[hummer479]

Well I am in the army and have been in for about 4 years now and just got my MRI results back on my back pain and found out I have Degenerative disk disease, Arthritic bone spurs, disk touching my spinal cord, a torn disk and I think something like a nodule on my vertebrae. Now this is all in my thoracic spine area and have to see a Neurosurgeon and a Orthopedic surgeon. Does anyone have any advice of what to expect and knowledge to take with me? I am worried this is the end of my Army Career. any tips advice or encouragement would be greatly appreciated.

[mistiis]

Hi hummer479...OUCH to say the least!!! There are a lot of people in this community with similar problems. And I hope some of them will come here and offer some support. First off, let me thank you for your service in the Army!!!!

I have DDD as well and other difficulties. It is a long road of discovery, to find out what will work best for you. Make sure you have good docs...if you end up having to have surgery make sure the surgeon has a lot of experience. Make sure they are up on the latest treatment possibilites.

I wonder about that nodule...

I had a herniated disc in my neck and the level above that is bulging. The herniated disc was compressing the spinal cord and a spinal nerve. I was experiencing nerve damage in my right arm and could not use it at all. Needless to say the pain was awful. Surgery seemed to be the only choice. And it worked. That was almost 3 years ago and I can now use that arm without difficulty (except for a shoulder that is falling apart ). Anyway, there are a lot of ways to deal with this, so hang in there. I understand that scary feeling about what is next???? I am sure you will get other ideas.
Take care, I will be checking back in......

[Colin Street]

I don't have DDD but did have problems with discs, bone spurs etc pressing on lower spinal cord. For 15 yrs or so I had only minor and tolerable nerve pain in legs, but two years ago things suddenly worsened: mobility became a big problem, neuropathuc pain much worse, and bowel problems.

I had an emergency spinal decompression operation to trim discs, remove bone spurs etc. This stopped the pressure on nerve, removed bowel probs and otherwise stabilised the situation i.e. now very poor walking ability and continuous neuropathic pain.

It seems that the pressure on spinal cord resulted in softening of the nerve(myelomalacia) which I'm told is irreversible. Wish I had had the op earlier...
But DDD is a different dimension.

[mistiis]

Hi Colin Street, its nice to meet you. I am sorry you had such a difficult problem. I have seen this happen to one of my patients (have been in nursing). It is really a hard thing to go through. I am glad you have gotten back what function that you have. I think that can be the way it is with spinal problems. My neck was that way. I dealt with it for many years and then, Boom, it really blew. I will be stopping back by here in a few days. You might find some of the information in the vitamin forum helpful. There are some good threads there now on nerve problems. I know that different things work for different people. Thank you for the info you put out here. Take care!

[hummer479]

I would like to thank you all for your post's on my subject and I will be seeing a Orthopedic Surgeon next week on the 4th and I will post a update to see what he says and recommends for a treatment. I am just worried about being operated on near my spinal cord. Colin Street what was your recovery time after your surgery and what was it kinda like if you don't mind sharing? Once again thanks for the posting on my subject :-).

Jon

[Colin Street]

Originally Posted by hummer479

I am just worried about being operated on near my spinal cord. Colin Street what was your recovery time after your surgery and what was it kinda like if you don't mind sharing? Once again thanks for the posting on my subject :-).

Jon

Hi Jon, hope all goes well with consultation and subsequent procedures.

My operation didn't leave me in any more pain than before, i.e. no pain as an effect of the operation, only the NP I had had before. Came off the drips quite quicly and I was able to walk, albeit slowly and uncertainly, with sticks after 3 or 4 days (and I am neither young nor specially fit). I would probably have been fearful if I had had time to think about it but the op. was done more or less as an emergency. They did laminectomy, removed some fatty tissue, and trimmed disc(s).

Looking at it from this end, the experience of the op/recovery wasn't bad at all. They did keep me in for a while after the op. but that may have been in part because I have no-one to help at home. As for success, it did restore some important control but by no means accomplished all I, and the doctors, had hoped for. Though I wish I had had the operation earlier, I think things had gone too far by the time I got to the table. Whilst it is hardly a routine operation, the surgeon (and I don't think I do him an injustice by saying he is not a world renowned specialist) didn't seem to think it posed any great risks.

[Jane]

Do your level best to take this one day at a time. I am sooooo sorry to hear that you are having these problems, especially at such a young age. It sounds like you are pre-disposed to degenerative problems and this situation is not work related.

The surgery will not be as bad as you think. The worst part is the diagnostic stage.........all of that pre-op foreplay. As far as your military career is concerned, it depends on what your specialty is and your level of function post op. Don't hesitate to request retraining in a different speicalty if that will salvage a career. Best wishes.

[treeves]

Originally Posted by hummer479

Well I am in the army and have been in for about 4 years now and just got my MRI results back on my back pain and found out I have Degenerative disk disease, Arthritic bone spurs, disk touching my spinal cord, a torn disk and I think something like a nodule on my vertebrae. Now this is all in my thoracic spine area and have to see a Neurosurgeon and a Orthopedic surgeon. Does anyone have any advice of what to expect and knowledge to take with me? I am worried this is the end of my Army Career. any tips advice or encouragement would be greatly appreciated.

The disk touching your spinal cord is the part that I can most relate to. I had ACDF surgery on 10/6/08. Mine was an emergency situation because I had been involved in a car accident on Sept. 15th and was already experiencing Neurological deficits. I had never had any back or neck problems before so when my doc said surgery I was beyond stunned. I had never heard of this surgery. Didn't know what I was in for but after seeing my MRI I knew it couldn't be good. Waiting for surgery was the hardest part. I had a lot of questions I had to have answered fast! The surgery recovery hasn't really been the horror that I was sure it would be. My throat was sore for a week. I have muscle spasms in my back now but they were expected and are under control with medication. I WILL get my normal life back and I have heard so many stories now about people who had the same surgery and go right back to all of their normal activities minus the pain they had before that I am now convinced that I can to. So can you. Maybe you might have to make some minor adjustments to your daily activities. Everybody is different. I just suggest making sure that you are completely comfortable with your doctors and their decisions. You've come to the right place everybody here is very supportive and full of information. I just wish I had found them all much sooner. I also want to thank you for your service and know that you will be in my thoughts and prayers. If they mention ACDF you can post questions I will be glad to share. Mostly DON'T be afraid no matter what they say. You have support and a great group here who have been there done that and don't mind sharing. Oh and most importantly! I'm not in a wheelchair because of my condition nor will my children have to come visit me in a nursing home because I'm paralyzed.