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Thoracic Spinal Fusion?

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Posted 7/29/2010 3:02 PM (GMT 0)
Has anyone here ever had a fusion in their thoracic spine?  I have badly herniated disks in T6-T7-T8-T9.  Doc says spinal fusion and I am wondering what to expect regarding recovery period, post-surgical problems, success rate, long-term prognosis, etc.

I had a cervical fusion (C5-C6-C7?) in 2001 and was fully recovered in two weeks. 

Have been on fentanyl (50 mcg/hr), zanaflex, neurontin, lidoderm and flector patches for several years to control pain.  (Not very successfully.)

Thanks for the info.

Posted 7/29/2010 3:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hawaiowan

I have also had c-5-7 fused, and I have a herniated and torn disk at T-12 for a very long time, (ten years) and my surgeons will not touch it, they all have told me that they would have to do an anterior approach to the thoracic disk and it was just to risky, so I have been on regularly scheduled pain meds, and was finally put on disability, I aslo now have many other major problems, all through my entire spine. Anyway I will be interested to see the responses that you get, I know that there have been many advances in spinal surgery since that time!

Good Luck to YOU

White Beard
Posted 7/29/2010 7:40 PM (GMT 0)
Hello and welcome to Healing Well's CP forum. I am glad that you found us but sorry to hear that you are having problems. I too have never heard of anyone having surgery in the thoracic spine except for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Everyone I know with herniations in that area the drs all refuse to do any surgery for the reasons WhiteBeard gave you. I do hope that you will get a 2nd opinion and maybe even a 3rd opinion.

Please keep us posted on how you are doing.
Posted 3/10/2013 6:49 PM (GMT 0)
I have had a major lower lumbar fusion, From L-1 through S-1 and into my sacrum. I have 14 screws and two cages. Now my Neurosurgeon says my thoracic spin is collapsing and he needs to fuse T-7 through T-12? I need some advice!!!! confused
Posted 3/10/2013 7:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Danar4golf,

Welcome to HealingWell. I'm sorry that you are dealing w/ back issues... This is an old thread from a few years back.

Please start a new thread (by clicking on the Post New Topic button, upper left hand corner) - and introduce yourself! You can simply cut/paste what you've already written.

If you need any help - please let us know! Thanks --Tina
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