Any ideas?

[avilamember1115]

Hi everyone :).....ok so I've had a MRI a few months ago on thoracic spine wich revealed two bulging disc, both were 2mm bulges, one in my T8-9 and the other in my T11-12 area, Was wondering if such small bulges can cause middle and sometimes upper back ache? Never feel no numbness in arms or legs just in mid back area, seems like it's inflammed all the time, it's more of an ache than a pain, I'm still able to excersize etc. I've had a lot of stress and worry in the past 16 months and also been having digestive problems, abdominal aches here and there, excessive gas(belching) after I eat or drink anything, stools vary almost every day(sometimes thin,loose,soft,normal) always brown, I've had a lot of test done in the last 16 months,nothing ever found until these last 2 months ultrasound revealed 2 gallbladder polyps .5 cent. With borderline thikening of gallbladder wall, it's weird cause 10 months I had an ultrasound and they weren't there, I also recently had a pancreas enzyme test wich my levels were normal but had a food allergy test that came back with about 15 food allergies, I thought it was weird because I've always eaten things on the list without any problems, so I'm confused and hoping it's nothing major, any ideas or has anyone ever experienced anything similar to my situation? Thanks for any comments

[philnoir]

.... sorry -- this computer has its own mind about when the enter key is pressed.

I was saying that when a doc minimizes my pain as you've experienced with the statement "2cm protrusion isn't usually painful" I find have a strong heart-to-heart discussion with the physician. Sometimes I'll put him on the spot and ask for a reference to the medical study to which he's referring. That usually shuts him up, after which I'll add that ifi it didn't hurt severely, I wouldn't waste my time or money consulting him. In other words, he's not going to talk me out of pain or wiggle out of his responsibility in treating that pain.

If I don't reach this understanding, I find a new doctor. Having practiced veterinary medicine for 30 years, I am often shocked at a physician's reluctance to treat pain.

The only answer, the only defense against this negligence is to insist that a) your pain is real, and b) you aren't leaving until there's a treatment plan that you both agree on for the immediate future.

Granted, you run the risk of losing this doctor -- many do not wish to play with an educated and demanding patient. Never forget who writes the checks in this relationship -- you're the boss. If you're not getting satisfactory treatment, find another health care consultant.

Now, as I started to say a message ago, ascertain whether or not your discomfort is being caused by systemic disease. Is it GI distress? Is it heart disease? Whatever, ask your doc to rule out (that's the word -- "rule out") any serious cause for your discomfort. Once that process is completed, focus on the structurali sue -- those thoracic vertebrae and discs.
Patience is essential, but keep the process of discover moving. Take notes, follow up on your notes, research your own answers, so that you can quickly get your doctors attention with each visit and focus on unknowns instead of rehashing old material for half of your appointment. Your doc has seen 1000 ptients since yur last visit.

[philnoir]

Avila, you present with a variety of symptoms and that makes our job in directing you to a proper treatment source more difficult.

a medical practitioner is trained in diagnoses to rule out more serious conditions first, narrowing down the scope of your illness to a specific set of systems. While this isn't always possible, it has been proven to be the quickest way to beginning treatment (although not always the right answer!)

The spine, as you know, has three major divisions -- cervical, which supports the head, thoracic, and lumbar which refers to the lower back.

The thoracic spine in general is the most stable section because the ribs and sternum provide a cage-like structure limiting movement in 2 dimensions, so I have to wonder -- are your disc protrusions due to a traumatic injury and are there compression fractures associated with this discs?

When a doctor tells me that some sign found on a diagnostic film "shouldn't" cause pain, that's usually the

[remar]

Any back problems can cause other problems in the body. If you have bulging discs in the thoracic region it can cause stomach issues. The bulging discs can indeed cause pain in some people.
Do some research on back problems relating to stomach issues.  

[jemma116]

You have pain in the thoracic area, you have had imaging done and it has confirmed there is a problem with the bulging discs.  What the doctor thinks is irrelevant that it shouldn't cause you pain - at the end of the day it IS causing the discomfort.

Your abdominal and digestive problems will be something different and not related to the bulging discs.  As it has been found that you have an allergy to 15 foods, now you know what these are, you can avoid eating them.

I found out recently that I am allergic to fennel seeds, when I made a homemade flapjack with fennel in it.  It was delicious, but my lips started to tingle and swelled up.  Sometimes with foods it is a trial and error and then you avoid what makes you unwell.

With the gastric problems that you have, avoid fried and heavily spiced foods and all those that you are allergic to.  Keep a written diary of everything that you eat and drink and avoid things that make you unwell.

Best wishes.

[avilamember1115]

thanks for the response, yeah i wrestle with thinking its my disc bulges or something more severe thats going on with my digestive system thats causing my discomforts, its weird because one Dr told me that it could be my disc bulges that cause my pain but then another Dr. told me that 2mm bulge shouldnt be causing pain....so im a little confused

[jemma116]

The thoracic disc bulging will cause your ache in that area of the back.

Some people who have a bulge may not feel any problems and others do.