Quote:
Originally Posted by ginnie
Our best in reading the MRI is out for a bit. She is sick. I have some impressions, and I am in no way a medical person. I have been looking up spine conditions for a few years now.
May I ask you what the doctor has said about this MRI? You do have some issues. Any time the canal is being narrowed, by herniation, it is a reason for some concern. Most of your MRI says words like "Mild", "Moderate". This is good. It is when the MRI starts saying " Severe" that some kind of surgery is recommended. Surgery is also a last resort, and you don't want to do that if there is any other treatment that could help you. Please do not seek a chiropractic person. This can and does make things worse at times. You need clearance from you neurologist before you did anything like that.
I would get in writing your doctors impressions, since multiple levels are involved, then get two more opinions before you opt for any treatment.
Because so many levels have some degenerative changes, Steroid injections really would not have much impact for you. They are just a temporary fix at best, and can make the pain worse. That was my experience with this kind of injections, and in no way reflects what other have experienced.
What worked for me the best outside of having to have surgery were ketamine infusions. This worked for me for months at a time, and it was not a painful procedure at all. You have to find out who does them, and if you are a candidate for this.
Keep a pain journal, and bring someone with you to the doctors when given an synopsis from your doctor. That friend our spouse, will pick up anything you might miss.
I would also be willing to look up each vertebra level for you, and try to help you learn the terminology. that way when you go back, there won't be anything the doctor can say, that you won't have an understanding of. Research is the best bet to understand all of it.
Our Moderators may know more about the language of this than I do. contact Jo*Mar or Chemar, and I am sure they will help you too.
All of us here on NT will be here to support you, in what ever direction you need to follow. Go get a few more opinions OK? Be good to yourself. ginnie  |
Hi Ginnie,
Thank you for your support. I have posted before and received some direction from Jo Mar. Since receiving new updates to my spinal diagnostic studies I thought I would repost the current information. I imagine that we all feel lonely at times with wondering thoughts, Neuro Talk is a great forum.
I live in Canada and unfortunately people with spine problems have to suffer great extents before getting help. My G.P in 2010 told me I had a perfectly healthy spine for someone my age. After reviewing my MRI's in 2011, I was told that my back was a train wreck. He then labelled me with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain and I was abandoned by him...
I had to wait a year and a half before seeing a surgeon. Surgery has been proposed, posterior spinal fusion from T3 to L1 with instrumentational rods and a possible posterior osteotomy. I was diagnosed with Sheuermann's Disease of the thoracic spine.
There are other findings that I failed to include in my posting. Bertelotti's Syndrome (L5 sacralization - pseudoarthrosis of the transverse process bilaterally to the alae of the sacrum with sclerosis of the L5 segment and the sacrum).
Mild scoliosis of the lumbar spine.
Moderately-Severe osteophytes throughout my spine including the mass effect on the spinal cord at T7-T8 level.
I also have Baastrup's Sign (Kissing Disease of L2-S1).
I have no idea what is happening to my spine...I just know that the pain has become inmeasurable. The sad part of all this is that I have relentlessly tried to get help...to no avail. I have researched out of country help however all attempts seems to come to a dead end and unfortunately what is surgically offerred, I just can't afford. Maybe there is just too much going on with my spine...I miss my life.
Massimo