My first time posting here, although I've been a lurker (in a good way).

I'm fused from C3 through C7. And have been grateful for the positive results of each of them.

My body has now decided to work it's evil on my thoracic spine.
Symptoms are pretty much what others have reported. Two years ago it was "all in my head", now? Well even my uneducated eye can see the blown discs and degenerating structures on the latest MRI.

I see my neurosurgeon at 3:00 today for the "word". And my stars I hope it can be fixed.

When looking at the thoracic MRI from two years ago there are obvious (though smaller) protrusions at the same locations compared to the most recent MRI. I have come to wonder why intervention wasn't suggested back in 2010, sparing me the intervening 18 months of increasingly crippling problems. I'm sure there is no need to list them here. This is truly a forum of 'been there/done that' folks.

The current pain levels have rendered me angry and bitter. I'd love to sue the hell outta somebody for minimizing the problems to the point of postponing treatment to the point of debilitation. I can handle the pain, until it makes daily functioning impossible. I am 'lucky that I can work my life around the symptoms, until I can't anymore.

Whilst I await some resolution, I was wondering just how one would go about finding someone to read the MRI's apart from the physicians who evaluated the MRI's and wrote the reports. A forensic radiologist?

Heck, forget a lawsuit, I'd like to get a better handle on what those MRI's represent. And and even bigger question: What's next on the spinal degeneration course and what could I do to slow it down.

Last thought: As bad as it is (and whoo boy it's bad) my heart and thoughts go out to anybody having LUMBAR degeneration. Ya'll are pain racked hero's IMHO.