Question about pedical screw placement in the ivertebrea

The type of procedure and hardware they used makes a difference in placement of screws. Those screws come in various lengths from 10mm to 30mm depending upon the anatomy of your spine the area fused and the plates manufacturer as to which one's were used. Commonly pedicle screws are used in lumbar fusions as well to give extra support while healing. Whether a interbody cage with grafts was done also contributes to size and placement of screws. All that being said comparison is difficult as each surgeon has his own protocol and that's likely why your not getting many responses and comments from other surgeons and Dr' s.

If you have a interest in seeing various procedures the actual pictures of them are many on the internet and just type "pictures of lumbar fusions" in your browser's search.

Thanks for your replies. I wish I could upload a picture of this X-ray so you all could see it and tell me your thoughts. You cAn see clearly that five of the six screws stay inside the vertebrea and the one is on the oddest angle and goes right out of the top of the vertebrea thru the disc space and it looks like it touches the bottom of the vertebrea above. It coincides with the pain I get when leaning forward. I Know I am fused but with leaning forward you would think that the preassure from the screw hitting the bottom of the vertebrea would be a pain generator. I know if I do any forward extension or kneeling down I am so soar for days and it's such a deep throbbing pain. This happens over and over no matter how much stretching I do. I am wondering if they could somehow figure out if that screw is what is making my pain so bad and I will be talking to the pain management doctor about it when ever I might get to see him again..... the doctors seem to want to stay away from looking at my X-rays. They only look at the reports but the reports from MRI and CT don't show up because of the titanium. The regular X-rays do show the screws and how they are placed and how can a pain management dr treat you for your pain if he isn't looking at the X-rays, reports , and listening to the patient. It all confuses me so much and that's why I have stayed away from this pain management stuff for so many years. It's frustrating for one, to be treated like a dang drug seeker when we are only seeking relief from the pain and two if they would just listen to our cries they would clearly see we are just not seeking a dang pill but seeking answers. I am very very physical. I stretch a lot every day and after twenty years I know what my back likes and don't like and what causes the pain to increase. I just want to find the root cause and have it addressed. I would love for someone other then me to see this X-ray. Sorry for rambling on but its really getting to me right now because the pain meds I am taking do nothing for the pain that is suppose to be managed by this pain management . At times I feel like they want us to be miserable and sorry to the good drs that care but it's just the way I feel right now and I hate feeling this way. Yes in twenty years I have tried every single medicine out there for pain relief besides a dang narcotic and nothing has worked. This is from someone that is against taking narcotics unless a else fails and I have tried everything no. Narcotic in hopes that it would help but I am not going to put pills In My body everyday that do nothing but give weird side affects and don't help. I think some of these so called safe non narcotic drugs are worse on ones body then The narcotics. Only my opinion and again I hAve only started tAking Percocet the last two months and I have been In constant pain since 1994. I have nothing against the use of narcotics for people In true chronic pain. It's the abusers that have messed the whole system up And I have been on the outside looking In for a long time now. Thanks again for the support and advice! I really appreciate it and I hope I can help someone at some point on this site.

Devious minds mrsm thinking alike!!! Lol

I was going to suggest getting a hard copy of the xrays and the next time you have a appointment with a Dr who you want to view this give them the pics only and hold out on the report til he makes his own evaluation.