Can someone out there explain how bad my CTScan-Thoracic is?

[thecooleygirl]

Hi all, it's been a while since visiting the forum, at least a month. I am hoping someone out there can help me understand my CT Scan (w/o contrast). Is it bad enough for surgery? Epidurals didn't work, PT is not working, I'm trying to walk everyday, taking OXYCONTIN, OXYCODONE, ULTRAM, I CAN'T take all the medicines, it's crazy.

HERE IS THE THORACIC: CT SCAN-THORACIC

Canal and foramina:

There is disk degeneration with spondylosis and posterior disk bulging
with associated remodelling of the bone and osteophytosis at its superior
and inferior margins

Specifically,

At T7-T8, there is moderate to large central mostly left-sided disk
extrusion with inferior migration with moderate flattening of the spinal
cord likely present

At T8-T9, there is moderate central disk protrusion or perhaps extrusion
with likely mild flattening of the spinal cord

At T10-T11, there is focal posterior spondylosis with likely mild to
moderate sided disk protrusion and perhaps some impression on the spinal
cord

At T11-T12, mild posterior disk osteophyte hypertrophy with mild canal
encroachment without gross spinal cord compression is suspected

No significant foramina encroachment noted

There is spinal cord stimulator terminating at
about the T8-T9


C2-C3: Canal and foramina are patent.

C3-C4: There is mild disk degeneration and left-sided disk osteophyte
hypertrophy , likely mild lateral thecal sac compression. Dominant left
facet joint hypertrophy. Minimal left foraminal encroachment

C4-C5: Mild posterior disk osteophyte hypertrophy ,bilateral facet joint
hypertrophy and mild right foramina encroachment and mild central spinal
canal encroachment

C5-C6: Mild posterior disk osteophyte hypertrophy with mild canal
encroachment to the left side and bilateral facet joint hypertrophy left
greater than right mild foraminal encroachment

C6-C7: Canal and foramina are patent.

C7-T1: Canal and foramina are patent.

[Christopher R Newey, DO]

Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with a doctor.

Without the ability to examine and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of the symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.

CT scans are appropriate to look at the bony structure of the back. They can also sometimes be useful to evaluate neural injury of the back when an MRI is not available such as in your case, but the evaluation is limited.

Your CT scan does have evidence of chronic injury/use. Osteophyte is a bony outgrowth that when enlarges it can interfere with neural structures causing pain. Also disc herniation can cause neural injury too.

I would suggest that you discuss your results with your ordering physician/pain specialist. If you have weakness/numbness you may also benefit from a referral to a neurologist to evaluate the extent, if any, of any nerve injury.

Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.

[thecooleygirl]

Thank you so much for your response and yes it helped a lot. Gave me peace of mind. I go to my PM on the 20th. Hopefully at that appointment he will order a myleogram or suggest a neurosurgeon consult.
I just can't live like this any more...

I would suggest it was my fall that created this domino effect in my thoracic spine.
I was fine before that day.
Thanks Again.

[thecooleygirl]

Hi, I forgot to tell you one thing, I had a horrible fall in December on the Ice. That's how long this has been going on.

[thecooleygirl]

I want to apologize for sending the information on CT Scan, I didn't know we were not suppose to do that. I didn't want Doctor explanation just that I don't understand the terminology.
Sorry