Thanks DS . I went to my neuro today. When I showed him where it hurts, he said I was pointing to t4!! But it could be referred pain from a disc above. He said if by chance fusion was necessary at any part of the t spine, they do not do discotemy and allograft or autograft. He said they simply do rod and screws posteriorly from the back. WOW! I asked him if I had a bulging disc or tear causing the pain, how would a fusion without discotemy solve my problem. He just said I'm getting too far ahead of myself and let's wait on the MRI . I personally believe that the discs are causing the pain and I cant see how anything short if a discotemy will do. Heck, I never heard of a fusion without discotemy. I'll have to definitely get a 2nd opinion on that. He also says they dont do discograms to help confirm which disc is the painful one. I guess he is one of those docs who don't trust those tests.
I wish it was higher up. If a 2nd opinion suggests a fusion with discotemy, I think they have to collapse a lung and go through the rib cage area. Sounds hard core.
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2/26/09 - c4-c7 3 level ADR Prodisc Nova with Dr Bertagnoli. 100% success.
9/22/09 -Dr B opened me up to find a staph infection was eating my vertebrae causing ADR subsidence. Had to remove all 3 ADR's and convert to 3 level fusion. Mostly pain free 2 weeks post op.
9/20/10 - I think I jinxed myself. As soon as I told dr b and dr Sullivan I was doing well (on 6/1/10) I tanked and have experienced the return of pain. My neuro says the new pain is at t4.
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