More herniations - Hernia Message Board

JenEbean · 05-12-2004, 04:08 PM

I had an ACDF of C6-7 in December. Have been doing alright but still having so much upper back and shoulder pain. I got the results of my thoracic MRI today. Seems like I have herniations of T6-7, T7-8, T8-9, T9-10 and T10-11. The MRI reads: moderate left posterior paracentral centra disc hernation at T6-7 and small disc hernations from T7-8 to T10-11. There is minimal mass effect at T6-7 and T8-9. I see my neurosurgeon on the 18th for another follow up on my neck. Wonder what he is going to say about this? I have been telling my doc for years that I thought I had a thoracic herniation but she kept telling me that it was very difficult to get them in the thoracic area and didn't think that was my problem. Really???? I am so bummed about this. Anyone ever have a thoracic herniation and what did you do for it?

NYFUSED · 05-12-2004, 05:17 PM

Jen,
I dont have any experience with thoracic herniations but I do know of a great surgeon in NYC that does that type of surgery.

I wish you lots of luck. You must be in alot of pain.

Lori

secondfiddle · 05-12-2004, 11:17 PM

I had a microdiskectomy on T6/7 in 1996. Two-inch incision mid-back. It fixed the problem - the herniation - but not ALL of the pain. It was much better, but not completely gone. Ever since the surgery, though, my skin is almost numb to the left of the incision around the left side of my back

I think it may be due to the way they positioned me, but I'm not sure. Maybe there was some nerve injury.

Now it is herniated again, along with T7/8, T9/10 and one other one, due to two car accidents in 2002. My neurosurgeon told me he thought my mid-back pain was coming from my neck, and did an ACDF on C5/6 almost a month ago. I'm hoping he was right, but I am still having some of that pain which discourages me. If it continues, I might just ask if there's some way to kill the nerves back there!

Good luck to you - let us know what the doctor says/recommends. I have also heard that thoracic disc herniations are rare, but that obviously doesn't do US much good, does it?

irish34 · 05-13-2004, 09:45 PM

I had C5-6 ACDF with donor bone March 8, 2004. I am still having so much pain, it never got better after surgery. I had to beg my NS for a MRI if the t-spine. I have a small bulge at T4-5, annular tear and disc extrusion at T5-6, protuded disc at T6-7 and another annular tear with extruded disc that abuts the spinal cord at T7-8.
My NS cleared me to return to work Monday, no restrictions. I'm a police officer. He kept implying that it's psychiological.
Oddly enough, he told me it's normal for someone my age....I'm 27. This is due to a work related injury.
HELP! Any advice needed and wanted!