Sequestrated thoracic disc

[kimlisa]

I have a disc fragment at T10, and have had this for about 4 1/2 years.

I still suffer chronic pain and muscle spasm in my thoracic region and a temporary paralysis type of thing when im walking..my whole body just freezes and I cant walk for a few minutes.

My bowels are also affected as I have no feeling in the thoracic area and my bowel specialist says I suffered some nerve damage when I injured my back causing these problems

I also have a large amount of muscle wasting around my right shoulder but according to some docs ive see, this isnt related to the thoracic injury.  The latest doc ive seen is a pain management doctor who says that discs dont fragment but my mri scan shows clearly that it has and she says it should have got better on its own.  From my understanding this is  not the case and I would welcome some professional advice before I see the doctor again.  I didnt like to argue with here without some hard facts.

Kind regards

Kim

[kimlisa]

Thank you so much for your input....I will certainly ask to see a neurosurgeon at my next appointment.

Ive been offered a thoracic epidural injection but the pain doc says it probably wont work and she wants to try other methods of pain help, ie more painkillers I guess.  My ultimate aim is to get off painkillers because of the extra problems they cause my bowels which are bad enough already !

My orthopaedic surgeon sent me to the pain doc for the epidural but he did also say that if this fails (which seems likely according to the pain doc) they would consider me for surgery....the thing is..if one specialist considers surgery then he thinks the disc fragment is still there causing problems but the pain managment doc ( who is an anaethesist) says she is 100% sure there is no fragment as discs DO NOT FRAGMENT (quote) !  So who is right here and who is wrong and what should be my next step.

I havent had an mri done to any other part of my spine but the mri I had done in March says

' there is a soft tissue lesion intimate with the posterior body of T10, intermediate in signal on T1 weighted equences and of inhomogenously increased signal on T2.  The lesion appears to extend upward from T10/T11 where it is most prominent and tapers to the top of the vertebral body and is embarrassing the anterior sub-arachnoid space and impinging on the anterior surface of the lower thoracic cord.  There is a slight reduction in height in the T10/T11 disc compared with the others.  The appearance is of a sequestrated prolapsed disc'  

Ive no idea what any of this means but I would be so grateful if someone could explain it as so far everyone ive seen has an entirely different opinion of what is wrong, and how to treat it.

Many many thanks

Kim

[On the up side]

I do not understand why they do not feel that you are a surgical candidate.  Clealy, with the symptoms you are having, surgery should be offered to you.  Is there a reason why it has not been?

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT]

You can have disc fragments that can cause pain and neurological symptoms if it's pushing on a nerve. WOuld have to personally review your films to see if the T10 disc is in a location that would do so. If you haven't already, an MRI of other parts of your spine may be considered to evaluate for any evidence of damage that would be causing your symptoms. The right shoulder wasting however is not related to thoracic problem, too high. Rather than a pain management doctor, consider a neurosurgeon and bring your films for evaluation to see if you are a surgical candidate. Good luck.