Not sure if thoracic discectomy worked?

[sunshine2008]

Hi everyone !
I'm almost 6 weeks post-op from my thoracic discectomy and very confused about my recovery. I was told that everyday should get a little better. Lets just say everyday has been vastly different. I have had days I feel AMAZING.....virtually pain free and days where I feel like I've been hit by a bus.

Thinking about it, I realize I've taken those handful of "good days" for granted, but I never expected for the pain to return full swing. I have no restrictions, and I go to physical 2-3/week. My doctor suggests another six weeks of physical therapy before anything else is done(injections, fusion) because the pain relief is inconsistent.

Has anybody elses recovery been like mine?

Hoping for the best,
SS

[RunningMom]

I had my C5-C6 fused.  I also have herniations above and below the fusion.  My C5-C6 was pressing against the spinal cord.  I have not had any relief as of yet, not even a little bit.  I'm going in for more epidural steroid shots as soon as I can.  

I really hope you didn't over do it with the exercising.  I'm quite surprised your doctor didn't give you any restrictions.  You just had a major surgery and it takes a long time for the inflammation to subside.  I know how frusterating it is not to exercise.  I was running 36 miles a week before I injured myself.  

Hopefully your doctor will do another MRI to see if you've reherniated your disc.  I see why they didn't want to do a fusion yet being only 19.  The fusion puts a lot of stress on the adjacent discs, which results in surgeries further down the road.  

How did you herniate your discs?

[sunshine2008]

I thought that too, but when I spoke to the doctor at my followup he said the pain shouldn't be coming back full swing like it is despite exercising.

My cervical region is being considered for a discectomy too, what discs did you have surgery on?  Have you seen any improvements yet?

[RunningMom]

I'm 5 weeks post of from a spinal fusion in my neck with no collar.  I have not had any relief of this horrid pain whatsoever.  I would think if you are having days where your feeling amazing, that this is going to work for you.  Maybe you are overdoing it on those amazing days which is leading you to the pain.  

I'm on very strict restrictions for 3 months.  I can only walk and slowly. No bending, lifting or twisting.

I would take it easy and give your body time to rest.  

[sunshine2008]

Heres the thing. I was told since there is no brace or any kind of support device for the thoracic region I can do what I can tolerate. So maybe 2 weeks post-op I was feeling so good I started exercising again( runnings, jogging, brisk walking, elliptical) . I was doing what I could of tolerated and felt fine. I haven't been able to exercise in 11 days because the pain is so bad. So I am hoping I just didn't screw myself.

[sunshine2008]

Hi Molly,

I had a thoracic discogram is and this is the impression- concordant disc herniation T9/10 with neural encroachment noted more to the left than to the right. Indentation on the subarachnoid space and thoracic spinal cord.

Being that I am 19 they wanted to try the less invasive method first. I was told I may be a canidate for fusion if the discectomy alone doesn't provide sufficient pain relief.

I am starting to realize the fusion may be a serious possibility now.

[HawktheSlayer]

Hi I have had 2 surgeries and they did work but I messed them up because I felt good and thought I was ok to do what I wanted. I would ask the Dr for another MRI due to your pain being there. It might be that the nerve is still trying to heal and you are feeling the nerve trying to get better. After my 2nd surgery I had an MRI and my left nerve was about the size if a pencil eraser while the right side was about the size of thin lead. My dr felt that I had scar tissue and it had grown around the nerve. Since then I have had a SCS unit installed and that helped till I think I messed up again and now I need to have fusion to try and fix it again. I know that my first 2 surgeries where due to my Dr feeling that with what I do for a living and my age that fusion would be the last thing that should be done to try and give me the best chance a recovers without having limitations.

Hope this helps and please feel free to ask any questions.

R/
Adam

[Mollyrae]

Hi sunshine:

What was the diagnosis before you had the surgery? Why did they do that verses a fusion? I wonder because it seems that these Discectomy never seem to work as well as a fusion. I have had one done and it was like a big band-aide before actually having to go back in and have a fusion done. It was a waist of money, time and stitches.

Molly