My t-spine

sahuaro · #1 (**permalink**) 10-03-2009, 04:46 AM

Mark:
I am so sorry that you are experiencing such a horrific degree of pain.
The pain I experienced on waking from surgery was thoracic, not cervical, and it was bad, so I think I have an idea of what you are experiencing.
I hope this is something related to muscles or ligaments rather than spine
and I hope the MRI is helpful in ruling out further spine issues. Also be sure that your doc rules out shoulder (rotator cuff) issues.

ans · #2 (**permalink**) 10-03-2009, 04:40 PM

Mark, I'm very sorry to hear this and hope you have non-surgical method to produce a positive/pain-free outcome. Best, ans

Maria · #3 (**permalink**) 10-03-2009, 05:59 PM

Mark,
is there any scoliosis in your thoracic spine?
Re working out and flare ups~ I wonder if ight post your work out muscle relaxers might help or perhaps you're already on them every so many hours.
I do hope your t-spine stuff won't require anything too invasive. The PT all sounds good. What about in water?

jentop · #4 (**permalink**) 10-04-2009, 02:58 AM

Mark,
It really sucks that you're in so much pain. Your comments about it hopefully being muscular make sense to me. I also can relate to the fears about the thoracic spine issues too. (As you may recall my thoracic MRI in Straubing showed T1-3 discs with very small bulges-"nothing to worry about" according to the radiologist.) What kind of PT exercises do you think set things off? I have not done any PT, but am considering it. I am now 8 months post-op (ProdiscC 5/6,6/7 for those interested)and have for the most part been good, until the last week, now the pain is all too familiar. Mostly aching, progressing to pulsating pain at night or when laying down and just in the back of my neck and occipital ridge. I'm thinking that it's a combination of muscular/ligamentous but I have been experiencing the weird vibrational sensations some too. Still, I really feel positive that it was all the right decision and this too will resolve. BTW, ProSpine wants my 6 month followup questionnaire and films.(Apparently they had a staffing change, so it's a bit overdue) If they'd asked a week earlier, it would have been much rosier. Are the films necessary or just for their research/data points? I'm about sick of all the radiation etc.
Okay, I'll stop whining now. I'm sending positive thoughts your way. -Jen

fortitudine · #5 (**permalink**) 10-04-2009, 07:19 PM

Hi Mark,

I have been doing aqua aerobics for years as well as some yoga. I attribute my relatively pain-free spine to those activities as the films all attest to lots of nasty deterioration.

As I am temporarily housebound due to foot surgery, I have hired a yoga trainer to keep me fit. He told me something interesting yesterday, which relates to your comments about posture: he said that physiotherapists do things to you to help you get better and give you isolated exercises, but that yoga forces you to do all the work and build new habits. I am pretty convinced he's right.

I hope there's a happy and non-surgical outcome to this latest challenge!

Hope

sahuaro · #6 (**permalink**) 10-04-2009, 09:13 PM

The observation about yoga is quite interesting. I've been wondering if the changed mechanics of the spine after ADR (or fusion, for that matter) have been studied sufficiently in vivo to provide some real-life recommendations for us so we can avoid injury to other areas of the spine. If this hasn't been studied, there are a few doctoral disserations in the offing!

dshobbies · #7 (**permalink**) 10-04-2009, 09:44 PM

Interesting note about posture. I've had bad posture all my life despite modern dance all through high school. Since starting pilates 2+ months ago, suddenly I'm very aware of those muscles that hold you straight. I notice myself standing straighter and my hips have loosened to the point my bursitis is gone.

So far, I haven't noticed any benefit to my back but as the rest of me gets stronger, I've no doubt that will fall into place. My biggest regret is that I didn't start this last year.

Just for the mention, my left leg is still weak. I'm wondering why, if the muscles are capable and able, the nerve damage prohibits full function???

Dale

mmglobal · #8 (**permalink**) 10-04-2009, 10:26 PM

Dale, I wonder if it's possible that leg weakness is not related to lumbar... possibly cervical, thoracic or other issue?

nomorepain · #9 (**permalink**) 01-04-2010, 07:47 PM

Mark,
out of all of us on here, and your knowledge of the spine and of course pain, i had hoped for better results after all of your procedures. As always hang in there,hope you get this latest round figured out soon, as pain is harsh.
Heres to a better 2010 for us all!

Maria · #10 (**permalink**) 01-05-2010, 02:38 PM

Mark,
hope this upcoming procedure works for you and you'll get more mobility/function and far less pain out of it.

I'm still here in Fla as Dad went into hosp. on 12/25 w/volvulus (part of intestine flipped over on itself and was strangulating) so 12/27 he had abd.surgery and it's been a rough go for the 88 y.o. guy.

Unbelievably my spine has held up to 6 hour days in hosp. watching over him and bothering nurses tho yesterday was a very bad spine and feet day(tendonitis and PF bilat) so a pull out chair was brought into the room for me to lie down on! Pretty cool!

Need an ESI dreadfully so hope WC won't pull another denial on me when I return. The insurance BS is really a complete drag (literally).

Meanwhile hope you're enjoying the lovely SoCal weather and some beautiful walks on the beach and/or sunsets. Hang in there and best~ Maria

mmglobal · #11 (**permalink**) 01-16-2010, 12:51 AM

I decided to cancel the rhizotomy and do another round of injections. (See update here.)

I'm continuing to improve. I'm still quite limited but nothing like just a few weeks ago. Thanks so much for all the prayers and well wishes. All the best,

Mark

fuzzy · #12 (**permalink**) 01-16-2010, 08:39 PM

You know, Mark, I am very glad you cancelled the Ritzo and are buying time with the injections. Its been proven that can help you heal and not need further surgery. Well worth a try. Exercise is important.

I wish you the best with continued improvements and reduced pain!

ans · #13 (**permalink**) 02-02-2010, 03:48 PM

Mark: I'm sorry about the pain. I'm going to see a new PM specialist who has a good reputation. I don't know why they'd put you on an Rx that's not continuous relief (highs/lows). I disliked my UCLA PM doc (he angrily refused to answer questions) but I liked his logic that oxycontin is not ideal b/c of this vs. Avinza/continuous release. But for each, it's different.

Btw, I found a PM doc who knows the most recent techniques in SI-joint rhizotomies and I'll go for this either with her or my forthcoming PM doc (whom my internist said that his doc colleague respects as a pt. and keeps him going).

The chauffeur offer still stands; you need an excellent PM doc.

I too responded to facet injections but it was a short-lived blessing. I'll never understand why at the L4-S1 levels I felt little back pain; this did not make sense but I'll take what I can get.

Call me when you need me.

ans