2000-2004

     I distinctly remember being so happy on New Year's Eve, 1999. I was eager to start the year 2000. So much hype and it was simply the passing of an old decade into a new one. That August, 21 years after my initial first day of working at Westerly Jewelry, I went back. At that point, the business was just being purchased by my dear friend Kevin, who had been the jeweler there since the early 80's. I was happy to return and call him "Boss". I even remember my first day back, it was a Saturday. At the end of the day, I felt rejuvenated - back in the work force at last - and I was in a familiar place! It felt like being back with family. I returned to work for a few days a week, and although it took a little bit of time to adjust to being on my feet all day, I did get used to it after a few weeks. At first, all was well. About 2 years in, I suddenly noticed that my back was aching, an unfamiliar ache, at the end of particularly long days. Naturally, one can reason that away. Plus, the floors were cement under the carpeting, which was increasingly difficult on the legs and back.


     Although for years I was always complimented on my posture, one day at the store it suddenly struck me that it had been quite some time since anyone had complimented me AND in fact, had been frequently being asked, "Is something wrong with your back?" or "Is you back hurting you?" or "Did you hurt your back?". Although it would be aching at times, there was no significant pain, per se. During the next year, I had to finally start to wonder if something was going on and acknowledged -only to myself- that I probably should find an orthopedic trained and experienced in "older" fusions, for a checkup. But where do you begin to find one??

     Suddenly I realized that end that end of some days, I was finding it particularly difficult to stand up straight?? What was that about?? I would find it more comfortable to lean on kitchen counter. After a few months of this occurring more frequently, I started to get a little nervous. But..........I, of course, chose to ignore it. Until one night, I was at the computer and I was tired and my back was hurting. Before shutting down, I was thinking of my back and thought, "Hmmm, maybe I should look online for doctors with expertise in old fusions", when suddenly the thought of my Harrington Rods entered my mind instead. I immediately started to wonder if they still used Harrington Rods, so - for the fun of it - I entered "HARRINGTON ROD" into the search box when BOOM! There was surprisingly TONS of information, but as I started to open things, none seemed to pertain to me because they kept referring to something called "Flatback Syndrome". Well, I didn't have that, so I kept searching. I kept hitting a brick wall though. So, on a whim, I started reading the page, when suddenly I came to yet another paragraph referring to "Flatback". However, in this box, it said, "If you had spinal fusion due to Scoliosis during the years of 1950 and 1980, the likelihood of now having Flatback Syndrome is great - CLICK HERE". I stared at it for a minute. I had mine in 1974. That would be me! I fit into that group. OMG - does this pertain to me?? Afraid to find out, I sat there a little while longer. Let's call it an inner instinct that I knew that this was indeed going to pertain to me and I was going to need a few minutes to muster up the courage to CLICK HERE. Finally, as if someone else’s were guiding my hand, I clicked.

     There was a picture of a woman. A woman they described as having a Harrington Rod, who was now suffering from something called "Flatback Syndrome" - and they were claiming it was all due to the Harrington Rod! Well, this could not be. Until I scrolled down and realized that this was MY stance. Knees bent, not being able to stand up straight any more. I started reading and reading and reading. I was up for hours reading. I went to bed sobbing, realizing that although I had just on a whim decided to Google "Harrington Rod", I had in fact opened Pandora's Box. And a large box it is. I think I walked around in a daze for a week or so, re-reading the information nightly. I suddenly came to the realization that I needed to get this checked - somehow, someway. I needed to find out that I DIDN'T have it and I was wrong. But deep down, I knew that I had diagnosed myself online. After a week or two, I called my sister Michele and told her. She said, "You can't diagnose yourself online!" and I said, "I know it sounds ridiculous, but I KNOW that I have this". I then told some people I work with and they too wondered if I could be sure. I mean, who diagnoses’ them self online - unless you are a hypochondriac or something! Once I began to accept that I may just have something wrong with me, I started doing a little more research, determining who exactly these orthopedic "specialists" were and where they were located. What I soon found out was that it was indeed a SPECIALITY and that there were only a handful of orthopedic surgeons across the country that have any relevant experience with people diagnosed with Flatback. There was a name that stuck out in the Boston area, a couple in NYC, one in SC, one prominent surgeon in Amarillo, TX and a couple in California. That was it! I knew then we were talking serious stuff. I joined the Scoliosis Association and found there was a Scoliosis Chapter in CT at Lawrence & Memorial Hospital. I called and decided on attending the next meeting. There was no one like me; they were basically people younger than me who actually had just recently (previous 10 years) had their surgeries. It was more a support group, although they did have speakers and guests. At the end of the 2nd meeting, the chairperson announced that the next month’s meeting we were going to have a "special" guest. His name was Dr. Paul Glazer from Boston - a world-renowned spine surgeon. Glazer??? I quickly thought, "I think that is the name of the guy I read about from Boston""! I came home and looked - sure enough. I decided I would NOT miss the next meeting for anything in the world.