Help, herniated T6/T7

[steve55]

I've noticed that many surgeons don't believe in the validity of discograms. My current neuro ,dr Cattorini here in Dallas, doesn't seem to believe in them. Do discograms really identify the pain generator? Also, my neuro says that if they did any type of surgery on the thoracic, they would fuse posteriorly but they would not remove the disc (discetomy). I don't like the sound if that. I firmly believe that simply stopping movement won't solve the problem. I think it's the discs themselves that are generating the pain. My mri looks good, I have no thoracic protrusions or stenosis, just thinning discs. So I think its the discs themselves (t4) that are causing my pain. Anyways, It looks like my lyrica suddenly stopped working, my symptoms have returned with a vengeance these last 2 days. Quite dissapointing. I wonder if I'll be needing the services of dr regan someday. The vats sure seems alot easier to go through than a typical thorectemy.

Jsewel, how much worse or difficult was the vats surgery compared to your cervical fusions? Good to hear that your t7 and t8 pain is resolved. It must mean the discogram was accurate in identifying the primary pain generator.

[jsewell]

Steve
the pain after the VATS was for breathing. It hurt so much to take a breath that i just stopped breathing in PACU AND was put on a respirator. All without pain meds.
I really believe whoever got to that disc damaged the nerve that controls breathing (phrenic). That started all my problems.
So my cervical 3 level fusion was much less painful (swallowing was difficult but my prescription for that was ice cream!!!)
The lower one that i wanted drRegan to do and he only got the posterior half is still painful, but i have a fracture there now. My surgeon just showed it to me today., So that one is not resolved yet.
judy

[Keano16]

As already stated here. T-spine is hardest to treat. And I must admit that symptoms related to T-spine are very strange sometimes (it's been reported in some scientific papers that T-spine herniations even cause radicular symptoms like when you have herniated lumbar disc).

Unfortunately, in Croatia nobody treats T-spine. Most reasonable it sounds to travel abroad for surgery. But when considered current economical situation here, not sure who can afford that.

Regards!

[newhere]

slazem se...hehe
i must agree with him...its hard to afford so much money...but still,health doesent have price

[mmglobal]

There is controversy over discograms in the lumbar spine. However, it is little compared to the controversy in cervical or thoracic discs. The volume of the discs is so much lower, some believe that getting good discography results is impossible.

The difference between a well done discography and a poorly done one is dramatic. Also, the people who perform discography do not believe that is the definitive, be all, end all test. It is more data that is added to the evaluation. Greater weight is given to clear results. Less weight given to less clear results. The people who don't beleive in discography don't seem to understand that all is not black and white.

[jsewell]

I might add it is a very painful test in the positive levels and not painful at all in the ok normal levels. At least that was my experience. My spine surgeon hand picked a pain management doc to do the test, not my regular one as he did not think he had enough experience in getting good results.
because of this my pain management doc decided he could no longer treat me .
Left me hanging

[Keano16]

Mark, you wouldn't believe but many renowned experts in field of MISS have completely abandoned discography. I will quote what Ji-Sun Kim told me recently (very experienced and well known MISS surgeon from Wooridul Spine Hospital):

"In terms of discography, it has lost its confidence when surgeons decide important surgical strategy. Eugene Carrage already reported many articles about discography."

I haven't asked him for more detailed explanation. But if someone is interested, I suggest finding Carrage's articles.

Secondly, according to some studies discography needs to be pressure controlled. However, equipment for that is too expensive and surgeons rarely have this in their OR. We don't have that in Croatia, but we have good success with discography during surgery or just as a diagnostic method. We will definitely continue using it on patients.