T 7-8 Disc Impinging on spinal cord

[jdarie]

Has anyone had the Video-Assisted-Treatment or minimally invasive surgery for a bulging T7-8 disc that contours the spinal cord. I have sen one nuerosurgeon that said he doesn't recomment treating it at all, the invasive thorcotomy is risking and the recovery is long. Everything is made more complicated by the fact I have MS. He said if my compression from the disc gets worse, I would definately KNOW it. Has anyone had the invasive or noninvasive surgery for a disc kije the one I have compressing the cord?

[jdarie]

thank you for your comments and research reults. My journey and situation, reseach has led me to believe the tranthorasic surgery is too risky for me. I have been busy helping my mom out and less focus on my back seems to have helped! Accepting when it does flare and resting with a Tylenol#3 and added one Xstrenght tylenol helps. I am going to do some of the excercises suggested on this forum (towel rolled plus arm arching up) also swimming is thee best of the best. Anything that works. I plan to keep the meds and interventions as simple as possible. I did an injection (self pay at 4500.00!) in anchorage AK, live and learn. For me it is posture, no twisting when lifting. This level of disc problems most of the time isn't even included when it comes to BACK PAIN INTERVENTION that is usually lumbar issues. Necks are easy too for more involve intervention. Why. Like you or somebody said, the cord is not as tightly secure in the neck and in the lumbar after L1 the cord becomes the "horses tail" of neerve fibers and not a solid cord at all. Bottom line:
TO ALL: take care of yourselves{ as a retired RN, MS for 35 years and still walking and going} be wise in your choices, somtimes simple is better and as my neurologist just told me..."Jan, I am never going to feel as good as I do today"...I have thought alot about that statement. After a year of tests and MD appointments, research and forums like this one, I am just going to make each day the best I can with effort and rest and being each day, as time moves on. Happy Holidays to all and I will think of all who suffer from pain each and every day. Oh, don't watch too much news! ha

[watto1]

I have made plenty of comments on the following link about my T8 problem

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Degenerative-Diseases/Thoracic-Disc-Disease/show/335500

I am due to have a costotransversectomy on 2nd Dec 10 at BNH Hospital in Bangkok. Went for pre-op MRI's yesterday, seeing the doc next week to compare with last years MRI results. My understanding is this op involves a 3" cut left or right of spine, knocking out the bally bone, hacking into a rib, and cutting out the disc between spinal cord & vertabrae.

My doc can allow only confirm that he has opertaed on this type of case less than 10 times over a 10 year period.

Its a rare problem.

From reading loads of case studies on line, sucess rate is approx. 85%, with those rates based on early reports. However long term sucess rate is largley unknown. It is risky because has to be operated on from behind, and its the point of the spine where the spinal cord is the closest to the vertabrae.  

Further postponement of my op is an option because I have felt some improvement over the last year since swimming, and I really look forward to review the new MRI results next week.

But I have spent so much money on this problem, advice for new comers with this problem also . ..if the doctors say surgery should be the last option, consider it as the first option -  and find a swimming pool.  

I have also found some fish oil pills which are supposed to have a natural anti-inflammatory benefit, its hard to judge the true effects though.