A small disc herniation at T5-6 can cause three different types of symptoms. Never have I had any other pain and the tightness in flexion, really does not hurt, simply feels extraordinarly tight. You have severe headaches when you hold your head in certain positions. How should it be, it should be like that- this is the Ayurvedic approach of treatment, when it comes to Ayurvedic treatment of slip disc at any level. Next Page: Although people often refer to a thoracic disc herniation as a slipped disc, the disc doesn't actually slip out of place. appropriate medical assistance immediately. To understand the mechanism of a thoracic disc bulge, it is useful to liken the disc to a vanilla slice. 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. Is the MRI report innocent enough like my orthopedic states? Stage 1 ruptures may improve on their own after a few days. Patients who stay in the hospital may be visited by a physical therapist soon after surgery. Pain is one of the primary symptoms of degenerative thoracic spine disease. To relieve pain and pressure from a herniated disk near the neck, people can try the following exercise: Sit upright in a chair and move the chin toward the chest, then back . Spinal cord injuries are usually classified based on the spinal nerve root level where function is reduced or completely lost. 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. Another option for immobilizing the back is a back support brace worn for up to one week. The symptoms of a herniated disc in the thoracic area usually include: Pain that travels around the body and into one or both legs. Generally, they should be performed provided they do not cause or increase symptoms. These symptoms typically follow a pattern as noted above, based on the affected nerve roots location and functions. Unlike a standard herniated or bulging disc that expands frontward or to either side, a central disc protrusion or herniation expands backward (posterior . muscle tightness is also a common symptom of a herniated disc. This inflammation can occur for a number of reasons: A sudden sprain or strain (as in car accidents or sports injuries). 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 ). Pain is one of the primary symptoms of degenerative thoracic spine disease. Patients progress with exercises to improve endurance, muscle strength, and body alignment. During recovery from surgery, patients should follow their surgeon's instructions about wearing a back brace or support belt. Spinal cord injuries in the thoracic region are rare due to the rib cage protecting 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. There are two major categories of disc disease, Type I and Type II. Rehabilitation after surgery is more complex. The main problem is not in the change in the disc. This usually results from a combination of bending forward . T6, T7, and T8 can feed into the chest and/or down into the abdomen. Herniations in the upper part of the thoracic spine can radiate pain and other sensations into one or both arms. The medical term for fusion is arthrodesis. All rights reserved. Read our editorial policy. You're so right. 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. Viewing 2 posts - 1 through 2 (of 2 total). I am glad you feel good! The discs in your spine act as cushions between the vertebrae, and they can herniate, or bulge, and put pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. Your doctor will ask questions about your symptoms and how your problem is affecting your daily activities. Luckily the arm pain and tingling has gone away, I think PT is helping me for sure. Related Document: A Patient's Guide to Thoracic Spine Anatomy. Repeat 4 5 times daily. My question is, is this something that needs to be diligently monitored? 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). That subsided and it was never investigated. 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). 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. In rare cases when symptoms do arise, the main concern is whether the herniated disc is affecting the spinal cord. Thoracic disc herniations. Veterinary neurologists classify ruptured discs into five stages. This gives the complete solution of the problem by working on the condition. You begin leaking urine or bowel movement, and it is not normal for you. T9, T10, . This website is the stand out source for me. Thoracic disc herniations are mainly caused by wear and tear in the disc. The mechanism of most spinal cord injuries is spinal fracture or dislocation. Patients with a thoracic disc bulge often experience pain that is worse first thing in the morning. I have been reviewed by an orthopaedic spine specialist and he has said that there is nothing in my MRI films that alarms him or warrants surgery. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Mosby; 2013:1524-58. The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records. The main aim is to restore the natural functioning of the body as well as the local muscles. Other intervertebral disc displacement, thoracic region. The thoracic spine starts at the base of the neck. Neurological Symptoms: Bulging discs are also known to cause tingling or "pins and needles" sensations in one or both legs. A thorough subjective and objective examination from a physiotherapist is usually sufficient to diagnose a thoracic disc bulge. Given the circumstances, disc extrusions are largely unpreventable and may heal on their own without surgery. Spine. Lumbar, or lower back. Copyright 2023 Leaf Group Ltd., all rights reserved. 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. The brain exchanges electrical signals with the rest of the body via the spinal cord. But it always gets better. Find a Physiotherapist in your local area who can treat a bulging thoracic disc. As patients recover, they gradually begin doing flexibility exercises for the hips and shoulders. The average time to diagnose a thoracic herniated disc is usually 4 to 6 months. Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Great advice..I herniated a disc T8..T9..17 years agoFlares up once a while with tightness around right side of ribsWhen those muscles tighten..my right leg feels tightno pain..no weakness..what becomes of that disc . For people who do have symptoms, the symptoms tend to improve over time. The patient underwent a mini-open thoracotomy with right T7 rib head resection, T6-T7 partial corpectomy, T6-T7 microdiscectomy, and T6-T7 instrumented fusion using rib autograft with lateral plate and screws. This may include further investigations such as an X-ray, CT scan or MRI, pharmaceutical intervention, assessment from a specialist or sometimes surgery. Neurosurg Clin N Am. Overtime or suddenly, this may tear several layers of connective tissue at the back of the disc resulting in a disc bulge. 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 :')! https://patient.info/forums/discuss/thoracic-disc-herniation-are-these-symptoms-normal--541992. Makes complete sense. Pain that increases when bending or turning your neck. If the annulus tears near the spinal canal, the nucleus pulposus material can push into the spinal canal. . said it is unrelated to my disc injury. However, when an arthritic process, ligamentous hypertrophy or intervertebral herniation takes up some of the space inside the canal, possible symptoms may result. The thoracic spine (i.e. (Costo means rib.) Problems with sensory perception can also show up as a result of nerve compression by a herniated disc. Advocates also believe that this type of surgery is easier to perform, prevents scarring around the nerves and joints, and helps patients recover more quickly. We want the forums to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the forums are Patient aims to help the world proactively manage its healthcare, supplying evidence-based information on a wide range of medical and health topics to patients and health professionals. Saad Mohammad, M.D., is currently in the process of applying to residency anesthesiology. 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. . Imagine a vanilla slice wrapped in five layers of sandwich wrap. In these cases, surgery is needed right away. Radiating pain may be perceived to be in the chest or belly, and this leads to a quite different diagnosis that will need to . Numbness in the legs and/or the feet. I am ok most days but my spine is very oversensitive along the bony parts, and even my bra strap hurts it sometimes. 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. Obtain Long Term Pain Relief. 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. All rights reserved. Symptoms depend on where and how big the disc herniation is, where it is pressing, and whether the spinal cord has been damaged. A herniated disc can cut off the blood supply to the spinal cord. Symptoms of T6-T7 herniated disc. Since I've never dealt with this before, I obviously don't know. The herniated disc compresses the spinal cord, leading to sensory and/or motor problems in the corresponding compressed area and below. The careless attitude and sedentary lifestyle when meet together this condition of T5-T6 appears more frequently. When there is some disturbance in the kyphotic arrangement of the thoracic region, it impacts the T5-T6 disc. They normally don't show the discs, unless one or more of the discs have calcified. Thank you in advance for taking the time to help me. Thus panchakarma is twofold- local and generalised. 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. This test has shown doctors that many people without symptoms have thoracic disc herniations. The goal is to safely advance strength and function. An L1/L2 herniation is an especially common type of disc herniation. I'm wondering if maybe that's why my anxiety has been so heightened, because of what has really been going on. 1993; 4: 75-90. This referred pain is able to be felt all around the body and sometimes affect one or both legs. 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? another cause is the nerves in the intercostal muscle which can . Muscle relaxants may be prescribed if the back muscles are in spasm. If this single vessel is damaged, as can happen with pressure from a herniated thoracic disc, the spinal cord has no other way to get blood. A crushing or tight band like pain. Kerezoudis P , Rajjoub KR, Goncalves S, et al. Therapy treatments focus on relieving pain, improving back movement, and fostering healthy posture. Incontinence in severe cases. Tingling or numbness is felt in the hands, arms, feet or legs. Typically, however, patients take approximately 2 to 3 weeks to push their disc back in. Drugs.com provides accurate and independent information on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products. If you recognize any of the symptoms of thoracic hemangioma in yourself, or if you have been . However, unless your condition is affecting the spinal cord or is rapidly getting worse, most doctors will begin with nonsurgical treatment. I highly recommend Dr. Corenman and the Steadman Clinic. Intervertebral discs are spongy cushions located between the vertebrae (bones) of the spine. The T5-T6 slip disc condition appears due to the injury/trauma or due to regular practice of wrong posture. It helps a doctor see if the disc is pushing into the spinal canal. Trouble bending or twisting your . But what if the herniation is getting worse and will end up in paralysis? At first, your doctor may recommend immobilizing your back. 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. Upgrade to Patient Pro Medical Professional? Hold for 5 seconds and repeat 10 times provided there is no increase in symptoms. Like other discs, T5-T6 slip disc also involves a process of the degeneration. Diagnosis begins with a complete history and physical examination. 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. Until unless the compression is not severe in this region. Your doctor will probably have a physical therapist direct your rehabilitation program. Learn How Bone Growth Therapy Can Help You, Get a Comprehensive Evaluation from Mayo Clinic's Spine Care Experts. 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. I was always treated with respect and explained everything throughly, that made it easy for everyone to understand. The main thing in this level is- if there will be some problem in this place, pain and discomfort will radiate in the lower middle back. Join the Thoracic Spine Discussion Group! There is nothing normal about what's going on in are body , while it may be common it certainly is not normal. The pain is usually located in the upper back, corresponding to the location of the thoracic spine, or can be felt along the ribs if a nerve exiting the spinal cord is compressed by the disc. Thoracic disc herniation occurs when a thoracic disc bulges out from between your vertebrae. This site is for educational purposes only; no information is intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. This wear and tear is known as degeneration. Small incisions give passage for other instruments used during the surgery. A rise in the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has led to the discovery that many people, perhaps as many as 15 percent of Americans, have a thoracic disc herniation. oh i'm only . Surgeons may use a combination of screws, cables, and rods to prevent the vertebrae from moving and allow the graft to heal. Risk factors for developing disc changes include older age, obesity, lack of exercise and lifting heavy loads. The test does not require dye or a needle. T3 vertebrae: the pectoral area in the chest. 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. Patients are normally seen a few times each week for four to six weeks. This takes pressure off the spinal cord (decompression). When this happens, the muscles served by these nerves may weaken and lose sensation. If the disc presses on the spinal cord itself, the discomfort can also cause gait and posture changes. Surgeons may recommend surgery if patients aren't getting better with nonsurgical treatment, or if the problem is becoming more severe. The MRI machine uses magnetic waves rather than X-rays to show the soft tissues of the body. Much like cervical spine injuries, damage to the thoracic spine may be characterized as complete or incomplete, and . This is the most common symptom and could indicate an issue in the lumbar region. I had pins and needles in my mid back along with some burning pain. Where you feel a lump sensation in your throat, mucus as well & it affects your throat mainly) more so than stomach pains as of now but I do have pain that travels randomly. Not surprisingly, most thoracic disc herniations occur in this area. Hello Dr. Corenman, When it comes to T5-T6 disc herniations, the symptoms are not aggressive. These are a result of the disc impinging on, and possibly causing damage to, the motor nerves that leave the spine. T5-T6 disc is in the middle of the thoracic spine. Thoracic, the middle of the back. 5. yu R, Chang H, Tang L, et al. When the CT scan is performed, the myelography dye highlights the spinal cord and nerves. Symptoms. not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in Have you been getting stabbing pains in the chest area? Perhaps because my spine and nerves are all screwy basically, like you said I do get anxiety! Some patients leave the hospital shortly after surgery. !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 ! It is our goal to provide the highest level of care and service to our patients. Mild thoracic disc herniation may not cause any signs or symptoms. 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 Posts: 9. This condition can appear from just a simple condition like- degenerative disc disease. However, they may use myelography and CT scans when preparing to do surgery to fix a herniated thoracic disc. Schmorl's nodes are commonly seen in the upper lumbar spine and are often discovered incidentally on imaging studies. This can, in turn, result in immense pain and loss of feeling. A disc extrusion, also known as a disc herniation, usually occurs from degeneration due to a disease like osteoarthritis or the natural aging process. Causes of Upper Back Pain Video. Among these diseases To set the slipped disc to normal is one. Pain that travels to your shoulder, arm and sometimes your hand and fingers. Others say their leg or arm muscles feel weak. Doctors usually have their patients try nonoperative treatment for at least six weeks before considering surgery. Ideally, patients are able to go back to their previous activities. A small disc herniation at T5-6 can cause three different types of symptoms. Before MRI, doctors relied mainly on myelography to diagnose thoracic disc herniations. (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). As mentioned before, compression of the nerve root due to central disc protrusion produces symptoms such as: Radiating pain along the nerve path. If the disc presses on the spinal cord itself, the discomfort can also . The pain may be centered over the injured disc but may spread to one or both sides of the mid-back. A rise in the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has led to the discovery that many people, perhaps as many as 15 percent of Americans, have a thoracic disc herniation.Seeing a herniated thoracic disc on MRI is often incidental, meaning it shows up when the person has MRI testing for another problem.. Few people with a thoracic disc herniation feel any symptoms or have any . 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. You may also need any of the following: Your healthcare provider may have you rest in bed for a few days. 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. Neural exit foramina and spinal canal adequate. When it comes to T5-T6 disc herniations, the symptoms are not aggressive. However, some surgeries require patients to stay in the hospital for a few days. 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. If your radiculopathy is being caused by foramen narrowing or a herniated disc, treatment will likely involve a combination of rest, anti-inflammatory medications and targeted physical therapy . Your provider may look at your spine and feel for any abnormal areas. This process surely appears in everybody because of the process of age. These injuries are repaired with scar tissue. Egton Medical Information Systems Limited. Thank you for choosing Dr. Corenman as your healthcare provider. Occasionally, thoracic disc bulges may occur following a trivial movement involving bending forward such as picking up a small object or sneezing. I did have nerve pain radiating along the side but that went away a while ago, and now If I sleep on my back or sit in the car too long against the chair the damaged bits get aggravated and flare up, and there will be a larger circumference of irritation and burning until it settles down and the next episode of aggravation & burning occurs. The spinal cord is normally protected within the spinal canal. Several factors may contribute to the development of a thoracic disc bulge. There are common symptoms-. In patients with the perfect balance of activities, the thoracic disc may be pushed into position in as little as three days. Unfortunately. It found a herniated disc between T5-T6..specifically from the report "Central, r para central disc protrusion, at T5/T6, cord contact, but no abnormality of the cordcanal at 1.05 CM.". video assisted thoracoscopy surgery (VATS). . Already a member? As soon as he touched the bulge it exploded like a 'pimple'. 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. 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. I highly recommend Dr. Corenman and the Steadman Clinic. For example, a disc called the T5-6 disc would be located between the 5th and 6 thoracic vertebrae. A Patient's Guide to Thoracic Spine Anatomy, A Patient's Guide to Scheuermann's Disease. A herniated disc occurs when the actual intervertebral disc in the spine ruptures or shifts out of place. The T5-T6 slip disc condition appears due to the injury/trauma or due to regular practice of wrong posture. If you were now to pinch the front of that vanilla slice, you could imagine, the custard would squeeze towards the back of the vanilla slice and may tear two or three layers of sandwich wrap at the back of the vanilla slice. Spondylosis. The second base of theAyurvedic Treatment for T5-T6 slip disc is Panchakarma. He is an M.D. 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. When you say disc herniations t5, t6, t7 you likely have 3 or possibly just 2 disc herniations in the thoracic spine. In addition, there is a Schmorl's node in the superior endplate of the T6 vertebral body where disc material has herniated through a fracture in the endplate. It isn't clear why a problem thoracic disc sometimes hardens from calcification, though past injury of the disc is one possibility. They typically get affected when the disc is directly impinging on the spinal cord itself, and are usually indications for more serious treatment, such as surgery. In Panchankarma for treatment of T5-T6 disc herniation. Just my opinion. You must be logged in to reply to this topic. Notes on Thoracic disc herniation are these symptoms normal? T3, T4 and T5 - These lead into the chest wall and help regulate breathing. Many years ago an osteopath pressed on my thoracic spine and i felt/heard a pop. Thoracic back pain may be exacerbated when coughing or sneezing. Available for Android and iOS devices. As patients recover, they gradually advance in a series of strengthening exercises. The therapist will continue to be a resource. 5 users are following. These stabbing pains in my chest area have been relentlesson and off but absolutely ongoing. 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. To our knowledge, this is the first description of a herniated thoracic disc presenting as the pain of chronic pancreatitis. Doctors closely monitor patients with symptoms from a thoracic disc herniation, even when the size of the herniation is small. For instance, I will feel it in my back but then also around my chest area and even under my arm sometimes as well. In these instances, the disc has normally been subject to repetitive or prolonged bending, slouching or lifting forces leading up to the incident. Discs are spongy cushions between the vertebrae in your spine. Diseases of the thoracic spine may lead to thoracic disc herniation. Many people have no symptoms from a herniated disk. 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. Do I just wait this out? Cervical spine disc desiccation causes neck pain, while lumbar disc desiccation will cause pain in the lower back . It is nice to hear some good news on this site! The symptoms of desiccation depend on the area of the spine that is affected. The surgeon watches the TV screen while cutting and removing damaged portions of the disc. When there are signs that the herniated disc is affecting the spinal cord, surgery may be required, sometimes right away. respect of any healthcare matters. Operating from the back of the spine, the surgeon takes out a small section on the end of two or more ribs where they connect to the spine.