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Back & Neck Pain (Expert Forum)
Thoracic Surgery
Questions in the Back & Neck Pain forum are answered by Dr. Kwan Yin Chong and Dr. Prem Pillay. Topics covered include herniated disc, pinched nerves, sciatica, degenerative spine disease, spinal stenosis, spine trauma and fractures, and pine tumors.
Thoracic Surgery
by sunshine2008, Jan 14, 2009 10:41AM
I am an 19 y/o female, almost 2 years ago I was involved in a car accident(I was rearended by two cars at a complete stop). After almost 2 years in chroninc pain with no solid diagnosis I found out I have a cerivcal herniation at C5/6, thoracic herniation T9/10,annular injury and protrusion at C6/7, annular bulging at T7/8 and other cervical bulging discs.The doctor told me me they didn't understand how all of that can missed fo so long after seeing many doctors and having numerous MRI'S. I have had every conserative treatment suggested ....rest,ice and heat therapy, physical therapy, chiropractic, massage therapy, traction, ultrasound therapy,various medications,(I currently do not take any pain meds or have in the past), 2 sets of triggerpoint injections, cervical epidural, acupuncture, and now facet block injections. I have exhausted every option possible. I didn't respond to the facet block injection I had 3 weeks ago,T7-11 were done. Most of the pain is midback and the shoulders numbness and tingly is more prevalent on the left upper back-midback.My only option left is surgery, so I am scheduled for the thoracic discogram in about a week.I have had a cervical discogram and that showed I had a cervical herniation opposed to a bulging disc.I believe I am headed in the right diection for treatment. Are there any new minimally invasive surgeries available? Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
I am sorry to hear about your diagnosis and pain. Did you get the thoracic surgery? If so, how are you? Did it have any effect on your pain? Did you have unwanted side efects? What exactly did they do? Did they go in through the ris and, remove some of the disc, and then do fusion?
I ask because I have several herniations (T4-5, T6-7, T8-9, T9-10, T10-11 etc.), bulging, degeneration in the thoracic spine and I have exahausted every non-surgical therapy I can find to no avail. I am getting worse and worse to the point that I am giving up hope for a normal life.
I hope you have found healing for your back.
Thanks,
Sidddharthha