It would have been easier with the films! Again, I am sorry you don’t have them. Incidentally, the films and other bits and pieces are on their way. You should have them tomorrow…if you are still inclined to have a look. I hope to get in to see you in the not so distant future…reassurance, in person, will go a long way.
Many things aren’t getting done here. And I am no longer in the kind of pain that should preclude just getting on with it! I have a feeling this inertia is not uncommon following painful spinal injuries.
It is a little hard for me to get my head around the idea that I got this “injury” spontaneously with no apparent trauma. You have mentioned Scheuermann’s disease (even in the absence of exaggerated kyphosis) as a possible contributing factor. Radiographically, some characteristic changes are reported at the lower 5 or so levels of the T-spine. If you have to have a large thoracic disc herniation, this might be the one to get, despite the hideous pain. I am aware there is another presentation of large thoracic disc herniations…a painless…and much more sinister scenario! Somewhat assured that any future protrusion at T9-T10 would most likely herniate through the same defect, I am concerned about the other 4 or 5 lower thoracic discs. I am trying not to think of them as jelly filled time bombs!
OK, I had this terribly painful episode, unable to sleep much, unable to eat much for months on end, wasting and then a prolonged case of shingles on the other side higher up, I would say T5, that seemed prolonged. (I have some photos of my shingles on my i Pad — wow that is a “bad word” for the sensor — for any doubters…and there have been a couple! I refrained from sending them to you. I did have the ripe shingles seen and documented by a local internist. In the event that I developed disabling PNH, I wanted to make sure I had access to treatment.)
It was inevitable that I would be incapable of getting on with my life for a time. I was a sick puppy! But now?! How do people shake these things off and get on with it? Do you have psychologists or other clinicians at your center who help people with this? Can you recommend strategies, stuff in the literature, books, etc? Of course, it doesn’t help that I have seen a couple doctors who have told me I am doomed for more such problems. But they have said things that don’t jive…one surgeon after mentioning the oft quoted one in a million number went on to tell me how many such T-spine herniations he had repaired…mentioning that he had success with a number of techniques, rattling off the names. Simple arithmetic…he is pulling my leg OR he is doing a lot of surgery that doesn’t need to be done! I should be able to reject his dire predictions as well, right?
Hart