I haven't been on here for quite some time. I didn't know they had the spinal disorder site. I have spent many a day on the Thoracic Outlet and the RSD forum.

I was rearended in Oct of 11. I have spent months in PT and my PTist says my thoracic spine is injured and doesn't protect my vital organs. He's been my PTist for 21 years so I trust him. He tells me he can get me to doing better but I won't stay that way.

I have pain all the way around my bra line, I have left chest pain, left arm pain, and left palm pain. I have fatigue, weakness, trouble breathing, trouble eating, headaches, brainfog at times.

I had 2 surgeries for pec minor in May and I was told that they were skeptical that it would do the left side. They think I need a rib resection for the TOS.

I see a new Dr. Friday. He is an Orthopedic Surgeon for Spine injuries. I am hoping he will do some test on me and find some answers.

The person that hit me was a 16 year old and hit me so hard it totaled his truck, his bent the frame on my expedition.

I am really dealing with frustration on this. I would love some insight as to what I am dealing with. They did do an xray and said I had some arthritis but I didn't have this spine problem until this accident.

Thanks for any help on this.

Ada

i would definitely want an MRI with and without contast material before I made any decision on this. An X-ray only shows bone. An MRI will show the soft tissue as well, i.e. the discs etc. So ask the surgeon or whomever for an MRI with and without contrast material before deciding.

If there is any way to avoid surgery, I would take ANY conservative method before surgery. Surgery is permanent, and it doesn't always solve the problem, and CAN leave you with worse problems than you had before. Also, it does not solve pain. Most of the time you're left with the same pain or worse after surgery. So do your homework, and research before agreeing to surgery.

When you DO have the MRI, get the report and bring it here. We can tell you what it means in laymen's language. LOL

God bless and please take care! Hugs, Lee