Question
Thanks for any insite you can offer Dr. Durnin

Any having diffeculty walking due to stiff legs and lots of pain, they finally said it was my old rods that are causing this problem. I was told they must come out or lose my legs, bladder and bowels. They will do a 2 day surgery, and replace the rods through the front on the second day.

Can you tell me if this is common? I was told that with lots of hard work, I should be able to get more flexability back. Thanks for any answer you can offer. Also, I am also 42 yrs. old.

Sincerely,

Bill

Answer
Hi Bill,
I would get get a second and even a third opinion before undergoing any invasive procedure. Without knowing the specifics, I can tell you that it is not common to remove the rods at your age. I suspect you had congenital  idiopathic scoliosis at a young age and had less than "cutting edge" work done on it to begin with. Make sure you have this done by the best. These things can go bad in a hurry if someone isn't on their game in the O.R.
Please don't accept the first opinion you hear, if all agree, get it done at an institution known for excellent work in this area. I don't know where you live but I would be willing to travel x-country if needed to find the best.

I wish I could definitively advise you with certainty, but with the limited info I have, get more opinions!

Good Luck!
Dr. Timothy Durnin
drs.chiroweb.com