Back, sigh
My appt with the surgeon was delayed for him being out of office (Jan 27, not the current ice situation) so I have to wait a couple weeks to see what he says.
Still, I have access to the reports and images on Envison - other than the latest radiologist feeling the need to comment on my weight multiple times - and where multiple prior reports referred to granulating tissue (scar tissue, according to Dr Google) in the prior laminectomy, he called it fat-packed.. PLUS despite having 5 prior studies at Envision and no one else having trouble finding comparison reports, he indicated no prior comparison available... but other than that, he does seem to be calling out more degeneration in higher levels than the one that's already collapsed. Boo.
Before I saw him, I'd had a couple MRIs, but no CT scans. These are from Dec 2018 and Dec 2019.
Dec 2021 - first CT scan with current surgeon along with a repeat MRI - he pointed out the bone spurs to either side approaching each other and talked about auto-fusing instead of surgery. Said it can take a year & half, but given my particular surgical risks, worth the wait to see if I can avoid.
July 2022, recheck to see progress. Clearly gotten a little closer, but he said the dark black in the side image is gas between the two vertebrae and that has to completely dissipate before it can auto-fuse. But he did say the brighter bone is new bone growth so if we do need to do surgery, I'll have good strong bone to work with. I read about auto-fusing - it's basically the bone-on-bone process causing fractures and then bone growth to repair. Sheesh, no wonder it hurts. Of course, when the TN was so bad, I barely noticed - but post TN surgery, now I want it all.
And the latest - I will see the surgeon in a couple weeks, and I'm not as skilled at knowing what images he will focus on (as you scoot in and out from the layers, obviously the bones look a little different) but I tried to match the views he'd shown me in his office previously. I'll know more when I see him, of course, but to the untrained eye I see progress, but not complete. His original guess of year & half looks on target, as this has been right at a year. I really wish the radiologist had compared to previous reports, as he seems to call out more narrowing/disc bulging - but again to the untrained eye, I don't think it looks that different at the higher levels than in July 2022? I think?
I've been working on losing weight - a) to help take weight off the spine (as well as other health reasons) and b) in case I do need surgery - it will be simpler and safer. BUT holidays de-railed me and I gained some back, and I need to get serious again. Ugh. I wish it were easy. I can do about 10 minutes on the recumbent elliptical before my back screams stop, and of course it's not exactly swimming season. Sous vide cooking had done a lot for us not eating so much fast food but we've slowed down on that. And, Randy hasn't been feeling well, so groceries are falling behind.
Our remodel should start soon - well, first up is master bath/bedroom so I'll be going up and down stairs - err, exercise?! Hah.. but kitchen at some point will reduce our eating at home.
Still - I'd like to be able to walk again. Vacation somewhere like DC or Washington State and walk around or hike. I just have to want that more than I want sugar. yeah, yeah, yeah.
Just to add to the fun that is my spine, my neck has been bad lately, too. (And that isn't weight driven - not like my head weighs a ton). When I am laying down, sometimes my fingertips get numb and tingly - not from laying on my arms or anything, just laying flat on my back. Oh, other times it's like the ulna nerve down through the arm and pinky/ring fingers on the right, which is not unusual - but all my fingertips, and tips only being numb, is definitely new.
When I was in the ER before being admitted last Sept with covid and fell, they did a full CT just to check for any impact from the fall. Of course, not specific for back or neck trouble, but it sure looks like it's in the same degenerative state as lower back.
I tried to see if the surgeon could add on a neck CT since I was getting the back CT anyway, but they can't w/o an office visit. They suggested try my family doc, and Dr Kobett sent in the order but said insurance might not approve without an office visit. He was right. Odd. Anyway, clearly bone spurs and narrowing there, too. Boo, again. Getting old sucks.
