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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,595
Gold_AS_Kicker
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Gold_AS_Kicker
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,595 |
Hi Holly!
Disc protrusion means that some of the jelly-like center of the disc is protruding out. It is a disc herniation that allows the disc material to come out. Think of a disc as a shock absorber with a tougher outside layer and jelly-like material in the middle. The thecal sac is a membrane on the spinal cord or spinal nerves. Your MRI means that that disc material is leaking out of the disc and touching the thecal sac. A lot of people have herniated discs that aren't causing any symptoms since the disc material isn't touching anything. Some people have a lot of problems because the material is impinging or compressing a nerve. It sounds like you are in the middle. The material is touching your spinal cord or spinal nerves but not compressing them. Spondylosis is a type of degenerative osteoarthritis in the spine. Anterolaterally would be the location on the particular levels noted (T-8 through T-11). I hope this helps!
Craig Er, not quite.... disc bulging is from degeneration in the strength (integrity) of the annulus fibrosis, rather than herniation, which is when the jelly-like substance is leaking out through a tear in the annulus. The nucleus pulposis could be thought of as caustic, if you like, and will cause massive inflammation in structures that it touches. Then in addition to that it may compress the theca enough to cause spinal canal or spinal nerve root compression and therefore neurological symptoms. The disc material(or even the annular bulge)is NOT touching the spinal nerve roots or spinal cord in Holly's MRI. No significant indentation of the thecal sac is evident, let alone pressure on neural structures. Sorry to be anal, but there's a huge difference between signs and symptoms of disc bulges and disc herniation... (Off my soapbox now...)
Last edited by inkyfingers; 04/21/11 01:49 AM. Reason: more details
Louise Happy to be a physio by day, not happy to be a Spondy 24/7!
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 558
Sergeant_AS_Kicker
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OP
Sergeant_AS_Kicker
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 558 |
Well, hell. This blows.
I can't thank you enough. Truly. I would have probably gone skipping along thinking I was fine, since the pain in the upper back & neck doesn't hold a candle to the pain in the lower back!
Louise - can I trouble you with one more thing? My primary goal, once my pain is minimized, is to first work on strengthening my spine -- regaining my posture. My rheumy agrees, but do you?
Is it possible to undo some of this? Or keep it from getting worse if I can just get my pain under control and work hard, very, very hard to get my strength & posture back?
Just this morning I was trying to convince myself (again) that I don't have AS. I do that at least 2 times a day you know. Even though I do have AS. Stupid spondy monster. Grrrr.
Oh, on a happy note, thanks for thinking I'm, uh, a cute babe! It really is me in the pic, I promise. I'm only 36, and I've only had active AS for 4 years. I might have wiry gray hair under all of these funky colors I put in it, who knows. Part of why it took me so long to get diagnosed (and I know many of us go through this) is that I look so normal. Like your average soccer mom.
So, guess I'm gimpy from neck to butt now. Who knew.
Thanks again for everything. I might have a solo-pity party over here for a little while, because I'm just so angry. Feel like I just got diagnosed with something incurable, like, I dunno... AS or something.
Wait a sec -- am I overreacting? Maybe I'm reading into what you said. I'll come back tomorrow and see if I interpret it differently.
~ Holly
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 558
Sergeant_AS_Kicker
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OP
Sergeant_AS_Kicker
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 558 |
See? Soccer Mom. ;-)
~ Holly
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 558
Sergeant_AS_Kicker
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OP
Sergeant_AS_Kicker
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 558 |
By the way Craig, I didn't thank you for your reply as well.
I think when I'm sane again tomorrow, I'll re-read what you all wrote and probably react like I should have the first time. As you guys know, I'm suuuuppppperrrrr emotional.
Ha - I miss Kevin. This is when he would have chimed in to remind me that I'll never be sane, and that I never really have been. ;-)
Last edited by hollyz143; 04/21/11 03:22 AM.
~ Holly
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,269
Addicted_to_AS_Kickin
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Addicted_to_AS_Kickin
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,269 |
well sorry to tell you but you'll never be sane and you never really were
Age 7- Kidney Necrosis Age 11-Bursitis Age 14-Costo Age 17-Psoriasis Age 32-Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Age 33-Sacroilitis Age 35-Interstitial Cystitis Age 40-AS Age 44-Fibro Age 44-PsA Age 45-MS Age 46-Sjogrens Age 46-Raynauds Age 47-PF
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 558
Sergeant_AS_Kicker
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OP
Sergeant_AS_Kicker
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 558 |
Ha. Thank you. I'm smiling again now.
~ Holly
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,970
Captain_AS_Kicker
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Captain_AS_Kicker
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,970 |
Michelle Takes one to know one
I can not defeat you but I will not let you win
Jeff
Degenrative disc disease 2005 AS 2008 HLA-B27- Fibromyalgia 2010 Disability 2012 Back to work part time 2013 Enbrel, Cymbalta,Oxycodone, blah blah blah blah
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,269
Addicted_to_AS_Kickin
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Addicted_to_AS_Kickin
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,269 |
Me too...I was able to get my court papers filed against BP(still can't believe I almost missed the deadline! ) ...tomorrow is the one year anniversary of the BP Deepwater Horizon Rig explosion...and WL&F announced yesterday that shrimp season will remain closed until further notice due to the new discovery of oil in our fishing zone... But...I'm still very happy that it all worked out and the papers were filed at the courthouse...whew!! close call!!
Age 7- Kidney Necrosis Age 11-Bursitis Age 14-Costo Age 17-Psoriasis Age 32-Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Age 33-Sacroilitis Age 35-Interstitial Cystitis Age 40-AS Age 44-Fibro Age 44-PsA Age 45-MS Age 46-Sjogrens Age 46-Raynauds Age 47-PF
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,269
Addicted_to_AS_Kickin
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Addicted_to_AS_Kickin
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,269 |
Absolutely!!! I own it too...
Age 7- Kidney Necrosis Age 11-Bursitis Age 14-Costo Age 17-Psoriasis Age 32-Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Age 33-Sacroilitis Age 35-Interstitial Cystitis Age 40-AS Age 44-Fibro Age 44-PsA Age 45-MS Age 46-Sjogrens Age 46-Raynauds Age 47-PF
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,970
Captain_AS_Kicker
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Captain_AS_Kicker
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,970 |
I can not defeat you but I will not let you win
Jeff
Degenrative disc disease 2005 AS 2008 HLA-B27- Fibromyalgia 2010 Disability 2012 Back to work part time 2013 Enbrel, Cymbalta,Oxycodone, blah blah blah blah
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