Justin,
You'll make a good doctor xxx and ooo's!! When I google medical terms, I just get more medical words, that I don't understand, explaining the medical term I didn't understand - like who's on first
.
Is there a medical site for dummy's where they explain things like you do??
Quote:
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the annulus fibrosis is the outermost portion of each disc, in which fibers are wrapped around each other many times (picture a wicker basket) and the center of the disc is the nucleus pulposus--it's similar to a jelly-like substance that is held in place by the annulus fibrosis that encircles it.
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I think I'm putting together some decent questions for Dr. McLain at Cleveland Clinic (he looked at my 2007 MRI and
didn't say much when I said NO FUSION. Said he couldn't take me in their Mobi-C trials, wouldn't discuss Dr. B, said talk to Delamarter). I don't want him to think I wasn't satisfied with Dr. B, but since I didn't ask Dr. B these questions, I want McLain to give me some answers. (I've already said McLain wouldn't see me post-op until Dr. B called him).
WHY WASN'T THE SMALL SPINAL CANAL MENTIONED BY EITHER DOCTOR? It's pretty evident on the film. And Justin, the film does show the discs causing indentations on the spinal cord.
I would like to have a CT or a good MRI to see if there is anything, like facets, bone spurs, small canal that could still be causing the pain? Did Dr. B remove or clean up any of these things during the surgery, or did he just do a discectomy and place the prostheses? I don't want to say what my mind is thinking about if this is causing the pain. Cross that bridge when I get there.
I also have pain around the thoracic area that I didn't have before, but that might just be the bottom cervical vertebrae still healing. QUESTION?? I KEEP READING ABOUT AN 8TH CERVICAL VERTEBRAE????
I also have numbness in my right palm, little finger and ring finger that I didn't have PRE-OP. I've read that this might come from disc at T1-C7??? or maybe my elbow (chiro found weakness in finger strength, manipulated elbow, strength better, not numbness, weakness returns)
Post-op have tried chiro several times (high velocity) but stopped because pain was too intense AFTER the adjustment not during, lasted too long, caused my throat to swell and caused hoarseness. Tried massage therapy, but same thing - felt good at the time, set me back several days. No short term improvement from either.
Am hoping that my pain is all musculature (traps-scapulae) and maybe trigger point injections, time, patience, water therapy, stretching etc., etc. will help.
AND MARK NO DISRESPECT TAKEN FROM "OLD AND MULTIPLE LEVELS."
HOWEVER, I refuse to accept this. I AM STUBBORN, MAY GET DEPRESSED FROM TIME TO TIME, BUT I WILL BE LUCKY.
THERE ARE A FEW MORE LIVES IN THE "OLD CAT" THAT HAVEN'T BEEN USED! 
Thanks everyone for your help, it's all appreciated and encouraged! Will let you know what I hear on the 22nd. Sandy Wade