I am in the awful predicament of facing surgery on my thoracic spine. I have a ruptured T7/8 disc which is pressing into my spinal cord centrally. I tripped about six weeks ago and had another MRI which showed that it had moved further into my cord. I have a numb left foot and terrible tingles in both legs accompanied by nerve pain down both legs. My neurosurgeon is concerned about the protruding disc causing permanent damage if left too long. He also said that the fact that it moved further showed it hadn't started to calcify and it would be unlikely to resolve without surgery, the risk being it could move even further into my cord.
My main concern is post surgical pain relief. I had a cervical disc replacement surgery four years ago and having had previous fusions etc with discs rupturing and had to do it with just panadol of all things for pain relief post surgery. I can't take morphine or pethidine or any drugs from their families. My surgeon has told me it will be very painful surgery - what are the options for pain relief? I will have to have this disc removed. I feel sick within myself and it is very painful as it is along with the tingles etc.
Just wondering if anyone has had this surgery and what was done for pain management eg nerve block etc
Also how long did it take to recover?
Thankyou
Libby