I just got the results from my new MRIs.

Cervical:

c3/4 - 2mm posterior disc protrustion, no cord impingement. Canal IS stenotic with AP diameter of 11mm. Facet hypertrophy w/mild right foraminal narrowing, no left side stenosis.

c4/5 - status post ACDF. Canal is stenotic with AP diameter of 11mm.

c5/6 - status post ACDF. Canal is stenotic with AP diameter of 12mm.

C7/T1 - 1mm left paracentral disc bulding, no impingement or stenosis.

Conclusion: Signal intensities in the non-operated vertebrae are within normal limits. Diminished signal in the remaining intervertrebal disc consistant with disc desiccation and degeneration. Post surgical and spondylitic changes as noted.

On to Thoracic:

T1-8 - good

T8/9 - 3 mm central disc herniation impinging on cord.

T9/10 - good

T10/11 - no disc bulge or herniation. Facet degeneration with narrowing of the canal.

T11/12 - 3mm R posterolateral disc protrusion impinging on the cord and narrowing the right neural foramen. Canal stenosis due to facet hypertrophy.

T12/L1 - good

L1/2 - 3mm posterior left paracentral disc herniation impinging on the thecal sac. Narrowing of the canal due to facet hypertrophy and left foraminal narrowing w/o right side stenosis.

Conclusion:

End plate degenerative change is seen at T8/9, T11/12, L1-2. Diminished signal in ALL intervertebral discs consistent with disc desiccation and degeneration.


When I was 40 I was told I had the bones of a 65 year old farmer. Now I'm 46 and I have the bones of a dead man.

For now I'm declining thoracic surgery. Unless the bladder problem turns totally incontinent or my legs give out. I suppose some day my neck will need more surgery too. The doc was more concerned with my neck than my thoracic damage. I'm afraid to have another MRI of the lumbar area.

Everything has gotten much worse in the last few years. I'm a 46 yr old female, what am I suppose to do now? I keep trying, so very hard. Apparently it doesn't matter what I do.

What the h*ll am I suppose to do now? Sit and wait for the inevitable. I will try and keep a positive attitude, but this is a bit overwhelming. Every single disc is bad? What else can go wrong now? Don't answer that, I don't want to know.

Linda

Wow, I'm sorry to hear you have so much going on..
I have to say your report reads close to mine.
I have problems at the C5/6/7 - T6/7/8/9- L4/5 and permenant damage to the S1 nerve..
I agree with the not having T spine surgery until having to, my drs have told me they won't operate until then anyway..
It must be a Linda thing..
Hope that you are able to keep stable and as pain free as possible.
Linda

do you have symptoms of stenosis? Are they messing up your life? The question, I think, it is can you live with what symptoms you have, knowing you have degnerative disk disease and things will gradually get worse without intervention?

And if the answer that that's not satisfactory, you need some intervention, is there something besides surgery that might help? I think that depends on what your symptoms are.

For instance, I'm recovering from a fusion, and while ther eis no doubt I am way way better than before the laminectomy, decomression and fusion, there is stil pain. But it's pain that it seems bodyworkers can help me with. Feldenkrais is helping me learn to move differently, without it being something I have to work on--somehow it repatterns my brain to choose less painful ways of donig things. And I used to do yoga and believe that if I return to it (as soon as the feldenkrais person gives the okay), I think mild hatha yoga might help decompress. Also, I'm pretty sure that T'ai chi will help. I'm learning from the feldenkrais that there are some movements which, when repeated, seem to free things up. She doesn't recommend T'ai chi for many people, but thinks it might be very useful for me.

As we all live longer, we get the privilege of dealing with aging. Whether it requires surgery or something less drastic is, I think, extremely specific to the symptoms a person has, rather than what is visible on MRI or CT.

I wish I didn't have to have the laminectomy, but it sure cured a lot of symptoms. I wish I didn't have to have the fsion, but I had spondylolisthesis, and I was pretty sure that if I had a laminectomy and no fusion I'd end up in more pain. But I don't think everyone has the same situation, though it does seem we almost all get spinal stenosis at some point.

Have you looked at other options?

Can I jump in on this post too?

What are the treatments people have had here, if any for for spinal stenosis?

I also have Spondy in my lumbar. L5-L6. Yes, extra lumbar region. An extra lumbar region is not an un common thing to have. Most people go on most of there lives not knowing they have one. Till an x-ray, or like me, you have a problem with your spine. So, what is to be done there? My doctors do not know?

My spine is "a mess", words from my doctors. I am 33 years old. You all in this post to,Linda are so full of information.

My team of doctors seem to think a fusion from like, L4 to L6, would help. (please this may not be the exact words, just what I remember)

Do they do fusions on so many levles like this? Think this is where I am getting something mixed up?

Like Linda, I am young. And also have C spine problems.
They did tell me, if I would have the surgery on my Lumbar, I would loss range of motion. But, what else can I do?
Since July my pain has been so high. I never really thought, I would be liking the thought of surgery. But, gesh. I need to do something. This pain is not letting me sleep, or have a life with my husband. Thank the LORD he is very supporting of me. And I think, he, no I know he wants the surgey. But I am so scared.

Linda, what kind of surgery did you have done? Did it help your C spine? Do you have more motion or less? I have NO motion in my neck. What do we do with like all or most levels of the spine affected? How old where you when you started with your spine problems? Sorry for all the questions.

I have had PT and OT therepy done. I have had to many injections to count. I use a tens unit, I should maybe use it more?

Most of the time, it was just my Lumbar that caused the biggest part of my pain. But now it seems since July, my C spine is really bothering me. Most with the head pain, and not being able to move it at all hardly. Arm pain, more of like a heavyness. And hand pain. I can still type, just feels strange.

Sorry for such a long post and jumping into your post. But, your MRI on your C spine is so much like mine. It caught my attention. I really hope you do not mind. And really could use some of your advice on this. I did have my MRI listed on BT. Now just to find it again in this horried mess of my desk, LOL.

Please forgive my spelling and the like. Having brain farts tonight.
Megs

Thanks for the replys ladies!

I had c5/6 ACDF in 01 on an emergency basis. I had a herniated disc that was pressing on the spinal cord and exiting nerve along with a calcified post. long. ligament which was stuck to the cord. At that time we discovered it was rather significant but that we'd only deal with the immediate problem. I didn't know I had a bad back other than I suspected some arthritis just because the rest of my body was already ridden with osteo arthritis. It caused me to totally lose the use of my left arm. The surgery regained the use and stopped that horrible pain that came with it, but it was compressed long enough that it left me with pretty significant nerve damage and I lost some use and fine motor skills. Then one year later, it happened all over again. I had a revision and extension of the fusion to include C4/7.

I think the problems with my neck now, are being caused by the arthritis. There really isn't anything impinging on the cord, other than the arthritis over growth. I don't know of any other treatment options short of surgery and just palative care for now.

What triggered the new MRIs was an epside where I side stepped someone and immediately BOTH arms went week and numb/tingly all over. I was scared to death as I wasn't home and no way of driving to get me home. I sat where I was for over an hour, I was finally able to move my arms and get myself home. Very scarey!

The catch 22 for a person with arthritis is, more surgery means more arthritis.

I have pain, but it's really never been the big issue with me. I'm very active and everything I love to do requires a physical being, it's killing me. I am finally able to exercise and it really helps. But, most of the time after a work out I have to come home and rest the rest of the day, it's almost counter productive but it does keep me flexible.

I'm still way to young for this

Linda

Megs:

I have fairly good motion in my neck to the surprise of my dr. and myself. The only problems I notice are when someone is behind me it drives me nuts trying to talk to them, backing out of parking space, or craddling a telephone. I still have, intermittantly, that horrible hand pain you're referring to. That was horrible at it's worst! On a pain scale of 1-10, it would be a 20. My last neck surgery was in 2/03. At that MRI none of the stenosis from arthritis was present nor was the DDD in my thoracic area. It has come on in the last 3 years, heavy and fast. The spinal canal was decompressed and everything was fine. I was totally caught by surprised. I think after a while I just got use to the little signs that might have been indicators that something else was going on in my neck and never paid attention to them for more than a passing thought. I did suspect some hand weakness early on, but then discovered my knifes were all dull and when I got new knifes, I could cut my food again. So, I thought that it was just with my knifes!! LOL Talk about wishful thinking! LOLOLOL

You are really young for a back like yours. Is it genetic or were you in some sort of accident?

Linda

Hi Megan

I posted elsewhere on the subject of thoracic herniations. I have six and am scheduled for surgery on September 12. I have herniations from T 1-2 through T 11-12, and one is large and is pressing against the left part of my spine--causing my left leg to become increasingly weaker and causing numbness in my left leg, right leg and now my groin area.

I can certainly understand your reluctance to have surgery. I can tell you---if I didn't have the increasing weakness in my left leg (which is getting worse pretty quickly) and the numbness (which is also getting worse pretty quickly), I don't think I would want to undergo surgery. However, I have no choice. I don't want to lose the use of my leg or worse. Also, I'm 59 (my age is a factor to me---I don't want to wait until I'm much older) and one of twin daughters is getting married in March 2007.

You are so young. My heart aches for you. All of you who are so young and have so many problems with your backs.

I've never been in an accident or hurt myself, as far as I can remember. My neuro surgeon said that my back problems were caused by "bad genes." But, I guess it really doesn't matter---I have a major problem. My surgeon told me, also, that my back is a real mess. He's never had a patient with so many herniations.

Good luck, Megan.

Jan

Thank you so much for your replys. It means so much to me.

I was born with a birth defect. And on top of that, before they found my spine was not right. I also got very ill at a young age, and had mega doses of steroides for a very long time. That did not help my spine problems out at all.

In the last 5-6 years now, my spine has been going down hill very fast. Each MRI shows something new. Now, I have brittle bones. I broke my feet twice in less then two years. Once a soup can feel on it. And the other, I rolled over in bed. So, my main goal is, to try to keep my muscles in shape as much as I can. Trying to eat right, and that is hard for me, as my other illness is in my intestines. They see food as the enemy. And attacks it.

Yes, I am young. But, this is all I have known since I was 8 years old. Now, if I ever did feel healty, I would really think somthing was wrong, LOL. No, just kidding. But, I do cherish each and everyday. I think, when like tonight, I cannot sleep. Well.....I got to see the sun rise. I have to stay positive. And sad to say, that does not always work the best, as of late anyway. Ever since I lost me father.
A lot of you, have it so much worse then I do. And I feel am so blessed to live in this day and age, when I can learn so much from all of you. And for that, I will never forget you, and each and everyone you all, will always be in my heart.

Thank you for taking the time out to help me. And not minding me jumping into your post.

Love,
Megs

Hello to everyone...after seeing the posts here...am myself suffering from chronic pain in neck (DDD c3-c7,desiccation, stenosis,bone spurs, kyphosis..etc).Days after days with no relief..the meds are not helping..41yr Female..always doing my research via the WWW and trying to find some answers...from nutritional supplements to inversion tables..just recently found this hospital in Germany..www.sturnumhospital.com ...looks good..from what i've read..spinal fusion is the trend here...but only to give more problems with adjacent vertebrae>>> whereas Sturnum Hospital ,fusion is obsolete ...just trying to get some relief and look forward to any feedback..Thanks