Modic degenerative changes in thoracic and cervical spine

Posted by suzfuse46 @suzfuse46, Sep 3, 2024

I have had four spinal surgeries - cervical laminectomy and fusion twice, lumbar to S.I./pelvic bones laminectomy and fusion twice, thoracic laminectomy leaving the only 6 untouched vertebrae from T2 through T7. I have been in severe pain since the first failed surgery in 2017. I have been to several pain management programs since with numerous epidural steroid injections and radiofrequency ablations which provided no more than one day of relief. I'm at the point where I am desperate for relief and searching for answers. Looking back through the MRI reports I found that worsening Modic Type 1 endplate degenerations were noted on every one of the reports at T6-7 through T10-11 and C4-5, C5-6. I found that there is a procedure for eliminating Modic pain but as of right now is limited to the lumbar spine. (The Intracept Procedure by Relievant) I would like to know if there are clinical trials being done for the thoracic and cervical spine and how to reach the researchers. Any information about Modic Type 1 degeneration would be very welcome. Thank you for considering my request for information.

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terry1976 | @terry1976 | Sep 4, 2024

Start here with key word searches
https://clinicaltrials.gov/

toco8560 | @toco8560 | 6 days ago

Waiting for an ambulance, I injured my thoracic area when I had to hold my mother’s body up in a shower stall after she fell which resulted in breaking her hip. I just had an MRI which revealed this:
IMPRESSION:
1. Mild degenerative spondylosis. No high-grade central canal or
neuroforaminal stenosis.
2. Modic type I degenerative endplate changes noted at
T7-T8.
3. Mildly exaggerated thoracic kyphosis.
My regular Dr is referring me to a pain management specialist to address the Mobic type 1 changes.
Have you had any help with your problems since you posted this? I’m curious to know if anything has been done for your pain and I’m wondering what to expect once I see another Dr. thank you for a reply and I hope you’re getting help. This is the worst pain I’ve ever experienced and I just had a total knee replacement two years ago which I thought was bad.

suzfuse46 | @suzfuse46 | 5 days ago

Hello Toco,
I understand what you are going through with the debilitating pain resulting from the Modic degenerative endplate changes. I researched until I found information on the subject about the MRIs to find evidence of what was happening to the vertebrae and how to help the pain. Thus far the only procedure to help it is the Intracept procedure but it has only been developed for the lumbar spine. It's kind of like a radiofrequency ablation but directly into the vertebral nerve to destroy it. They have not developed a probe small enough to fit into the thoracic spine vertebrae.
I have been in a Spine Pain Clinic for over a year and a half but thus far they have had me in physical therapy which I couldn't tolerate, have ordered a topical compounded cream which did nothing, have done epidural steroid injections and radiofrequency ablations all of which did not help for more than one day while the lidocaine injections to numb the insertion of the larger needles wore off. The only thing left to which I feel like I'm being forced into is the spinal cord stimulating device which scares the bejeebers out me since five surgeries haven't helped lessen the pain. I hope you can find a pain clinic that can actually do something beneficial. Take care and best of luck in your journey.