[mark408]

#24240

t8-9, 2mm central/right paracentral posterior disc protrusion indents the ventral thecal sac adn closely appropriates the ventral cord.

This is what my mri reads. I have had steroid injections with very little relief. Lots of physical therapy, chiropractic, acupuncture. I am going in for radio frequency to see if I get any relief from that. I have had this pain for over a year now and it has slowly been getting worse. Is this something that the radio frequency or ablation will work on? is this surgical? Symptoms are right ribs are real sore, upper back kills most of the time, especially when I stand still or when i sit still in a chair like at the dining table. Recliner is ok. Standing kills me for some reason.

Thank you

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#24279

Here are the important questions. Did you keep a pain diary (see website) to understand what is causing your pain? Did the facet blocks give you relief (the reason for radio frequency ablation)? Did you have standing x-rays to look for increased kyphosis (Scheuermann’s disorder-see website). Did someone look at your cervical spine as commonly, cervical disorders refer to the upper thoracic spine.

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.

[mark408]

#24291

I do keep a pain diary, but I am thinking you are referring to the one after the facet block. The facet block is scheduled for tomorrow. I will keep the pain diary also for that to see if we are in the right location. I did not have a standing x-ray. maybe something I should ask for. My grandma had a hunch back.
As for cervical:
C2-3 posterior spondylitic contouring mildly indents the ventral thecal sac. no cord inmimgment or significant neural foraminal stenosis.

C3-4 2mm central disc bulging indents the ventral thecal sac, no cord impingment. there is mild left C3-4 spondylitic neural foraminal narrowing.

C5-6 posterior spondylitic contouring with disc bulging indents the ventral thecal sac and closely approciamtes the cervical cord. Postlateral spondylitic marginal contouring combined with uncovertebral hypertrophy results in mild/moderate left something narrowing.

Same thing with C6-7 only mild nerual foraminal narrowing.

I had surgery on December 12th where they go in posterior and clean out to make room for the nerve root. nothing with the discs. There were three options. disc replacement, fusion, or clean stuff up. I chose the later. I forget the name. This was done at C6 and c7. Still horrible pain between shoulder blades around t8-9 where i have the other 2mm bulging disc. do you think that this is probably where it is coming from?

Thank You.

[mark408]

#24799

I had the ablation at t789 today. Lost of pain and know that this is normal. Feels like it is in the right spot though. Right where it always hurts but way worse now. but again I know this is normal.

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#24807

I think you are unclear as to what you had done. An ablation is a “burning’ of the small sensory nerves that go to your facets. This procedure is only performed if you had a positive set of facet blocks (temporary relief of pain with intra-articular facet injections). Your surgery most likely was posterior foraminotomies at C5-6 and C6-7. If you had no relief of your “between the shoulder blades” pain, this pain is most likely from the thoracic spine. I would recommend a standing lateral thoracic x-ray to determine if you have Scheuermann’s 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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