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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Suggest Treatment For Chronic Back Pain While Having Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease

First about two and a half years ago I was diagnosed with cervical disc degeneration which I had two levels of discs replaced on my C spine and fusion. My C3-C4 are now slight degenerative anterolistthesis. On my thoracic spine, T6-T7 AND T8-T9 show central disc herniations. Moderate spondylosis involving primarily mid thoracic. There is decreased signal within and narrowing of several of the mid thoracic intervertebral discs. (MRI image) also, on lumbar spine L3-L4 shows mild circumferential disc bulging with associated marginal spurring. Marked DDD is present at L4-L5 , along with L3-L4 level. Degenerative changes present within L5-S1 Zygapophyseal joints. My thing is I have been complaining of mid back pain and lower plus neck for over two years now. My spine surgeon who did my disc replacements on my neck is outstanding. However, he has made it clear to me that he cannot operate on t-spine, which has been causing extreme pain, i cannot take pain pills, narcotics, opiotes because I get sick. I have a neurologist that referred me to a spine pain clinic for injections in thoracic. I have already b4 surgery had them on my c spine and lumbar and they did not take. I am in constant state of pain having to change from walking, sitting, standing, laying down no more than a few minutes at a time. Have not gotten any more sleep than 2 to 3 hours at a time. My life has completely went down hill, i cannot work, doctors orders and you add that in with i live by myself, have had episodes of feet going numb, where i fall. Nobody it seems wants to touch me as far as surgery. I am desperate, i have lost all of my friends, family and on my own. In process of ssdi, but who knows? I want to be able to live again! This physical situation also gets worse when you have bilateral bunions of 18°on both feet, which hurt and now walking on sides of feet to avoid pressure on bunions. There is more but i would like to know how to address the thoracic in particular beside physical therapy which I still do and my motor function does not improve. At this point I will be a case study if there is one. I dont and cant live the rest of my life this way in chronic pain. What should I do?
Mon, 12 Aug 2019
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General & Family Physician 's  Response
Hello,

I have gone through your query and here is my advice. It may be due to nerve compression due to disc compression.

For further assessment you may require MRI back, nerve conduction studies after spine surgeon consultation.

For pain you can take tablet acetaminophen.

You may require tablet Pregabalin after consultation.

Do regular physical therapy.

In case of severe pain, you may require surgical intervention after surgeon consultation

Hope I have answered your query.
Let me know if I can assist you further...

Regards,
Dr Shyam Kale
Family and general physician.
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Suggest Treatment For Chronic Back Pain While Having Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease

Hello, I have gone through your query and here is my advice. It may be due to nerve compression due to disc compression. For further assessment you may require MRI back, nerve conduction studies after spine surgeon consultation. For pain you can take tablet acetaminophen. You may require tablet Pregabalin after consultation. Do regular physical therapy. In case of severe pain, you may require surgical intervention after surgeon consultation Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further... Regards, Dr Shyam Kale Family and general physician.