Spinal Injections
Welcome to Spine-health’s Spinal Injections patient community. You can also read doctor approved Injections Articles and watch Injections Videos.
- Most Popular Injections Articles
- Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injections for Low Back Pain and Sciatica
- Epidural Steroid Injections: Risks and Side Effects
- Most Popular Injections Videos
- Epidural Steroid Injections for Back Pain and Leg Pain Video
- Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection Video
August 22, 2009 - 8:25am
test for hardware pain?
Hi,
Had a fusion at L5/S1 1 1/2 years ago. Not getting better and now have terrible pain at surgery site. Is there any type of test to see if my hardware is hurting me?
User login
advertisement
New forum topics
Clinical Trials
Who's online
There are currently 5 users and 262 guests online.
Online users
Connect with Us
Dear Sotired,
I have not had any problems with my hardware, however, there are many on this site who have. I'm sure you will get plenty of responses, as those on this site are incredibly helpful. In the meantime call your Doctor; hopefully just an x-ray could tell if your hardware is the problem. Good luck.
I had the test last monday. They inject lidocane to by the screws to see if it releives you pain. If it does, it is hardware. If not it is something else. Hope this helps
2 level PLIF Dec 2008
Hardware Removed Sept 2009
Bone tumor in Eye Socket removed 10-26-09, They confirmed I do have a brain LOL
Fentanyl Patch 100 Mico, Oxycodone 30 MG every 4 hours breakthrough
Surgery Dec 13, 2 level fusion L2-3, L-3-4, ALIF min invasive. Nuvasive procedure..quite the deal!
Thanks for your replies. I called my NS and she said there is no test available to see if the hardware is causing the pain. We did an xray laying down and it showed all the hardware in place. My pain is bad standing and sitting. Wouldn't it make sense to take an xray in those positions. My meds are being increased to Oxycontin and percocet now, but no one seems to want to find out why I'm in so much pain now after I fell 4 weeks ago.
I found out that my hardware hurts me when the barometer falls or when it gets cold. This is something they forget to tell us about. I'm not aware of any tests for hardware pain either but that test Robin mentioned sounds very promising. Use a heating pain when it cools off to warm up the titanium. Take care
PLS,nerve damage,facet arthropathy,severe DDD,DJD,scar tissue; Fibro
Back Surgeries: Microdiscectomy/ laminectomy,2 level TLIF/Laminectomy w/ hardware, Synchromed infusion pump
Meds: Dilaudid,Oxycodone,Lyrica,Robaxin,Cymbalta,Elavil,Plaquenil
Spineys Rule!
The procedure that Robin mentioned is a common way to see if the hardware might be causing pain. I went to a new neurosurgeon yesterday and that was practically the first thing he said to me...go to the PM doc and have him inject a numbing agent right on top of the screws...and then go walk and exercise to see if the "normal" pain is there or not. If there is no pain, they assume the screws are contributing to/causing the pain.
Frankly I think this will be a waste of time as I am completely unaware of my hardware...but he thought a couple of the screws looked odd.
You had an X-ray lying down?? Didn't they have you standing, and then bending forward, and then standing with your back in extension?? That is the way they usually do it to check for loose hardware....
If I were you, I would get an opinion from another spinal specialist. What have you done or tried to see why you are still in pain??
I have no medical training. Comments are based on personal experience and lots of research and reading.
PLIF @ L4-5 with Peek cage, rods and screws Jan 2008
Lami-foraminotomy L5-S1 Jan 2009
Fusion L3-S1 coming up -- 1 June
I thought it sounded odd too. But my Ortho said that the screw heads irritate the muscle. He said he has had great suscess with this test and the results being good. Otherwise I wouldnt have had any more injections in my back. I should know fairly soon if it helped. I do have a disc that is torn, so that could also be an issue....
2 level PLIF Dec 2008
Hardware Removed Sept 2009
Bone tumor in Eye Socket removed 10-26-09, They confirmed I do have a brain LOL
Fentanyl Patch 100 Mico, Oxycodone 30 MG every 4 hours breakthrough
Surgery Dec 13, 2 level fusion L2-3, L-3-4, ALIF min invasive. Nuvasive procedure..quite the deal!
oops
2 level PLIF Dec 2008
Hardware Removed Sept 2009
Bone tumor in Eye Socket removed 10-26-09, They confirmed I do have a brain LOL
Fentanyl Patch 100 Mico, Oxycodone 30 MG every 4 hours breakthrough
Surgery Dec 13, 2 level fusion L2-3, L-3-4, ALIF min invasive. Nuvasive procedure..quite the deal!
My doctor wants to do an exploratory surgery to see whats going on in there. He said it could be the hardware rubbing against the muscles. He mentioned the injections but my pain dr. said it would be no use as the injections dont numb just the area where the screws are, it numbs all around so it isnt that great of a tool to use in finding out if its the hardware or not and frankly Im not up to anymore injections. It's sad when were poked and proded so much that we can hardly stand anything else.
My doctor wants to do an exploratory surgery to see whats going on in there. He said it could be the hardware rubbing against the muscles. He mentioned the injections but my pain dr. said it would be no use as the injections dont numb just the area where the screws are, it numbs all around so it isnt that great of a tool to use in finding out if its the hardware or not and frankly Im not up to anymore injections. It's sad when were poked and proded so much that we can hardly stand anything else.
When I told the surgeon what my pain dr. said, he agreed.