Doctors call this section of the spine the critical zone. T3, T4 and T5 - These lead into the chest wall and help regulate breathing. You must be logged in to reply to this topic. A Patient's Guide to Thoracic Spine Anatomy, A Patient's Guide to Scheuermann's Disease. It has been a month since the MRI and there is no sensitivity on the spine, but I still get the pulling sensation when I bend into flexion. You may have any of the following if the herniated disc presses against your nerves or spinal cord: Your healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms and any health problems you have. 1999-2023 Veritas Health, LLC. . Depending on where the herniated disk is, it can result in pain, numbness, or weakness in an arm or leg. The nucleus is held in place by the annulus, a series of ligament rings surrounding it. Symptoms are typically felt in the mid back, sometimes between or around the shoulder blades and may be located centrally, on one side or on both sides of the spine. Or if this is completely normal when you have a herniation in your spine. The foramen are important passageways that are normally open, allowing nerve roots to exit . Healthy discs work like shock absorbers to cushion the spine. An epidural steroid injection can hasten improvement. My question is, is this something that needs to be diligently monitored? 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. But this condition appears when there is some severe problem in the T5-T6 disc. & if it affects our brain like that, it makes COMPLETE sense why we would be getting anxiety like this! There are 12 thoracic spinal nerve root pairs (two at each thoracic vertebral level), starting at vertebral level T1-T2 and going down to T12-L1. Severe lower abdominal or pelvic discomfort and difficulty initiating urination are potential symptoms of urinary retention. In these cases, surgery is needed right away. The thoracic spine (i.e. Patients may eventually report sensations of pins, needles, and numbness. With the patient on his or her side, the surgeon cuts a small opening through the ribs on the side of the thorax (the chest). Also, patients commonly feel a band of pain that goes around the front of the chest. I highly recommend Dr. Corenman and the Steadman Clinic. As mentioned before, compression of the nerve root due to central disc protrusion produces symptoms such as: Radiating pain along the nerve path. The most common cause of thoracic back pain is inflammation of the muscles or soft tissues of the thoracic spine. Its on again/off again. Third is the Yoga asanas. Stage 1 ruptures may improve on their own after a few days. Tell him or her if you have had any recent injuries. Imagine a vanilla slice wrapped in five layers of sandwich wrap. Keep your eyes and nose facing forwards. I don't know if it's because I am hyper aware of what is going on and it's my anxiety? This procedure locks the vertebrae in place and stops movement between the vertebrae. your so right .. i have 3 slipped discs with the thorasic disc causing me alot of anxiety its so easy for doctors to dismiss your anxiety and say simply"live with it ", learning to live with any condition is half the battle however from being a healthy person to someone with a health condition is a tough transition period. Thoracic disc herniations are mainly caused by wear and tear in the disc. For instance, I will feel it in my back but then also around my chest area and even under my arm sometimes as well. If you would like to link to this article on your website, simply copy the code below and add it to your page: Return to the top of Thoracic Disc Bulge. 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. The camera allows the surgeon to see the area where he or she is working on a TV screen. Expect at least six months before the symptoms are significantly better. !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 ! 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. Read our editorial policy. You're so right. I am glad you feel good! And in some cases the severe herniated disc may remain silent and only diagnosed incidentally during screening of the rest of the spine. This opens a space for the surgeon to work. Ligaments are strong connective tissues that attach bones to other bones. Numbness or tingling in areas of one or both legs. Herniations in the upper part of the thoracic spine can radiate pain and other sensations into one or both arms. Thoracic discs are located between the base of your neck and your lower back. 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 ). The only thing which temporarily resolves the muscle tightness is heat, followed by massage. Low back pain. However, they may be underdiagnosed due to subtle or unspecific symptoms such as chest pain. When treatment is well under way, regular visits to the therapist's office will end. Patients who stay in the hospital may be visited by a physical therapist soon after surgery. Thus panchakarma is twofold- local and generalised. Is the MRI report innocent enough like my orthopedic states? Well that's not reality. The spinal cord is similar to a long wire made up of millions of nerve fibers. Heavy feeling in the upper extremities. Usually symptoms show first in the lumbar spine before they . 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! Neural exit foramina and spinal canal adequate. Veritas Health, LLC, 520 Lake Cook Road, Suite 350, Deerfield, IL, 60015. This almost never happens with the size of disc herniation you have. Login Now. A disc is hard on outer side and soft like jelly inside. Your doctor will probably have a physical therapist direct your rehabilitation program. Spine. I recently found out I have a bulging small herniation at T7-8 with slight cord flattening. Several factors may contribute to the development of a thoracic disc bulge. These include questions about where you feel pain, if you have numbness or weakness in your arms or legs, and if you are having any problems with bowel or bladder function. 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. 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. This might include one to two days of bed rest, since lying on your back can take pressure off sore discs and nerves. Myelography is a kind of X-ray test. 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. Doctors usually have their patients try nonoperative treatment for at least six weeks before considering surgery. M51.24 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes. But what if the herniation is getting worse and will end up in paralysis? In these instances, the disc has normally been subject to repetitive or prolonged bending, slouching or lifting forces leading up to the incident. Categorized as minimally invasive surgery, VATS is thought to be less taxing on patients. Our clinical information meets the standards set by the NHS in their Standard for Creating Health Content guidance. The therapist will continue to be a resource. The herniated disc may press on your nerves or spinal cord. Thankfully, the thoracic spine is heavily protected by the rib cage, so it is much harder to damage and feel pain in this area than in the sections of the cervical or lumbar spine.Subluxations are still possible, however. A small disc herniation at T5-6 can cause three different types of symptoms. A thorough subjective and objective examination from a physiotherapist is usually sufficient to diagnose a thoracic disc bulge. He is an M.D. Your doctor will ask questions about your symptoms and how your problem is affecting your daily activities. Last updated on Feb 6, 2023. When there is some disturbance in the kyphotic arrangement of the thoracic region, it impacts the T5-T6 disc. The lowest vertebra of the thoracic spine, T12, connects below the bottom of the rib cage to the first vertebra of the lumbar spine, called L1. The surgeon watches the TV screen while cutting and removing damaged portions of the disc. These feelings are so bizarre to me. Investigations such as an MRI or CT scan may be required to confirm diagnosis. Hold for 2 seconds and perform 10 repetitions provided the exercise does not cause or increase symptoms. Posts: 9. Long-Distance Consults & Medical Legal: 888-888-5310, Request a Diagnostic or Surgical Second Opinion. Your pain worsens even after you take medicine. The mechanism of most spinal cord injuries is spinal fracture or dislocation. These injuries are repaired with scar tissue. Posted Normally, this pain will disappear over time. But patients are in charge of doing their exercises as part of an ongoing home program. The discs lose their elasticity and thickness, and while the thoracic spine is the least likely segment of the spine to suffer such changes, it does occur. In the thoracic spine, this condition mostly affects people between 40 and 60 years old. The images provide more information about calcified discs. Viewing 2 posts - 1 through 2 (of 2 total). The T3-4 posterior bulge presses upon the pain sensitive anterior surface of the dural tube and there is moderate desiccation of the T2-3, T3-4, T6-7 and T7-8 thoracic discs. Anatomy and Function of the Spine. Thoracic disc injury, first described in 1838, is an uncommon site of injury owing to the stabilizing effect of the rib cage. There are common symptoms-. Thoracic disc herniation occurs when a thoracic disc bulges out from between your vertebrae. Fusion surgery is not usually needed if only a small amount of bone and disc material was removed during surgery to fix a herniated thoracic disc. Transthoracic describes the approach used by the surgeon. In: Canale ST, Beaty JH, ed. This has led some doctors to suggest that thoracic disc herniations not causing symptoms are normal. Chiropractic, massage, physical therapy, medications and epidural injections (rarely facet injections) are the treatment options. 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!!!!! But it always gets better. I'm wondering if maybe that's why my anxiety has been so heightened, because of what has really been going on. 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). Immediately, the pain began resolving, and she was pain free and off her medications within several weeks. Your physiotherapist can advise when it is appropriate to begin the Initial Exercises and eventually progress to the Intermediate, Advanced and Other exercises. I need some opinionsI feel like I'm going absolutely bonkers. Then the doctor examines you to see which back movements cause pain or other symptoms. See Upper Back Pain from Intercostal Muscle Strain. However, most doctors advise against strict bed rest and prefer their patients do ordinary activities, using pain to gauge how much activity is too much. He is the founder of the Sukhayu Ayurved and working with patients clinically since last 15 years. Although people often refer to a thoracic disc herniation as a slipped disc, the disc doesn't actually slip out of place. T12 is where the thoracic and lumbar spine meet. Patients with a thoracic disc bulge may experience a sudden onset of back pain during the causative activity, however, it is also common for patients to experience pain and stiffness after the provocative activity, particularly the next morning.. Any condition that takes up extra space inside this canal can injure the spinal cord. However, unless your condition is affecting the spinal cord or is rapidly getting worse, most doctors will begin with nonsurgical treatment. Sections T9 - T12 are known as transitional vertebrae because of their proximity and similarity to the lumbar vertebrae. 5 users are following. Thus you need to follow a complete regime of Yoga Asanas to what our experts will teach to you. Compression fractures of the spine generally occur from too much pressure on the vertebral body. I highly recommend Dr. Corenman and the Steadman Clinic. The second base of theAyurvedic Treatment for T5-T6 slip disc is Panchakarma. If the annulus tears near the spinal canal, the nucleus pulposus material can push into the spinal canal. Get Veritas Health Newsletters delivered to your inbox. Extreme hot or cold temperatures of hand. The intervertebral disc is a specialized connective tissue structure that separates the vertebral bodies. Pain is one of the primary symptoms of degenerative thoracic spine disease. Never have I had any other pain and the tightness in flexion, really does not hurt, simply feels extraordinarly tight. The main aim is to restore the natural functioning of the body as well as the local muscles. So in transthoracic decompression, the surgeon operates through the chest cavity to reach the injured disc. Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Because these are the Doshas, which are responsible for all the diseases according to Ayurveda. So I assume this is all coming from the spine, just as you had said. Muscle weakness. Each thoracic spinal nerve is named for the vertebra above it. Iron Neck for chronic pain caused by foraminal stenosis? video assisted thoracoscopy surgery (VATS). This is a detailed X-ray that lets doctors see the body's tissue in images that also look like slices. Obtain Long Term Pain Relief. As soon as he touched the bulge it exploded like a 'pimple'. Though he only looked at my films and did not read my report. The patient may experience pain radiating around the ribs and into the chest, or sometimes down the arms. 5. yu R, Chang H, Tang L, et al. Some of the most commonly recommended products by physiotherapists to hasten healing and speed recovery in patients with this condition include: To purchase physiotherapy products forthis conditionclick on one of the above links or visit the PhysioAdvisor Shop. 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. These symptoms may vary from individual to individual. The pressure on the nerves can cause the muscles to spasm and feel tight. Unlike the upper parts of the thoracic region- T4-T5 and T5-T6; T6-T7 region is more exposed to disc problems. PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. 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. Surgical removal of the tumors is typically the best and most efficient method for long-term care. Symptoms are typically felt in the mid back, sometimes between or around the shoulder blades and may be . Small incisions give passage for other instruments used during the surgery. A small disc herniation at T5-6 can cause three different types of symptoms. Seeing a herniated thoracic disc on MRI is often incidental, meaning it shows up when the person has MRI testing for another problem. Thoracic back pain may be exacerbated when coughing or sneezing. Re: T5-T6 Herniated Disc Extrusion. Because T5 nerve which emerges from the T5-T6 region also supply to the internal organs, thus these can cause some problems deep inside too. We are all different so wether we have the same health issues as others or not . The center, called the nucleus, is spongy. 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. Discs are spongy cushions between the vertebrae in your spine. About 8 weeks ago, I noticed a twinge in my mid-back but did not modifiy my exercise routine. If the disc presses on the spinal cord itself, the discomfort can also . i was so confused and lost about which procedure i should treat my back pain with.Dr.Corenman is just so kind to make time from his schedule to help me :')!