Stem Cell cure for disc degeneration

[Crystal33]

Mark,

Thanks for kind reply. No apology needed as I can see how my post could easily raise suspicion, being a first post. What I did mean to do in the post was to thank you for providing this friendly and informative website and forum.

I never bothered mentioning details of my condition because these injuries just seem so hopeless. After 4 weeks of increasing incapacitating pain, and a doctor wrongly suspecting a kidney stone, an MRI carried out on July 1 at my insistence revealed a 12mm x 9mm x 5mm thick sequestered disc fragment lodged against T11 and pressing on spinal cord and T11 nerve root.

MRI report says........

Findings: Small osteophytes are seen at the vertebral margins in the lower dorsal spine.
Slight reduction in disc height and signal is seen at T12/L1 and L1/2. Minor annulus bulging is seen at these levels.
Behind the lower portion of the body of T11 there is an oval, approximately 12 x 9 x 5mm
soft tissue/disc density structure on the posterolateral aspect of the vertebral body. The
inferior margin of this structure extends close to the T11/12 disc. This lesion shows
cumferential/marginal enhancement on Gadolinium administration, with a central low
density non-enhancing focus. There is resultant compression of the thecal sac and this
structure is almost certainly compressing the forming left T11 nerve root. There are no
other similar lesions seen.
Cord signal is normal. There is no lumbar disc herniation or nerve root compromise.

Conclusion: Degenerative disc disease from T11to L2. Lesion in the left
posterolateral aspect of the inferior portion of the T11 vertebral body close to the
T11/12 disc most likely represents a sequestrated herniated disc fragment. This is
causing compression to the forming left T11 nerve root. A focal epidural abscess
accounting for this appearance is thought unlikely given the low signal of this
structure on T2 weighted imaging. A dural based lesion is also thought unlikely.
Orrthopaedic or neurosurgical review recommended.

I will try to attach image.

After a week in hosp on pain meds and needles for radicular pain the neuro surgeon recommended resting at home for up to 6 months before risking surgery. Except pain on standing has hardly diminished to date so am stuck lying down mostly.

Am wondering if the fragment is nucleus material, or anular material which would be tougher for body to reduce.
Also wondering about what size tear i would have. If the material squeezes out like toothpaste through a small hole then tear may not be huge. Otherwise the size of fragment would indicate very large tear and hard for body to seal it up, meaning high risk of rapid deterioration of disc, if my thinking is correct.

Dale, I first suffered the pain simply shaking a towel before folding it. Maybe i had a disc bulge (time bomb) without knowing it and the up and down arm movements caused it to pinch off or burst.

[mmglobal]

From the very low resolution image... that looks nasty.

With all the appropriate, "I'm not a doctor" qualifiers, I don't think that can be annulus material. That is not how the discs fail and it would not 'flow' like that. The annulus is very tough and fibrous and is very firmly attached. I've not seen a sequester balled up like that before.

You have a PM.