Thoracic Fusion Options

[JulieAnnaAK]

Thanks for the support. This has been a living nightmare.

Judy- WOW. I am so sorry you have had to go through this. I am glad things are starting to turn around for you. You give me a little hope (light at the end of the tunnel might be the sky not an oncoming freight train that I think it is).

Mark- I am not sold on the XLIF. I like the idea but I am not possitive. I woud prefer to get this all behind me and if that means doing more than 1 level for a better out come in the long run then that is what I may do. This NS said she has done hundreds of XLIF and many in the t-spine. She recently moved up here from the lower 48. I wish I could drive an hour or 3 and find better NS but I can't. My old NS has a very good record and he knows me, but I have to do what is right for me. I may ask for another referral when I see my PM gal next time. My PM had originally thought I should go for a microdiscectomy but they are not NS. That would have involved traveling to another state with a 5-6 hour plane ride and several thousands of out of pocket exenses (I don't have right now).

Aaron- Great news for you I did not feal this way last year when I started on my ESI's. I was doing much better and we felt as if we did find the source at 7/8 at that time (the nerve block wore off too quickly). Things for me have been getting progressively worse since the accident. I have been in a hard flare since mid July. You are right it will make you CRAZY.

Dale- Thanks for the support

My old NS office called and cancelled my appt for 9/26 so I have to reschedule. I feel like my pain is now uncontrolled again even taking around the clock meds. I see my PM late next week again. I really do not want any more medication, I just want to feel better.

I will keep you all posted on what I do and how we proceed.

I will be asking for some input along the way.

[jsewell]

JulieAnna
with me it is usually the frieght train coming. My thoracic spine is wonderful, just not the 2 other areas.
I hope you get a soon apt with your NS that just cancelled, i hate when they do that.
We are here anytime you need us. Where in alaska are you, my son was stationed at Ft Wainwright in Fairbanks for 2 years. Unfortunately , i kept having surgery in the summer and never got to see him there, but oh i wanted to.
judy

[JulieAnnaAK]

My follow up appt with my NS is next Thursday afternoon. It actually got moved up by 11 days.

Julie

[jsewell]

Good Deal Glad it is earlier
judy

[Aaron]

Thoracic micro endoscopic disectomy.

I will be scheduling this surgury in middle of 2012 with Dr. Richard Fessler in Chicago. I saw him earlier in year and even though the visit did not go as planned. I saw him and he did not like the views from my prior MRI so I had to spend an extra day waiting new MRI and to re -see him and unfortunatly he had a serious family matter so he was only able to look at the MRI and relay info to his nurse. She said he felt I was a canidate for TMED based on my symptoms, MRI, and ESI results. She said healing would be 4 -6 weeks and he has done many of them. He is out of the country as he does surguries and teaching in poor countries sometimes, but when he gets back I want to talk with him on some questions only doctor could answer. Kind of curious because every doctor I seen in past said you could not do min. invasive thoracic surgury or that my disc was celephad so they could not reach it that way. So finally an option I will explore some more, need to schedule now as there is a big waiting period.

Bad news is an accident where godchild jumped on back has caused some damage in cervical/lumbar that I am now fighting and thoracic is the least painful for now.
Odd how things work 8 years since back injury, 6 on LTD no options, godchild jumps on back in april 11, finish school may 2011 , lose LTD because going back to work, see Dr. Fessler and recommends TMED procedure ( now I have all the pre existing things with insurance and new STD, LTD), now cervical/lumbar hurting.

To say I am frustrated would be an understatement. I always felt due to the ESI and the fact that I am pain free in morning, if a surgeon could help I stood a good chance of getting some relief. Hoping these new issues resolve.