NeuroTalk Support Groups - Feedback on MRI results please.

NeuroTalk Support Groups (https://www.neurotalk.org/)

- Spinal Disorders & Back Pain (https://www.neurotalk.org/spinal-disorders-and-back-pain/)

- - Feedback on MRI results please. (https://www.neurotalk.org/spinal-disorders-and-back-pain/151580-feedback-mri-results-please.html)

Feedback on MRI results please.

Can anyone tell me what the following means please?

"Disc extrusion at T7-T8 at the midline with both superior and inferior extension with mild thinning of the cord and mild myelomacia."

Thanks.

[ Extrusion: During extrusion, the gel-like nucleus pulposus breaks through the tire-like wall of the annulus fibrosus but still remains within the disc.]
http://www.spineuniverse.com/conditi...herniated-disc

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myelomalacia

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jo*mar (Post 777252)

Thanks. Those were helpful but there was no mention of "superior or inferior extension". I'm sure that has some sort of significance. Guess I will have to wait and see what the doc says.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGT Bob (Post 777221)

Can anyone tell me what the following means please?

"Disc extrusion at T7-T8 at the midline with both superior and inferior extension with mild thinning of the cord and mild myelomacia."

Thanks.

Bob,

A thoracic herniation is an exceedingly rare animal (0.5% of all hernations), you should go by a Lotto ticket!

All kidding aside, (I can say that, I had 4 thoracic herniations), it can be a real problem if there is cord compression and long track signs (your doc can explain that one). Hopefully that is not the case. The central canal is not wide at that level compared to the cord dimensions. Superior and inferior migration just means that the extruded fragment has moved up and down some from where it herniated.

I trust you have a good spine doc who can guide you through this. Epidural steroid injections after medrol dose pak is the mainstay. I suppose you could try spinal decompression therapy (conservative and benign) but it can be expensive. It is not a scam, rather usually an opportunistic financial boon for the practitioner administering it, but can be effective none the less. Surgery is a definative last resort in the thoracic spine as it is sort of a surgical "no man's land" for decompression with significant potential serious complications.

Good luck!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dubious (Post 777431)

Thanks for the info. Guess I will go buy a lotto ticket LOL.

The doc I am seeing also suspects that I may have MS as well. I hope that the symptoms I am having are coming from this issue rather than MS.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGT Bob (Post 777515)

Bob,

God I hope not! But one saving grace is that the MRI did not use the word "plaques" in describing the cord, etc. which is commonly done with MS, so one can only hope for the best!

BTW, thank you for your service!

Well, the doc said that I probably do not have MS but I will need to have that disc removed. He explained that they have to collapse a lung and may have to break my ribs to remove the bad disk and replace it with a plastic one. It is pinching and damaging my spinal cord...OUCH!

He claims to have done roughly 300 of these surgeries in the past 18 months. Hmmmm.