MRI Report

[jsully]

I picked up my MRI reports today. It showed a buldging disc at C5-C6 and a ruptured disc at L4-L5. My Dr was only going to fuse my thoracic spine, (before seeing the report), because that is where the curve is. Does anyone know if fixing the curve will help the herniated discs? I sure hope so.
jsully

[LindaRacine]

Hi...

Obviously, you should ask your surgeon for an accurate answer, but I can't imagine that fusing the spine above the herniation would help the herniation.

Regards,
Linda

[jsully]

I saw my DR's PA today. He thinks most of my pain is probabally related to my discs. He thought I should try spinal injections first before having surgery? Has anyone ever tried this before? Also, that I should hold out as long as possible before having any spinal surgery, including scoliosis surgery. I have a 65 degree right thoracic curve and it has progressed from 40 degrees at 16 years old after bracing. I always thought it was better to get this done while younger and healthier. Still have to have a EMG test next month to test my nerves. I think they would rather do surgery on the discs that are herniated, rather than my curve.
jsully

[sweetness514]

I had some before and have some even after surgery, and the doctors think the pressure of the fusion actually made it worse for some, and for some others it has helped. So in reality unless you have surgery you can't know for sure if it would help or not, or make it worse.

[SandyC]

Jscully,
I had 3 plates put in at C5/6/7 this past January. The surgery went very well. I was in the hospital overnight and went home in the morning. I had to wear a removable neck brace for several weeks, taking it off only to shower. That was followed by several weeks of PT. Compared to A/P surgery and being fused from T4-S1 (in 2001), it was a walk in the park. Of course everyone heals differantly, but for me it was well worth it.

[CurvySAT05]

Jscully, I have a herniated disc between L4-L5 and just finished a series of 3 steroid injections to hopefully help with that and avoid a surgery. Unfortunatly I have had no pain relief so far, but I have one more month before a decision is going to be made on what to do next. I have heard that the injections work wonders for some, but not for others. It just depends. Good luck with your disc problems. If you have the injections I hope they help. Feel free to ask any questions you have.

[Karen Ocker]

I think they would rather do surgery on the discs that are herniated, rather than my curve.(jsully)


I suggest you deal with the significant curve first using a scoliosis doc. Why? Because your major curve is impacting your neck and lumbar discs by placing an uneven load on them.
My lumbar and thoracic curves were significntly reduced with the surgery.

If you operate(fusion?/laminectomy/disc removal) now without addressing the major curve what will happen when you correct the major curve??? You may end up with a mess.

I hope the doc you are using is not just an ortho with tunnel vision in one area. A scoliosis doc will focus on the load on the whole spine taking the discs into account also.

Doing the epidural injections may give you good relief in the meantime---buying you some time to make a rational decision.

Interestingly, my neck/upper T-1 to T-4 is the only part of me now not fused-that curve reduced itself with the correction of the rest of my spine. I fortunately have no trouble there at all. I think Pilates helps me avoid that though.

[jsully]

My DR is the only DR in the area that is in the Scoliosis Research Society.
I've seen 2 other DR's that are not and said I needed a fusion, before having MRI. I'm not sure what to do now.
jsully

[bbest]

Again, I am not a doctor, in fact being a nurse, you probably have more medical knowledge than most of us here.
I had a herniated disc at L5-S1. They removed it during my surgery and put a cage in it's place. I am only speaking from my own experience. I would recommend that you speak with your surgeon about your specific concerns.

Brandi

[bbest]

I forgot to add that I also had a series of epidural steriod injections and a selective nerve root block. Unfortunately they did not work for me. That's when I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I would have surgery. These injections work wonders for some people and do little for others. Again, we are all different.