Hi, I am new to this site and stumbled across it looking for answers.
Here is my history so far.....

9/15/2011 Thoracic laminectomy and discectomy T6_7
this was following 9 months of chasing doctors telling them something was wrong. They only looked at my lumbar and never looked at my thoracic until I showed up at the ER losing sensation from my pelvic to my feet. MRI done showed a large fragment (13x9x8mm) with significant flattening and displacement of cord. Was told I was going paralyzed and took me right to surgery.

4/13/2012 Lumbar fusion at L4-5

So here I am now with the same symptoms from 2 years ago, saddle numbness, bowel issues, thoracic pain and discomfort, leg numbness, tightness around right ribs. Went back to same Neuro that I got in ER in 2011 (supposed to be one of the best in our area) MRI's were ordered.....results are...

1. There is a large right T6-7 (yes same location) lateral recess recurrent or residual hard disc herniation moderate right cord flattening.


The neuro says I now need fusion at that level, I know that is an awful surgery and wonder if any new procedures are out there to fix this. This has the potential to paralyze me from the chest down if it is not stabilized. I want the best way to fix the T6-7 issue....but I am sort of freaked out at the thought of going through this again.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks!

5 years ago I was hit by a drunk driver. I have had back pain ever since then. MRI's show slight bulges in T4,5 and T8,9. Doc says it should not hurt as bad as i say it does. for 5 years now I have been on oxy 15mg. my pain spreads through out my back and ribs. Ive had every possible shot in my spine including nerve blocks and nothing has helped. 4 months of physical therapy, chiropractic, prolotheropy and I even tried Acupuncture. I went to johns Hopkins and that was a joke. Last week I made an appointment with a neurosurgeon. She has been practicing for over 30 years. as she was looking at my MRI's she said the same thing everyone else says. then she looked down the spinal cord. not one dr has shown that part to me. She saw whats called spinal cord herniations. This type of injury is so rare its often over looked. Ive do a ton of reading about this and it talks about every pain I have. going back next week for another MRI with contrast then schedule the 6 to 8 hour surgery. I have had 5 years of no answers to finally getting one.
I havent worked in 3 years due to the amount of constant non stopping pain.
I feel your pain like no one else. I was at the point of thinking doctors not beliving me and just there for pain meds. I cant even remember what its like not to hurt. I hope what ever you have done to fix your pain helps you. I have come too close to comitting suicide as the level of pain I have has put me in a very dark unhappy place. I will keep you posted on my results as I get them.
If you ever just want to talk, please reach out to me. I wish this type of pain on no one.

David