thoracic compression fracture (t9-10) herniation (t7-8)?

Question

I have a thoracic compression fracture (t9-10) and a disk herniation (t7-8). I have been through physical theory - it made pain worse and caused swelling; 3 epidural injections - no relief; and now I'm getting facet injections near herniated disk. The first of those injections did nothing but cause more pain. Tomorrow I get my second one. I am frustrated, in chronic pain, and nothing is helping. Does anyone have any experience or knowledge that they could please share? The pain is getting worse and has already effected my bladder and it hurts to laugh now. Any advice please? I don't know what to do.

Answer 1

You will be searching for your lifetime trying to find ways to ease your pain, and nothing is going to make it go completely away. I've had two neck surgeries,two low back, have been living in chronic severe pain for fifteen years. I've tried just about every non-steroid pain pill,physical therapy,hot tubs,massage therapy,walking exercises, stretching excercises. I currently take Methadone for pain, Nortriptylyne for the depression the pain has caused. The injections are a short term fix, I've known people to go for six months with the shots though, they didn't work for me. You need to get with a pain management doctor that can teach you how to live with the situation. Oftentimes surgery makes things worse, so that should be on the end of your list of options.

Answer 2

Edit: To Douglas B. You need to lay off that pipe and stop pretending you know what you're talking about. Did the doctor drop you on your head when you were born? All doctors don't read the same books and memorize them. You don't even know the difference and/or functions between muscles and nerves. You are about as smart as your tiniest fishing worm. _____________________ You have just experienced your worst nightmare; an 83 year-old phart that is out of touch with reality. File a complaint with your State Medical Licensing Board against that man after you get treatment, not pain management, for your condition. He was right one point, you may be disabled in a few years IF YOU CONTINUE SEEING HIM. You need to see a Board Certified Neurosurgeon and do it without delay. Have him look at your MRI or let him get a new one. If the old doctor did the interpretation of the MRI, he may not have cleaned his eyeglasses before looking at it. Don't be surprised to find out that you may not have degenerative disc disease but bone spurs on the discs. It not uncommon for this to happen and they can cause nerve inflammation which makes for loads of pain. Don't ask, INSIST, on an appointment with a Neurosurgeon and stay away from the chiropractor until you determine what the problem is. A chiropractor can cause serious damage if you do have herniated discs because of the pressure he will put on the thecal sacs. Let me assure you that if you require surgery you WILL NOT be bedridden for six months. My neurosurgeon does the surgery one day and I've seen patients walk into his office the next day for a checkup. He stays up to date on all medical procedures and his patients do great. I had a broken neck with damage to 5 discs. I had 4 cleaned up and fused; C3-C4, then C-5-C6, and they removed C-7. The very next day, although in pain, I was up and walking but due to the nature of my injuries I spent 12 days in the hospital because of my spinal cord. I do get occasional discomfort in the area but control the pain with ONE Tylenol capsule and never require opiates for the pain. Insist on the best care and don't take anything less, you deserve it. Get well soon.

Answer 3

The pain could be coming from the compression fracture. Consider asking about vertebroplasty.