Question
I am a 38year old man. I have had two fusions one at L5/S1 and C5/6. I am unable to sit for more than 45min without extreme pain. I have trouble standing and can hardly walk. My arms and legs go numb. Pain all through my back. I get temporary paralysis at times. It is getting very difficult to do just about anything.My left arm and fingers tingle constantly. Had an MRI done. Here are the results. Please help. Pain is just getting to be too much. C4-C5 level there is a small boad-based central disc protrusion which effaces the vet central spinal canal stenosis. small subchondral cyst within inferior aspect of t.no foraminal stenosis. C6-C7 minimal disc bulge. mild facet hypertrophy. there is stenosis. C7-T1 there is right greater left uncovertebral hypertrophy. facet hype canal or foraminal stenosis.
T2-T3 level lobular disc protrusion with left greater than right paracentral componets. minor left ventral cord deformity, no stenosis. T3-T4 broad-based right paracentral disc protrusion, minor right deformity without canal stenosis. minimal right neural foraminal stenosis. T4-T5 mild facet hypertrophy. Same at T5-T6. T6-T7 modest sized right paracentral disc herniation extends above intervertebral disc minor right ventral cord deformity. T7-T8  modest sized left paracentral disc hernitation extends below the intervertebral disc causing left ventral cord deformity no stenosis.T8-T9 modest facet hypertrophy.
T9-T10 right paracentral disc protrusion right ventral cord deformity T10-T11 broad-based disc bulge. minimal central spinal canal stenosis and bilateral foraminal stenosis.
T11-T12 broad-based central disc protrusion with associated dorsal superior T12 Schmorl's node. mild central spinal canal stenosis.facet hypertrophy. no significant foraminal stenosis.
I am not sure what all that means but it seems complicated. Any help you can give will be appreciated. In a lot of pain, do not want to make things worse. Getting scared to drive because of the numbness. Thank you in advance

Answer
You have some disc problems, Johnnie.   Wow.

So, there are 23 discs in the human spine, and you had two fused.   That leaves 21 for you.  Of those remaining, 12 have disc bulges or protrusions. Your MRI didn't look at the lumbars apparently, so we'll just assume that the two discs above your fusion are decayed, too. That leaves 9 discs that aren't decayed.  There is also arthritis through your spine (facet hypertrophy) at various levels.  The Schmorl's node is simply a herniation of the disc into the vertebra itself.   Whew.

Anything that pushes on the cord or on the nerve roots is going to cause problems.  From numbess to tingling to pain to paralysis, your problems all have a common generator.  The discs themselves are ligaments, and respond to mechanical forces over time.  To get the disc away from the nerve requires one do traction (separating the disc) and extension (imagine arching your back over a ball).

You need to find some way of doing these activities.  It ususally entails finding a chiropractor, one willing to spend the time with you to tell you what needs to be done.   Your disc injuries can really only get worse over time.  You can read my article about the lumbar disc and on the cervical disc on my web site, <a href="http://www.dynamicclinic.com" target="expertslink">http://www.dynamicclinic.com</a><br>
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under the articles section.  Use that to decipher what the problems are so that you understand them before you go see a doctor, so that you know what they are talking about.   Understand the nature of disc injuries, so that you can realize what is good for you and what isn't.   This is something you never grow out of, so you need to stay on top of it forever.

You will need to purchase some equipment for your own care.  I think the minimum is a lumbar traction unit of some variety, same for the cervical spine, and I'd also recommend the posture pump.  A cervical pillow like the therapeutica pillow, would be great, too.  These are all worthwhile investments if you use them.  If you don't, don't waste the money, because that's what it would be.  

I wish you the best in your search for a good chiropractor, I may be able to help.  Personally I'd start with a Palmer graduate as they tend to be better.

Hope this answer helps,
Dr. PEter Carr
Seattle, Washington
www.dynamicclinic.com