Hello Dr. Corenman, Stage 2 and 3 ruptures can cause moderate to severe pain or partial paralysis and require anti-inflammatories, pain medications, and strict rest. In rare cases when symptoms do arise, the main concern is whether the herniated disc is affecting the spinal cord. X-rays show the bones. Many people have no symptoms from a herniated disk. Thank you for choosing Dr. Corenman as your healthcare provider. However, the torn connective tissue at the back of the disc only begins to heal from this point. Unlike a standard herniated or bulging disc that expands frontward or to either side, a central disc protrusion or herniation expands backward (posterior . I have a herniation at T5-T6, A newer symptom that has been coming on for about 4 months now and getting stronger. Over time the annulus weakens, and the nucleus may squeeze (herniate) through the damaged annulus. I had my TLIF surgery on 6/24/2020 by Dr. Corenman, I can not say enough good things about the Dr or his staff. You have questions or concerns about your condition or care. Patients may work with the therapist in a pool. So I assume this is all coming from the spine, just as you had said. After about 3 weeks, the levels between T5-T8 were sensitive to the touch so I sought consultation from an orthopod where he ordered an MRI. The surgeon watches the TV screen while cutting and removing damaged portions of the disc. This almost never happens with the size of disc herniation you have. However, they may be underdiagnosed due to subtle or unspecific symptoms such as chest pain. During recovery from surgery, patients should follow their surgeon's instructions about wearing a back brace or support belt. Thus panchakarma is twofold- local and generalised. Surgeons may use a combination of screws, cables, and rods to prevent the vertebrae from moving and allow the graft to heal. When you say disc herniations t5, t6, t7 you likely have 3 or possibly just 2 disc herniations in the thoracic spine. Before I got the MRI that showed what's going on, I was only getting some neck pain and mostly chest pain (which is why I got the MRI to begin with), and some random muscle pains in my arms but nothing like how I feel it now. Rather, the term herniation means that the material in the center of the disc has squeezed out of the normal space. In this case, the person would likely have full use of the arms and breathing ability, but may have weakness, numbness, and other problems in the abdominal area and below, such as paralysis of both legs and bowel/bladder dysfunction. 1. He began professionally writing in 2009 for Demand Studios as a freelance writer on issues in health and medicine. It is absolutely scary! It isn't clear why a problem thoracic disc sometimes hardens from calcification, though past injury of the disc is one possibility. Fusion surgery may be needed immediately afterward. Bending forward closes down the front of the disc, pushing the jelly-like substance within the disc towards the back. Lumbar, or lower back. Recurrent complain of discontinuous . Since I've never dealt with this before, I obviously don't know. and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified The medical term for fusion is arthrodesis. As patients recover, they gradually begin doing flexibility exercises for the hips and shoulders. Begin sitting or standing tall with your back straight. Also, if the branch of the thoracic nerve going toward the back becomes inflamed, pain and other symptoms could be felt in the back at or near the location of the inflammation. Hold for 5 seconds and repeat 10 times provided there is no increase in symptoms. Already a member? Doctors may combine the CT scan with myelography. Pain is the most common symptom of a thoracic herniated disc and may be isolated to the upper back or radiate in a dermatomal (single nerve root) pattern. Doctors often refer to these vertebrae as T1 to T12. Sorry this is so long by the way! Patient does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The foramen are important passageways that are normally open, allowing nerve roots to exit . Some people learn they have thoracic disc herniation when they undergo imaging tests for an unrelated problem. A disc extrusion, also known as a disc herniation, usually occurs from degeneration due to a disease like osteoarthritis or the natural aging process. Alternatively, the same conclusion may be stated in any of the following language: herniated disc touching the spinal cord, herniated disc effacing the spinal cord or herniated disc encroaching upon the spinal cord. (Ectomy means to remove.) Squeeze your shoulder blades together as hard and as far as possible pain free (figure 3). These injuries are repaired with scar tissue. Viewing 2 posts - 1 through 2 (of 2 total). Patients with Scheuermann's disease, for example, are more likely to suffer thoracic disc herniations. Ageing is not about years, it is about how do we handle the body and take care of it. For example, a disc called the T5-6 disc would be located between the 5th and 6 thoracic vertebrae. Degeneration of the thoracic spine refers to changes in the discs between vertebrae that separate and cushion the bone. Because the smart and safe manipulation cannot be done without Yoga Asanas. The MRI machine uses magnetic waves rather than X-rays to show the soft tissues of the body. The Ayurvedic treatment for T5-T6 slip disc without surgery is aimed according to the cause of the problem. spinal disc herniation 3 herniated disc Disc Herniation treatment herniated disc thorasic spine mild cervical disc herniation and thecal sac C6-7 fusion vs artificial disk replacement Disc Herniation L5-S5 and Disc Protrusion L4-5, do you think it's serious (MRI images applied) broken spine recovery herniated disc C5-6, small bulges C3-4 C4-5 Chiropractic, massage, physical therapy, medications and epidural injections (rarely facet injections) are the treatment options. There was a significant reduction in the ODI at T4, T5, and T6 compared to T2 (p < 0.05). Perhaps there is some reason other than what is found on the MRI that causes your surgeon to say the cervical issues are inoperable. Though he only looked at my films and did not read my report. Iron Neck for chronic pain caused by foraminal stenosis? The treating physiotherapist can advise if this is required and will refer to the appropriate medical authority if it is warranted clinically. This is a detailed X-ray that lets doctors see the body's tissue in images that also look like slices. i was steady for 4 years after until I had a mild car accident causing a bit of whiplash. Is Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Right for You? This almost never happens with the size of disc herniation you have. Muscle spasm, pins and needles, numbness or weakness may also be present. As a disc's annulus ages, it tends to crack and tear. Not surprisingly, most thoracic disc herniations occur in this area. Muscle relaxants may be prescribed if the back muscles are in spasm. Vaidya Dr. Pardeep Sharma is Chief Ayurvedic Physician at Sukhayu Ayurved Jaipur. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON. The pain may be centered over the injured disc but may spread to one or both sides of the mid-back. I found this out about 2 weeks ago, and I get pretty bad anxiety as it is so I'm wondering if these side effects are similiar to anyone else's or if anyone can relate to how I'm feeling? This usually results from a combination of bending forward . Until unless the compression is not severe in this region. In: Canale ST, Beaty JH, ed. There are common symptoms of thoracic spinal stenosis, but not every individual will experience them the same way. Ligaments are strong connective tissues that attach bones to other bones. Coccyx, the tailbone. Sections T9 through T12 of the thoracic vertebrae are known as "transition vertebrae" because of their closeness and similarity to the lumbar vertebrae. Neck stretches. sorry its been a while since i last posted . no your not alone .and unless you have these symptoms people ( and doctors ) dont understand, essentially each disc has a nerve coming from it and these come from the brain via the spinal cord however this is were it gets interesting each nerve from each disc goes ( and affects ) specific organs and area,s of the body for example T5/T6 affects the stomach,solar plexis and liver .and these can include dypepsia ( stomach pain ) and indegestion .. they can even ( when undiagnosed ) cause stomach ulcers ( allthough this is rare ). oh i'm only . Disc degenerative changes anteriorly at T8-T9 with marrow endplate changes are notedas well.A posterior desiccated disc extrusion centrally is noted at T7-T8 with mild dural sac compression and no direct cord impingement. Here is my MRI results: At T6-7 moderate sized left paracentral disc herniation which moderately idenents the left ventral hemicord causing mile to moderate focal cord compression but without significant central spinal canal stenosis. After about 3 weeks, the levels between T5-T8 were sensitive to the touch so I sought consultation from an orthopod where he ordered an MRI. Trouble bending or twisting your . Read our editorial policy. Notes on Thoracic disc herniation are these symptoms normal? Autonomic function disruption refers to the function of structures such as the bowel or bladder, or sexual functions that are controlled by a part of the nervous system known as the autonomic system. Many put feeling s down to anxiety cause that's an easy answer they then don't need to look for anything else. Central disc protrusion is a type of herniated bulging disc affects the spinal cord and could possibly result in nervous system disorders, such as radiating pain and muscle weakness as well as other symptoms stemming from nerve irritation. Once an annular tear occurs, either as a result of aging or injury, the fluid inside of the disc will move and build until . // Leaf Group Lifestyle, The End Stages of Degenerative Disc Disease, Degenerative Changes of the Thoracic Spine, Twin Boro Physical Therapy: Thoracic Degenerative Disc Disease. Updated sections include detailed information on: Treatment, Intermediate & Advanced Exercises and a step by step Rehabilitation Protocol for each updated injury article ensuring you have the tools to take control of your injury and save money on expensive physiotherapy consultations. . Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books. Surgeons take extreme care not to harm the spinal cord. With my T6 the bulge pushed the nerve into the T5 space the only thing the MRI reported was a medium bulge. Decreases in sensation, numbness or tingling sensations have all been reported by people with thoracic spine degeneration. Your pain worsens even after you take medicine. However, some surgeries require patients to stay in the hospital for a few days. Even if you don't need surgery, your doctor may recommend that you work with a physical therapist. Thoracic herniated discs occur in the thoracic spine, which is made up of the 12 vertebrae that extend from the base of your neck to the bottom of your rib cage. Compression fractures of the spine usually occur at the bottom part of the thoracic spine (T11 and T12) and the first vertebra of the lumbar spine (L1). Between each vertebra in our spine are discs that keep it supple. Some patients leave the hospital shortly after surgery. Try our Symptom Checker Got any other symptoms? Doctors rely mostly on MRI for diagnosing thoracic disc herniations. The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. Mild thoracic disc herniation may not cause any signs or symptoms. The explanation and descriptions are easy to follow and so helpful in understanding the a variety of conditions covered.Thank you Dr Corenmen for providing such a valuable directory of information. Your provider may look at your spine and feel for any abnormal areas. Intervertebral discs are spongy cushions located between the vertebrae (bones) of the spine. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books. Reviewed December 2013. The human spine is formed by 24 spinal bones, called vertebrae. Login Now. Well that's not reality. Causes of Upper Back Pain Video. Related Document: A Patient's Guide to Scheuermann's Disease. In the disc, the situation is the same. Rehabilitation after surgery is more complex. The most commonly involved discs are the ones located between the T9 and T10 vertebrae, the T10 and T11 vertebrae, and the T11 and T12 vertebrae. Usually symptoms show first in the lumbar spine before they . I'm glad you're now doing OK, coming off of methadone is no joke! Herniations in the upper part of the thoracic spine can radiate pain and other sensations into one or both arms. If the discs become displaced, or herniated, they can impinge on surrounding structures and cause uncomfortable symptoms. If the disc presses on the spinal cord itself, the discomfort can also . Hi there. Intercostal Muscle Strain Symptoms and Diagnosis, Thoracic Spine Anatomy and Upper Back Pain, Radiculopathy, Radiculitis and Radicular Pain, Upper Back Pain from Intercostal Muscle Strain, What Causes Buttock Muscle Pain and How to Relieve it, Piriformis Syndrome: When the Symptoms Indicate a Medical Emergency, Massage to Reduce Buttock Muscle Pain from Piriformis Syndrome, Suffering from Lumbar Spinal Stenosis? Breathing, coughing, and sneezing may also aggravate symptoms. Statistics say this is what should be happening and this is how we should feel . The only thing which temporarily resolves the muscle tightness is heat, followed by massage. Pain is one of the primary symptoms of degenerative thoracic spine disease. !he read all of my issue and details and his replies really helped me in decidingi am now confident about my decision and i now totally understand the procedure thanks to the in-depth information providedthank you ever so much ! Re: T5-T6 Herniated Disc Extrusion. The explanation and descriptions are easy to follow and so helpful in understanding the a variety of conditions covered.Thank you Dr Corenmen for providing such a valuable directory of information. It helps a doctor see if the disc is pushing into the spinal canal. Trans means across or through. I recently found out I have a bulging small herniation at T7-8 with slight cord flattening. However, unless your condition is affecting the spinal cord or is rapidly getting worse, most doctors will begin with nonsurgical treatment. It should also be noted that a severe strain of a muscle between ribs (intercostal muscle) may cause an intercostal nerve to become inflamed, painful, and possibly make breathing more difficult. Low back pain. I highly recommend Dr. Corenman and the Steadman Clinic. A herniated disc occurs when the intervertebral disc's annulus (the outer fibers) is damaged and the soft inner material of the nucleus pulposus ruptures out of its normal space. They protect the spine against the daily pull of gravity and during activities that put strong force on the spine, such as jumping, running, and lifting. These symptoms may vary from individual to individual. Egton Medical Information Systems Limited. An L1/L2 herniation is an especially common type of disc herniation. Unfortunately. Along with back pain, spinal compression fractures also can cause: Pain that gets worse when you stand or walk but with some relief when you lie down. im attaching a image which will show you how each disc can affect certain parts of the body anxiety is normal with disc problems .. however i came off methadone ( after taking it for 8 years ) while having undiagnosed thorasic disc herniations,so as you can imagine i was pretty anxious and also had to put up with having to come off one of the strongest painkillers around and then the associated anxiety that comes with it, i am now on 600mg of gapapentin daily and 750mg of naproxen daily which seem to be doing the job i also take 30mg to 40mg of buscopan which relaxes the stomach ( you can buy these over the counter however your gp should be able to prescribe these if you ask ), does the pain move when you have a meal or snack this would be interesting to know, anyway i wish you well sara and have a wonderful xmas, Thank you so much for this!!!!! Tingling or pain in the fingers, hands, arms, neck or shoulders. Muscle Weakness/Numbness: There is a good chance that the nerves affected by a bulging disc innervate muscles elsewhere in the body. A thorough subjective and objective examination from a physiotherapist is usually sufficient to diagnose a thoracic disc bulge. We experienced a case of thoracic disc herniation (T4/5 and T6/7) characterized by posture-related dynamic changes in neurological symptoms; that is, numbness extending from the trunk to the entire lower limbs was deteriorated in the standing and sitting positions, was relieved in the supine position, and disappeared in the prone position. and lifting (especially in combination with twisting). Like other discs, T5-T6 slip disc also involves a process of the degeneration. One patient may have only one symptom, while another can check every one of them off the list. Then they teach patients how to move safely with the least strain on the healing back. Aerobic exercises, such as walking or swimming, can ease pain and improve endurance. Vaidya Dr. Pardeep does it according to the scientific principles of Ayurveda. You begin leaking urine or bowel movement, and it is not normal for you. Location: West Michigan. So in transthoracic decompression, the surgeon operates through the chest cavity to reach the injured disc. Motor deficits like weakness, especially in the lower extremities, are also reported in thoracic spine degeneration. It is to the point of an Extreme stabbing pain from the t5-t6 area straight thru my body to the front of my chest. Dietze DD Jr , Fessler RG. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON. Herniated discs in the thoracic region, which is the largest segment of the spinal column, account for less than 1 percent of all herniated discs. This has led some doctors to suggest that thoracic disc herniations not causing symptoms are normal. Then the bony knob on the side of the vertebra (the transverse process) is removed. This procedure locks the vertebrae in place and stops movement between the vertebrae. Vertebrae are stacked on top of one another to create the spinal column. I had mild burning in area for 2 weeks. But yes the pain moves, and I have been changing my diet drastically for the reflux but I'm wondering if it's MAIN source is the spine, again. For more details see Become a Member. . The top and bottom layers of pastry represent the vertebra (bones), the custard represents the jelly-like substance of the disc and the sandwich wrap represents the connective tissue around the disc. These stabbing pains in my chest area have been relentlesson and off but absolutely ongoing. Neurosurg Clin N Am. This link is subject to forces from daily activity, such as bending and twisting, which lead to degeneration. The spinal cord is the main bundle of nerves that runs from the base of the brain all the way down through the cervical spine and thoracic spine before splitting into a bundle of nerve roots (cauda equina) in the lumbar spine. I was always treated with respect and explained everything throughly, that made it easy for everyone to understand. Hence, a slight compression will lead to symptoms. The MRI is just one piece of the diagnostic puzzle. A special dye is injected into the space around the spinal canal. A slipped disc is also known as a 'herniated', 'ruptured' or 'prolapsed' disc. When a loss of bowel or bladder control is present due to the disc bulge, this is considered a medical emergency and immediate surgical intervention is usually required. Third is the Yoga asanas. About 8 weeks ago, I noticed a twinge in my mid-back but did not modifiy my exercise routine. Have something you want to discuss, tips to share or a question to ask? . (N.B In some cases it may be beneficial to perform this exercise every 1 or 2 hours provided the exercise does not cause or increase symptoms). I had my TLIF surgery on 6/24/2020 by Dr. Corenman, I can not say enough good things about the Dr or his staff. This machine creates pictures that look like slices of the area your doctor is interested in. According to research 30% of 30 year old have disc herniations and have absolutely no symptoms in the lower back. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Mosby; 2013:1524-58. Mid-back pain can radiate to the ribs due to a herniated thoracic disc. Campbells Operative Orthopaedics Volume Two. The spinal canal is narrow in the thoracic spine. OrthoInfo. Herniated or disk in the neck (herniated cervical disk) Symptoms of a herniated disk in your neck include: Pain near or between your shoulder blades. Thoracic disc herniation mimicking L acute lumbar disc disease. A herniated disk, which can occur in any part of the spine, most often occurs in the lower back. The main problem is not in the change in the disc. Extreme hot or cold temperatures of hand. A protrusion is a kind of herniation still contained by back of disc wall, in extrusion material has leaked beyond. Spinal anatomy and surgical approaches. Iron Neck for chronic pain caused by foraminal stenosis? I need some opinionsI feel like I'm going absolutely bonkers. Patients may be prescribed anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen. Symptoms of thoracic disc herniation vary widely. These need to be assessed and corrected with direction from the treating physiotherapist and may include: Physiotherapy treatment for this condition is vital to hasten the healing process and ensure an optimal outcome and may comprise: Despite appropriate physiotherapy management, a small percentage of thoracic disc bulges fail to improve and may require other intervention. OPPO Posture Aid / Clavicle Brace (OPP2075), Dentons Impressions Classic Memory Foam Therapeutic Pillow, Hamstring Origin Tendonitis (Tendinopathy), a lifestyle involving large amounts of sitting, bending, exercises to push the disc back in and to improve strength, core stability. Disc protrusions (often called 'herniated', 'bulging' or 'prolapsed' discs) are often found in people without back pain. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. A foraminal disc protrusion is a degenerative spine condition that occurs when a disc weakens and bulges past its normal boundaries in the spinal column. You must be logged in to reply to this topic. This could indicate a bulging disc in the cervical area. Recent developments in thoracic surgery include video assisted thoracoscopy surgery (VATS). A cervical herniated disc may put pressure on a cervical spinal nerve and can cause symptoms like pain, pins and needles, numbness or weakness in the neck, shoulders, or arms. Incontinence in severe cases. Never have I had any other pain and the tightness in flexion, really does not hurt, simply feels extraordinarly tight. The spinal cord may be injured when a thoracic disc herniates. The pressure on the nerves can cause the muscles to spasm and feel tight. It makes me feel a lot better to know I'm not a lunatic feeling these things and that the herniations and nerves are absolutely a cause! Symptoms depend on where and how big the disc herniation is, where it is pressing, and whether the spinal cord has been damaged. I went to physical therapy and I am done now since insurance won't cover any more visits, and it absolutely helped me. This can cause the nerve tissues in the spinal cord to die, leading to severe problems of weakness or paralysis in the legs. Anyways, I realize this is very longbut if anyone can relate, please comment. Risk factors for developing disc changes include older age, obesity, lack of exercise and lifting heavy loads. The below are more examples of disfunction of thoracic spinal nerves Thoracic herniated disc, leading to thoracic radiculopathy, with symptoms of pain, tingling, numbness, and/or weakness radiating along the nerve root. The treatment sessions help patients learn to move and do routine activities without putting extra strain on the back. & if it affects our brain like that, it makes COMPLETE sense why we would be getting anxiety like this! As a result the custard is no longer supported as effectively at the back of the vanilla slice and therefore bulges out at this location. You may also need any of the following: Copyright Merative 2022 Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes. Muscle weakness in certain muscles of one or both legs. In these instances, the disc has normally been subject to repetitive or prolonged bending, slouching or lifting forces leading up to the incident. This is the most common symptom of a thoracic herniated disc. Treating hemangiomas can involve injections, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery. The spinal canal of the thoracic spine is narrow, so the spinal cord is immediately in danger from anything that takes up space inside the canal. Diagnosis begins with a complete history and physical examination. T12 is where the thoracic and lumbar spine meet. 6. . Doctors prescribe certain types of medication for patients with thoracic disc herniation. Other causes may include injury, trauma, overexertion, illness or obesity. The spinal cord is similar to a long wire made up of millions of nerve fibers. Discs are spongy cushions between the vertebrae in your spine. Available for Android and iOS devices. This procedure is done with a thoracoscope, a tiny television camera that can be inserted into the side of the thorax through a small incision. The nucleus is held in place by the annulus, a series of ligament rings surrounding it. A possible complication of both of these syndromes is urinary retention, in which the bladder becomes paralyzed and cannot empty normally. Numbness or tingling in areas of one or both legs. You are not able to move one or both of your legs. The spinal cord is normally protected within the spinal canal.