intense pain that I've been unable to find a solution for in over a year. Fingers crossed.

hi ginger,

I post this advice a lot on this board, so if you've seen this on another thread apologies in advance. however, our stories do sound similar. I had spinal fusion at age 11 and no problems for over 30 years. in my 40s I was diagnosed with a curve in my tailbone probably caused by my refusal to wear a lift on my short leg. I was in terrible pain, I was pretty much crippled and could barely walk. I began practicing Bikram yoga, which is gentle yoga practiced in a hot, humid room. My pain went away after the first week, and stays away as long as I practice regularly. I think its so effective because the heat relaxes all those spasming muscles and ligaments, and the stretching prevents them from seizing up as much. its definitely worth a try, I wish everyone with spine issues knew about this. It absolutely changed my life. At age 55 I still walk a little funny, but I am completely able-bodied.