CT/Mylogram Results

[Guest guest]

I got the results of my CT/mylogram today and they don't sound very

pretty. I have moderately severe underlying degenerative changes of the

lumbosacral spine; moderately severe multilevel facet arthropathy; mild

to moderate multilevel degenerative disc disease; deformity of the

spinal canal and thecal sac at several levels secondary to post-

surgical changes and facet arthropathy; dural ectasia or cysts are seen

involving several nerve root sleeves; small Tarlov Cysts in upper

sacral region. They also mention disc bulging at L4-5 and L5-S1. Mild

to moderate degenerative changes of sacroiliac joints. I didn't know

what Tarlov cysts were, but they are fluid filled sacs that affect

nerve roots in the sacrum. They can compress nerve roots, cause lower

back pain, sciatica,urological problems, sexual disfunction.

So, I guess I'm a mess. I still manage to somehow go to work 40 hrs a

week and deal with extreme back pain. I'm sure others are permanently

disabled on alot less. I just can't afford to lose half of my take home

pay to live on disability. I guess if it comes to that, I won't have a

choice, but I'm going to try to " stick it out " until I can have back

surgery.

Carol V (CA)

[Guest guest]

Hi Carol V.,

Have you found out from your doctor yet what she thinks of the test

results? Sometimes the words on the reports sound terrible or scary

to us, but end up being not at all a surprise to the surgeon, and are

nothing they are not accustomed to handling.

When are you thinking of having the revision surgery?

loriann

>

> I got the results of my CT/mylogram today and they don't sound very

> pretty. I have moderately severe underlying degenerative changes of the

> lumbosacral spine; moderately severe multilevel facet arthropathy; mild

> to moderate multilevel degenerative disc disease; deformity of the

> spinal canal and thecal sac at several levels secondary to post-

> surgical changes and facet arthropathy; dural ectasia or cysts are seen

> involving several nerve root sleeves; small Tarlov Cysts in upper

> sacral region. They also mention disc bulging at L4-5 and L5-S1. Mild

> to moderate degenerative changes of sacroiliac joints. I didn't know

> what Tarlov cysts were, but they are fluid filled sacs that affect

> nerve roots in the sacrum. They can compress nerve roots, cause lower

> back pain, sciatica,urological problems, sexual disfunction.

> So, I guess I'm a mess. I still manage to somehow go to work 40 hrs a

> week and deal with extreme back pain. I'm sure others are permanently

> disabled on alot less. I just can't afford to lose half of my take home

> pay to live on disability. I guess if it comes to that, I won't have a

> choice, but I'm going to try to " stick it out " until I can have back

> surgery.

>

> Carol V (CA)

>

[Guest guest]

I haven't seen her yet. She is so busy that I can't get in to see her

for several months. I don't think she'll necessarily be that

surprised, but I know that it confirms for me that I'm really

bad...but only as bad as I SUSPECTED, but didn't know for sure. So,

it confirms that I do have the right to be in severe pain and have a

handicapped placard after all!!!!

Carol V (CA)

> >

> > I got the results of my CT/mylogram today and they don't sound

very

> > pretty. I have moderately severe underlying degenerative changes

of the

> > lumbosacral spine; moderately severe multilevel facet

arthropathy; mild

> > to moderate multilevel degenerative disc disease; deformity of

the

> > spinal canal and thecal sac at several levels secondary to post-

> > surgical changes and facet arthropathy; dural ectasia or cysts

are seen

> > involving several nerve root sleeves; small Tarlov Cysts in upper

> > sacral region. They also mention disc bulging at L4-5 and L5-S1.

Mild

> > to moderate degenerative changes of sacroiliac joints. I didn't

know

> > what Tarlov cysts were, but they are fluid filled sacs that

affect

> > nerve roots in the sacrum. They can compress nerve roots, cause

lower

> > back pain, sciatica,urological problems, sexual disfunction.

> > So, I guess I'm a mess. I still manage to somehow go to work 40

hrs a

> > week and deal with extreme back pain. I'm sure others are

permanently

> > disabled on alot less. I just can't afford to lose half of my

take home

> > pay to live on disability. I guess if it comes to that, I won't

have a

> > choice, but I'm going to try to " stick it out " until I can have

back

> > surgery.

> >

> > Carol V (CA)

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I hope you will be able to continue living life on your own terms -- choosing whether or not to work -- although I know this has not been easy or possible for many of us to do with complex and sometimes multiple disabilities. No doubt you have considered all the alternatives, and please excuse this question if it is "Department of the Obvious," but do you have access to any kind of disability insurance that would pay more than half what you earn now? At one time, when I could not work for some time because of my spinal problems, I had group insurance that paid something like 70% of my salary. I realize that may not be the norm these days. If it's any consolation, you are in good company here. I know that many group members will empathize with your dilemma, and maybe someone will have some helpful words for you . I certainly wish you the best as you grapple with some of the difficult issues

now facing you.

[Guest guest]

Unfortunately, even though I have had a supplementary disability

policy thru my work, I found out that it doesn't pay for " pre-

existing conditions " ! I have had a policy for about 10 yrs, even

though the county keeps changing insurers, and--at least this last

policy I'm on now--has a clause not covering pre-existing conditions.

They define " pre-existing " as anything you've sought medical care for

in the 12 months prior to the disability. So, that leaves back

problems out of it, I guess. These insurance companies think of all

kinds of ways NOT TO PAY for things. (that's another rant) That's why

the only thing I have is the state disability (which is only good for

12 months I think) and the Social Security Disability if I become

permanently disabled and my retirement thru the county which I found

out would only be about $225. a month!! So, my whopping take home on

permanent disability would be about $1,000. per month!! Almost half

of what I take home now. But, I also have an issue that the CT scan

found--some problem with my cecum (colon). It may be a mass. I am

having that checked out this week. I hope it's not colon cancer!!

Carol V (CA)

>

> I hope you will be able to continue living life on your own terms --

choosing whether or not to work -- although I know this has not been

easy or possible for many of us to do with complex and sometimes

multiple disabilities.

>

> No doubt you have considered all the alternatives, and please

excuse this question if it is " Department of the Obvious, " but do you

have access to any kind of disability insurance that would pay more

than half what you earn now? At one time, when I could not work for

some time because of my spinal problems, I had group insurance that

paid something like 70% of my salary. I realize that may not be the

norm these days.

>

> If it's any consolation, you are in good company here. I know

that many group members will empathize with your dilemma, and maybe

someone will have some helpful words for you . I certainly wish you

the best as you grapple with some of the difficult issues now facing

you.

>

>

>