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Modic degenerative changes in thoracic and cervical spine
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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https://clinicaltrials.gov/
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1 ReactionWaiting 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.
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.
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1 ReactionThanks so much for your reply. I’ve been in surgery for another issue, my cervical spine. I had an ACDF THREE levels five weeks ago. At the moment I’m doing great on that. But my thoracic pain came back after I had an injection from pain management. I looked into the thoracic Modic changes too and like you, I saw that things have only been tested on the lumbar spine. My first prednisone injection actually worked and I just had another yesterday after six months. The pain actually had diminished quite a bit but came back with a vengeance. I realized how much that injection helped when the pain returned. I hope you’re doing better and I wish you the best. Thank you
I don’t know anything about the Modic changes. Nothing has been discussed with me. I was quickly referred to a cervical spine specialist once my pain management Dr saw my MRI. I had discs pushing on my spinal cord and I basically had surgery ASAP. I was referred to a wonderful specialist and after 5 weeks my neck is doing great. Still have to address the thoracic issue but it has to wait till I’m healed from my cervical fusion. Thanks for your info
I am freaking out! I just signed up for the Genesis decompression table treatment. I have DDD and a double fusion. While searching the internet, I just found out that a person with a fusion should not do this treatment. It could cause my screws and rods to loosen or other bad things. The doctor knew I had had a fusion and still recommended this treatment. I have had 4 treatments so far, and I'm praying nothing has happened to my fusion. I will be calling the doctor on Tuesday. Has anyone dealt with this before?
Thank you!
@toco8560
Hello Toco,
I found your post today, May 23, 2026. In all this time (over 2 years) the Spine Pain Management team has not been able to do anything that relieved the severe pain from the intensely increasing Modic degeneration at thoracic 6-7 and 7-8. In addition to the Modic pain, I now have severe right knee (ankle and hip) pain that keeps me awake most of the night. They have reactivated the pain in my S.I. with trying to do an ESI to help the leg pain twice. Out of 11 procedures over two years, only two helped . They want to implant a spinal cord stimulation device for spinal pain but that will not solve the Modic problem. It needs to be "burned" off by the Intracept Procedure by Relievant which the probe hasn't been developed for the thoracic and cervical spine.
Have you found an alternative procedure that has helped or do you know anything more about the Intracept procedure progress.
Thank you for your reply.
Suz