[momzpeachy]

Hi all,

I want to thank all of you who have replied to my posts giving well wishes and sharing your concerns.

I am having a very rough time right now and things aren't going too well. I've been going downhill and fast. My TOS has gotten better since the surgery but I'm falling a part everywhere else. The recovery and rehab from teh TOS surgery has been on hold which has everyone worried also.

Right now I can barely walk and I'm having trouble breathing. Also having bladder and bowel problems. This is all due to a major herniation in my thoracic spine which is pressing on teh spinal cord. I have significant spinal cord compression and need surgery ASAP. I have been busy interviewing Neurosurgeons from all over. What I have is EXTREMELY RARE! I have been to all the BIG University Hospitals and none of the surgeons have seen more than a handful of these in 20+ yearsof practice. A herniation at this level (T10 T11) is unheard of unless due to a major trauma. The typical way of doing surgery for this is through the chest which is major stuff -like having open heart surgery which nobody wants to do INCLUDING ME!

I have found a surgeon who has some experience and can approach this from the back. He said its still very risky and I will never be the same again. "He can't fix me". The surgery will decompress my spine and help me walk and have bladder and bowel function again but I will always be in pain and have back problems. THe surgeon will be removing the disc and I will be left with nothing at T10 T11. He has to cut part of the bone in my back to get to it then remove the disc. I will be at great risk after! I will not be able to lift, stand for long, sit for long, etc. THings will be quite tough for me and I will most likely never work again. They feel this is a disease of the spine and my whole spine is curving and I may need future surgeries.

I am trying to absorb all this but it's hard. I just don't get it! I am scared to death! I am more scared than I was with the TOS surgery. I hate this! I hate every part of it! I don't know how I can do this. It's killing me! I feel so crappy right now though and if I don't have the surgery, I will become paralyzed in a short period of time. None of my options are good. I think I'll go with the surgery though. It's just going to be tough.

I have to get going..need to go shopping for a cane. I need to get used to walking with one. At 35, this sucks!

My surgery is scheduled for June 9th. THey wanted to do it next Tuesday but I couldn't. I needed time to absorb it.

I sure hope this goes well! It just never ends for me!

Take care all

[TraceyW]

Hi,

I have been reading your recent posts.... i havent posted any replies as just feel like your situation is so out of my league and almost makes me feel bad for all the moaning i do about my situation as you are having such a worse time of it

I can only send my best wishes and hope that this Dr can go some way to sorting out your situation. Is it not possible for them to install some kind of metal bracket at T10/11 to replace the spine - i have heard about someone who had this done just above the base of the neck....however, im sure the dr's you've seen would've come up with that if it was a viable idea.

Take care and try to stay strong
xx

[johannakat]

momz-
Oh momz! what a LOT to take in. I am sending you the warmest of hugs and caring thoughts. You have been through so much yet keep pushing. All you can do is take the steps, big or small, that will help you be the best you you can be. Whatever you are is, in fact, just perfect- If you don't see that today, it will hopefully become clear in time. I know that you will come through this. Things do happen for a reason even if we do not always know what it is.

I will be thinking of you and hoping for the very best possibile outcome to your surgery. I know it is frightening, but you will come through it stronger on the other side.



Johanna

[ocgirl]

I'm sorry things are so hard right now,
try to take one day at a time, one problem at a time
God bless you

[fern]

Dear Momz--my heart goes out to you.
It sounds like you could be more confidant in the surgeon you've chosen. Can you ask to speak to a prior patient of his? Also since you have delayed your surgery for a bit maybe you could still do some more research to find the best surgeon for you -- which may be the one you've already scheduled with.

[finz]

Oh Momz..............I am so sorry that you are going through all of this. I had hoped that your issues would be simpler to fix.

I honestly don't even know what to say except for please know that we are all here for you, Does your hubby know how to log in here and let us know how the surgery goes ?

Hugs

Carol

[astern]

Not much I can add that hasn't been said alrady, Momz. I'm very concerned for you and CONTINUE to pray for you by name. Be strong - even if it's one minute at a time.

We love you and support you!!

Anne

[dabbo]

Momz.... i'm so sorry to hear about this. You are in my thoughts and prayers. If I can do anyhing please let me know.
gentle hugs... -dabbo

[momzpeachy]

HI all

Thanks so much for all your kind words and well wishes. This is a great group and I am so glad I found you. I know that I don't post many messages and all I seem to do is vent my problems...I just am so frustrated!

My symptoms are getting much worse. yesterday I went to teh store with my family..I am now walking with a cane...but anyways, after standing..I couldn't feel my fingers. My right hand started going numb then my left. It was so scary because this never happened before. I couldn't feel anything and my back was in so much pain! I sat down and after a while I got better and the feeling came back. It show my spine is in bad shape.

I know I need this surgery but I'm scared. These problems seem to run in my family so it's most likely a genetic factor. I just get hit with everything way earlier. It goes down the family line..one after another and each one seems to get the problem 10 years earlier than the last. It's crazy. My mother feels bad but it's not her fault. I'm just mad at the world right now!

It's not fair!

I met with so many Neurosurgeons and I really liked this one. He was VERY honest and upfront with everything. He explained everything also. He examined me TWICE along with his team. THe other surgeons I met with didn't even examine me. THey just said "I need surgery" and reviewed the films. One wouldn't do the surgery and the others were cocky and just I don't know but something didn't feel right with them.

This one is the CHIEF of NEUROSURGERY at the hospital and is very experienced. He practiced at Mount Sanai Hospital and has done some of these surgeries..just not many but that's because it's a rare condition.

My PT is concerned because I am very weak from the other surgery..it has only been 5 months and I never went through rehab for that one due to these problems. I am way behind on everything! Also, him and the Doctors feel that I may have a big set back because spinal surgery can cause some problems with the nerves in the neck that were operated on. Things could be a real mess for me but also their is the flip side and they can go well. WE just don't know.

I don't like my options if I don't have the surgery. I will not be able to walk and become paralyzed. Nothing is good here and I can't win but we can just hope this surgery works and I can get better.

I have to absorb it all and understand that I will never be the same person again and this probably won't be the end of my problems. It's a hard thing to understand and I hate it! A couple years ago I was so active and now I'm disabled and faced with a permanent disability. As my husband says, "life gives you lemons, you make lemonade".

I am trying so hard to get through this but dam, it's hard! I am so tired of PAIN and feeling crappy! I'm tired of surgery! I hate it! I can't believe I'm going through another one in one week!

I don't know when I will be able to post after the surgery..it depends on how I'm doing.

Thanks again for everything ...just ..please hope and pray this goes well!

[ocgirl]

Hi Momz,
I don't have the details on your medical situation so I don't know if this information would apply. I have heard of a different surgical approach. Again, I don't know if it would apply in your situation.
It's less invasive, I thought I'd just pass it along. It is not my intention to question your doctors advice or add to your stress.
Best wishes.

__________________________________________





NOTE: To view the article with Web enhancements, go to:
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/405645
Endoscopic Transpedicular Thoracic Discectomy

Hae-Dong Jho, M.D., PH.D., Center for Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Neurosurg Focus 9(4), 2000. © 2000 American Association of Neurological Surgeons
Abstract and Introduction

Abstract

Object. To reduce the invasiveness and risk of thoracic disc surgery, a transpedicular endoscopic approach has been created. The surgical technique and outcome of endoscopic transpedicular thoracic discectomy are reported.
Methods. The surgical technique of posterior transpedicular thoracic discectomy was modified to endoscopic transpedicular surgery. A 1.5-cm trocar was placed in the interlaminar space via a 2-cm transverse paramedian skin incision. At the ventral aspect of the spinal cord discectomy was performed under direct visualization by using a 70°-lens endoscope. This surgical technique was used in 25 patients. Twelve patients were men and 13 were women, aged 29 to 70 years (median 46 years). Myelopathy, with or without radiculopathy was present in 13 patients, radiculopathy in 10, and segmental pain in two. The follow-up periods ranged from 4 to 60 months (median 27 months). In 12 of the 13 patients with myelopathy excellent improvement was shown postoperatively; the remaining patient suffered recurrence of symptoms after a motor vehicle accident three months postoperatively. In nine of the 10 patients with radiculopathy, pain was resolved completely. In one patient with right-sided hypochondral pain and two patients with segmental pain, relief was not achieved despite excellent results of discectomy demonstrated on postoperative magnetic resonance imaging. The average length of hospital stay was one night.
Conclusions. Endoscopic transpedicular thoracic discectomy was found to be a minimally invasive and effective surgical treatment.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/405645_print



http://www.ucsfhealth.org/adult/medi...cic/print.html