Incomplete t6 spinal cord injury

Tagged: Spasticity from T7-8 cord compression

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Missie
Participant

June 13, 2020 at 6:16 am

Post count: 12

#32627

Hi Dr

I started of my incomplete sci life walking with a broad based gait.

I could walk with flat feet yet kept falling over them. Sidewards. If this makes sense?

As time passed and spasticity increased. I needed to put my legs in rigid spasm to make them move.

These falls resulted in further of my spinal cord to be injured.

My legs started to cross over a lot. Without me controling them to do this at all.

Now I can only walk on my tip toes. My legs cross over. Whilst I do this. I decided to wear heels. To both protect my feet somehow plus they pull in my tummy like I’m unable to when I could walk on flat feet.

I saw your article the other day. About how our gait changes. Just before this my neuro physio said I have scissor gait that’s often seen in cerebral palsy yet not sci.

My specialists have all seen me in heels and tell me no don’t do it. Yet it’s this or I don’t walk or risk myself getting my feet hurt (I can’t feel them). I can only do a few steps. Not all the time and not on demand. As my legs don’t do nothing automatically anymore.

Over here in the UK. There isn’t any help really for thoracic spine. As it’s said to be too rare. So wonder if you have any advice you can offer.

I hate walking. I look like people who are very drunk. I also have prejudice from others who don’t know me who presume there’s nothing wrong as they see me in heels in my wheelchair. Without heels in my chair sitting up is even more horrendous. My heels help me tummy be pulled in to that I can’t do myself.

Any insights as to why I walk this way. Would really help me understand.

Thank you Dr.

Donald Corenman, MD, DC
Moderator

June 13, 2020 at 10:16 am

Post count: 8660

#32637

The first need is a diagnosis. This is a spinal cord or brain injury and the source needs to be determined, whether it is multiple sclerosis, myelopathy, a brain injury or a stroke. Is the disorder progressive, static or ???

The “scissors gait” is due to an imbalance of muscles with some spastic and some weak. Your gait needs to be analyzed by an expert so that something possibly might be done to help balance your gait after the diagnosis is complete.

Dr. Corenman

PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.

Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.

Missie
Participant

June 13, 2020 at 3:02 pm

Post count: 12

#32641

Thank you Dr

T6 spinal cord injury (incomplete) is due to the theca being flattened by disc prolapses and stenosis onto the spinal cord.

I wrote to you before and you explained about an injection I could perhaps try. This worked wonderful. Thank you so much for your advice.

My spinal cord was only affected on the left side initially. Over time the theca has flattened the anterior part of the cord too from what I’m aware from my scan.

Now I understand more – that it is spasticity and weak muscles (I have lots of wastage) I feel more informed and less scared. I’ll keep you updated. Thank you ever so much for your time :-)

Donald Corenman, MD, DC
Moderator

June 13, 2020 at 4:51 pm

Post count: 8660

#32642

If you have a disc prolapse or stenosis with this spastic gait, you need a decompression of the spinal cord (with a fusion normally). I hope that has been proposed.

Dr. Corenman

PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.

Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.

Missie
Participant

June 14, 2020 at 9:17 am

Post count: 12

#32651

Hi Dr,

I had surgery years ago. A multi disciplinary team of Consultants said no surgery will help again.

I’m 12 years post accident and 10 years post surgery (classed as neglectful surgery – I chose not to take legal action as was a medical secretary and understand mistakes can happen).

The cords been compressed for a very long time. I’m at peace with this now.

If I can keep this function I have although it’s a little. I’ll be grateful for this ????

Donald Corenman, MD, DC
Moderator

June 14, 2020 at 9:35 am

Post count: 8660

#32652

Is your canal decompressed since surgery or do you have residual compression based upon a post-operative MRI?

Can I assume that your gait disturbance is not progressive?

If not progressive and your gait is abnormal but stable, you might find that there can be some surgeries that can make walking easier. For example, if your spasticity causes you to walk on your tiptoes, a lengthening procedure of your achilles tendon can be helpful. If there are muscles that are hypertonic (for example the adductors), Botox can be injected to relax these. You would have to find a real expert in gait disturbance to help you. I suggest starting first with Shriner’s hospitals as your gait is similar to cerebral palsy and those individuals have great experience with tendon releases for that disorder.

Dr. Corenman

PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.

Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.
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Donald Corenman, MD, DC

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81 reviews

Eric S

Sep 26, 2021

by Eric S on Donald Corenman, MD, DC

Successful pars repair at 46 years old

Back in November of 2018 (at 46 years old) I came from Vancouver BC to have a pars repair done with Dr. Donald Corenman at the Steadman Clinic in Vail Colorado. I'm finally posting this review nearly three years later in late 2021. The reason I waited so long was I wanted to know the final result before I posted my review. Unfortunately in that time Dr. Corenman has retired. Nevertheless, I want to post this review of Dr. Corenman and his staff at the Steadman Clinic in their excellent treatment of my L5 pars interarticularis.

I fractured my pars at age 42 back in 2014 when rolling on the gym floor, and was denied treatment by the Canadian healthcare system, probably due to my age. First my GP told me there was no surgical option for a pars defect, which was quite incorrect! I tried to live with it, but the symptoms worsened (periodic random spine slippage and weeks of resultant pain after just bending over to tie my shoe, so I eventually learned to mostly squat and hardly bend). When I finally consulted with Canadian spine surgeons, I was told they believed my pars defect had been congenital (since birth). This was absurd, considering I had done extreme martial arts (including jiu jitsu) for years prior, as well as 5 years of reinforcing steel full time in my 20s, probably the hardest job on the back you can find. No pars defect like mine would possibly have allowed this--ergo it was impossible that I had had the defect since birth. I did however have an asymptomatic congenital spina bifida occulta that made me more susceptible to a pars fracture. In 2014 in one instant, I went from having the strongest back people I knew said they'd ever seen, to being unable to safely bend over and tie my shoe without a non-negligible risk of my spine slipping randomly (which would lead to weeks of pain after each occurrence). This was due to the unilateral L5 pars defect, otherwise known as spondylolysis. It was when lying in pain on the floor 4 years later after maybe the 6th spine slippage event post injury, that I had had enough, and resolved to have surgery. If Canada's "universal health care" said no, I would make lemonade from lemons, and find the very best surgeon in the world at pars repairs. That was Dr. Donald Corenman. Dr. Corenman back in 2018 ran a website https://neckandback.com/ that dedicated many pages to the science of every aspect of pars repairs, from eligibility (good discs on MRI), to best surgical techniques (minimal open compared to minimally invasive), best imaging to use (i.e., O-Arm with Stealth imaging vs. older fluoroscopy), the ideal amount of BMP to use and why not use too much or too little, and much more, all to do with pars repairs, pages upon pages of his site just on the pars, with scientific references and his own extensive expert opinion. As a health research statistician, I was very impressed with this. It was in stark contrast to the websites of other spine surgeons which barely gave the pars a word or two, focusing almost exclusively on fusions. I had found the best surgeon in the world for pars repairs, and so after Dr. Corenman personally screened my MRI to ensure my discs were healthy, I booked the surgery.

Being 46 years old at the time of surgery in 2018, with a 4-year-old pars fracture from 2014 combined with a congenital SBO meant my pars fragment was somewhat atrophied, but it was "very solid", said Dr. Corenman in the operative report. Nevertheless, it was challenging with two things to fix, the pars and SBO, and OR time was around 4 hours. Recovery over the following months was guided by a very clear "Spine binder" from the Steadman Clinic with strict rules of "no BLT" (no bending, lifting or twisting), and illustrated physiotherapy guidelines. They even warned patients to avoid fish oil supplements, which could excessively dampen inflammation and hence slow bone healing. They answered many questions I had during months of recovery, with responses coming from the very supportive Lori Fugate (then director of Dr. Corenman's practice), and Ehrich Bean (then physician's assistant at the practice), as well as a couple calls with Dr. Corenman himself after two of the CT scans. Ehrich Bean offered great advice for taking the spine binder conservatively due to the nature of pars repairs vs. fusions. The final post-op CT scan I had was a couple weeks ago at 34 months post-op, and Dr. Corenman had retired, but I got a very positive and informative call from Eric Strauch (current PA at the Steadman Clinic under Dr. Corenman's replacement there, and who had also worked with Dr. Corenman previously). The staff at the Steadman Clinic were extremely supportive all the way through the process. I should mention, the local Canadian spine surgeon did offer me very good post-operative support including antibiotics as needed to deal with a mild surface incision-site infection early on, booking numerous x-rays when I felt something was amiss, as well as booking all four of my post-op CT scans. I am very grateful for that support also.

My final result shows plenty of solid bone across the pars and a healed SBO, with my vertebral body now a solid bone ring instead of being broken at two places as it was pre-op. Does my spine hold up in the real world? You bet! I have recently dug and moved several yards of dirt and sand and gravel by myself (shovel and wheelbarrow!) to fix our water main, pulled roots from the yard, moved several "portable" (these are HUGE) air conditioners up several flights of stairs my myself, and lifted weights. I now run 2 miles (3.2 KM) several times weekly with a hard 100 meter dash in the middle. I bend deeply before each run I go on, with no spine slippage. My spine feels amazing. I can bend over to do exercise, or real word tasks, with no risk of spine slippage.

My sincere thanks to God, Dr. Donald Corenman, Lori Fugate, Ehrich Bean, Eric Strauch, and the Steadman Clinic, as well as the Canadian spine surgeon who offered me excellent post-operative care back in Canada. You have all given me a new lease on life.

Sincerely,
Eric S

Robert S

May 11, 2021

by Robert S on Donald Corenman, MD, DC

Back Fusion Surgery

I had my entire lumbar spine fused in November of 2018. I had scoliosis , with pinched nerves that were so painful I could hardly walk - and standing for more than a few minutes was impossible. Even sitting was painful.
The fusion surgery produced immediate relief! And the recovery was much easier than I expected.
To this day I can do all the activities I love from hiking, to standing in a stream fly fishing to riding my bike long distances - or just walking down the street with my wife.
Kudos to Dr. Corenman and his staff, (including the two Erics) for taking such good care of me!

Leslie R

Jul 9, 2020

by Leslie R on Donald Corenman, MD, DC

TLIF

I had my TLIF surgery on 6/24/2020 by Dr. Corenman, I can not say enough good things about the Dr or his staff. I was always treated with respect and explained everything throughly, that made it easy for everyone to understand. I highly recommend Dr. Corenman and the Steadman Clinic.

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