Thoracic back pain may be exacerbated when coughing or sneezing. Both of these signs were absent in our patients. Before The 2023 edition of ICD-10-CM M51.24 became effective on October 1, 2022. Son ES, Lee SH, Park SY, Kim KT, Kang CH, Cho SW: Surgical treatment of t1-2 disc herniation with t1 radiculopathy: A case report with review of the literature. Love JG, Kiefer EJ: Root pain and paraplegia due to protrusions of thoracic intervertebral disks. Careers. J Neurosurg. The arc begins in the hypothalamus and synapses in the intermediolateral gray substance at C8-T2 levels (ciliospinal center of budge). This is the T1 nerve root which originates from the T1-T2 region. symptoms with longer duration or unrelieved by conservative Conservative treatments are appropriate for T1T2 discs resulting in just mild radiculopathy (e.g. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1968. However, the onset of paralysis in this condition is gradual. Case description: Again, the specific symptoms of a cervical herniated disc will depend on the affected pinched nerves. J Neurosurg Spine. All the discs in the spine, have an inner soft part with harder shell outside. Herniated Disc Symptoms in the Lumbar Spine The most common symptom associated with a herniated disc in the lumbar spine is leg pain (also known as sciatica). Horner syndrome or oculosympathetic paresis is caused by interruption of the sympathetic nerve supply to the face and eye that manifests as facial anhidrosis, blepharoptosis, and miosis. Shortly after the postganglionic fibers leave the superior cervical ganglion, vasomotor and sudomotor fibers branch off to travel along the external carotid artery to innervate the blood vessels and sweat glands of the face. Rev Chir Orthop Reparatrice Appar Mot. See this image and copyright information in PMC. Before Pain can radiate in the upper 2nd and 3rd ribs , just below the shoulder joint. (d) Three-dimensional cervical computed tomography (CT) scan shows T1T2 and T3 screw rod fixation on the left side. (b) The disc space is a little bit above the manubrium line and cervicothoracic (CT) angle is 27. 2014 Oct;21(4):568-76. doi: 10.3171/2014.6.SPINE13682. (b) Axial view shows the posterolaterally located disc is on the left side. Sekhar LN, Jannetta PJ. . Postfixed brachial plexus radiculopathy due to thoracic disc herniation in a collegiate wrestler: a case report. Non-surgical treatment options for symptoms of a thoracic herniated disc will typically include one or a combination of the following: A short period of rest (e.g. Sebastian . Croat Med J. This condition can happen to anyone at any age but is more prevalent in older populations or with those who are involved in strenuous physical activity for extended periods of time. HHS Vulnerability Disclosure, Help Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a left-sided T1-T2 herniated disc compressing the T1 nerve root. Posterior approaches may utilize transfacet pedicle-sparing techniques, while the less frequent central/anterolateral discs may warrant anterior surgery. The patient understand that her name and initial will not be published and due efforts will be made to conceal their identity, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed. to maintaining your privacy and will not share your personal information without MRI best documents soft T1T2 thoracic discs, while computed tomography is typically optimal for calcified herniations. 1980. Posterior-only approach for the treatment of symptomatic central thoracic disc herniation regardless of calcification: A consecutive case series of 30 cases over five years. . Neurosurgical Developments on the Horizon, Leksell Gamma Knife Society Meeting Series, Dubai, 2018, Mayo Clinic Neuroscience Neurosurgery Lecture Series, http://surgicalneurologyint.com/surgicalint-articles/9301/, Pars Advanced and Minimally Invasive Medical Manners Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Negoveti L, Cerina V, Sajko T, Glavi Z. Intradural disc herniation at the T1-T2 level. In one case, a central disc fragment extended through the dura. [ 4 , 6 , 27 , 30 , 34 ] However, for central T1T2 disc herniations, resulting in significant myelopathy, anterior surgery may be warranted (e.g., the low cervical-manubrium method and/or limited sternal splitting procedures). C8 root pathology will result in weakness in all three of these muscles with manual muscle testing. A pinched nerve may cause pain in the back or chest at the first rib, or pain in the ring and/or pinky fingers. Conclusion: Adjacent-segment degeneration after cervical spine fusion may rarely occur even at T1-T2, and the unusual symptoms of a T1 . Sharan AD, Przybylski GJ, Tartaglino L. Approaching the upper thoracic vertebrae without sternotomy or thoracotomy:A radiographic analysis with clinical application. Glaser J. Neuro-Ophthalmology, ed 1. Luk KD, Cheung KM, Leong JC. Vaidya Ji is well known for his specialisation in Ayurvedic treatment of different ailments. Love JG, Schorn VG: Thoracic-disk protrusions. Would you like email updates of new search results? Delineating the location of nerve compression begins with assessing sites of peripheral compression with physical examination. Maloney WF, Younge BR, Moyer NJ: Evaluation of the causes and accuracy of pharmacologic localization in Horner's syndrome. Yoon, Wai Weng, and Jonathan Koch. Background: The symptoms of a herniated disc in the thoracic area usually include: Pain that travels around the body and into one or both legs. Adults, 2019. NCHS Data Brief, Number 415,July 2021, July 2021. J Neurosurg Spine. Withawin Kesornsak, Kanthika Wasinpongwanich & Verapan Kuansongtham, Teresa Plancha da Silva, Marta Amaral Silva, Ftima Carvalho, Guillermo Alejandro Ricciardi, Ignacio Gabriel Garfinkel, Daniel Oscar Ricciardi, Kalyan Kumar Varma Kalidindi, Mayank Gupta & Harvinder Singh Chhabra, Lance L. Goetz, Sean McAvoy & Kate Zakrzewski, Kevin Hines, Karim Hafazalla, Jack Jallo. It can result from advanced disc degeneration or from vertebral body remodeling . A, Right parasagittal T1-, T2-, and STIR-weighted images that demonstrate a discrete fracture line through the pedicles of L4 bilaterally without pedicle marrow signal intensity changes (long arrow) and a less obvious fracture line on T1 images through the L5 pedicle with concomitant type 1 pedicle marrow changes (short arrows). (e) Axial CT scan shows a pedicle screw in an upper thoracic vertebra. J Indiana State Med Assoc. Arts MP, Bartels RH: Anterior or posterior approach of thoracic disc herniation? In this condition we work on the posture of the shoulders and neck all together. Preganglionic sympathetic neurons exit the spinal cord and ascend up the carotid sheath to the superior cervical ganglion at the level of the bifurcation of the common carotid artery. Well tell you how, why, and what you can do to treat a thoracic herniated disc if you have one and prevent them in the future. 1993. This displacement can cause inflammation and compression to the spinal nerves or spinal cord, resulting in pain and possible neurological deficits like tingling, numbness, or weakness somewhere down the nerve. AJR Am J Roentgenol 1980;134:184-185. For the former patient, cervicothoracic MRI showed a left centro-laterally disc at the T1T2 level. Practice short intervals of gentle exercise. 1998 Jan;88(1):148-50. doi: 10.3171/jns.1998.88.1.0148. Please enable it to take advantage of the complete set of features! J Neurosurg 1998;88:623-633. The incidence of a herniated disc may disrupt activities of daily living and sleep. posterolateral discs) and, in some cases, spontaneously resolved (2 of 36 cases). Surgery for T1T2 posterolateral herniated discs may require transfacet pedicle-sparing decompression with pedicle screw fixation. This process of desiccation starts due to the pressure on the spinal arteries. These all symptoms always confuse before the proper diagnosis of slip disc in D1-D2. A report of five cases. 84-A: 1013-7, 21. (e) Intraoperative clearance of the disc space from both hard disc and osteophytes. Thoracic herniated discs are less common than herniated discs in the neck or low back, but they do happen. by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. For example, T3 radiculopathy could radiate pain and other symptoms into the chest via the branch of the nerve root that becomes an intercostal nerve traveling along the route between the third and fourth ribs. Br J Neurosurg. She underwent T1-T2 anterior discectomy and fusion. Drawing showing the anatomy of the oculosympathetic pathway. Pain just below the spine of the scapula. Doctors order these vertebrae from C1 to C7, starting at the base of the skull and extending downward. (a) T2-weighted sagittal image demonstrating, (a) T2-weighted sagittal image demonstrating a disc herniation at T1T2 level with considerable, (a) T2-weighted sagittal magnetic resonance, (a) T2-weighted sagittal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the second case showing a, (a) T2-weighted sagittal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) shows T1T2 disc herniation. Approximately 75% of all thoracic disc herniations are seen below T8. (d) Axial T2-weighted axial view also confirms disappearance of the disc. T1-T2 disc herniation:Two cases. With cervical disc herniations, the nerve affected by the condition is the one that exits at that specific level of the spine. With age, the soft disks that act as cushions between your spines vertebrae wear down, dry out and/or shrink. MeSH 2002. 1. The presence of an accurate and reproducible radiologic description is essential for the success of any interventional therapy, in addition to disc removal. The main reason behind this is the inappropriate process of ageing. Symptomatic Lumbar Disc Herniation MadanMohanSahoo,MSOrth1,SudhirKumarMahapatra,DNBOrth1, Sheetal Kaur, MD1, Jitendra Sarangi, . Background: The authors conducted a 2-year retrospective follow-up to investigate the efficiency of an extraforaminal full-endoscopic approach with foraminoplasty used to treat lateral compressive diseases of the lumbar spine in 247 patients. A disc herniation is a significant cause or contributor of neck pain. Sometimes, there may be difficulty in breathing if the first rib or rib muscles are injured. Numbness or tingling. Recommended Reading: Heart Disease Symptoms In Dogs. Sympathetic fibers in the posterolateral hypothalamus pass through the lateral brain stem and synapse at the ciliospinal Center of Budge in the intermediolateral gray substance of the spinal cord at C8 to T2. Early experience treating thoracic disc herniations using a modified transfacet pedicle-sparing decompression and fusion. Bulge is a term for an image and can be a normal variant . a = artery, n = nerve. Protrusions of thoracic intervertebral disks. Am J Ophthalmol 1980;90:394-402. (g) Post-operative CT AP X-ray: shows the cage in T1T2 disc space. Early experience treating thoracic disc herniations using a modified transfacet pedicle-sparing decompression and fusion. 11: 499-501, 17. Logue V. Thoracic intervertebral disc prolapse with spinal cord compression. -. (d) Chest X-ray shows that T1T2 disc is a few mm above the manubrium. Study design: A retrospective clinical review of patients with thoracolumbar junction disc herniation. The symptoms of a herniated disc depends on either the size and position of the disc. 2010;12:22131. 1-3 The most affected area in the thoracic region is the T11-12 level. Proc Staff Meet Mayo Clin. Your back has many interconnected bones, nerves, muscles, ligaments and tendons that protect your spinal cord. Local MD says he is not fimilar with T1-2. Turbo spin-echo T1 and T2-weighted sagittal and turbo spin-echo T2 axial 4 mm sections parallel to the disc spaces were taken. 1995. She also works as an Adult and Pediatric Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner. Herniated Discs: When Is Surgery Necessary?. PMC Rahimizadeh A, Sami SH, Rahimizadeh S, Williamson WL, Amirzadeh M. Surg Neurol Int. The symptoms began as dull back pain, which the patient initially attributed to a muscle strain, but progressively worsened throughout a 24-hour period. Due to high occurrence of complications from open surgery, minimally invasive approaches are desirable. BMJ Case Rep. 2014 Jun 5;2014:bcr2014204820. On which side the compression is more symptoms will be according to that. Proc Staff Meet Mayo Clin 1954;29:375-378. (f) Postoperative T1-weighted MRI, at 3-year follow-up, note clearance of the cord. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Surgical Treatment of T1-2 Disc Herniation with T1 Radiculopathy: A Case Report with Review . Rahimizadeh A, Saghri M. Spontaneous resolution of sequestrated lumbar disc herniation:A prospective cohort study. Please try after some time. J Glob Spine J. High thoracic disc herniation. 6: 199-202. (e) Showing removal of the sequestrated disc fragment. Six weeks after surgery, the patient had complete resolution of his left-hand weakness and paresthesias, zero back pain, and some significant improvement in the ptosis and miosis (Figure 1, B). Intervertebral thoracic disk herniation is rare. 17. An orthopedic or neurologic physical therapist can customize a treatment plan of safe herniated disc exercises to help decrease pain, improve strength and posture, and increase mobility. J Athl Train. Degenerative changes of the spine is the same condition as spinal osteoarthritis, spondylosis and degenerative disk disease. JAAOS Global Research & Reviews2(11):e016, November 2018. Neurology. government site. Symptoms of thoracolumbar junction disc herniation. sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a federal Asian Spine J. (i) Postoperative T2-weighted MRI demonstrates the cage in T1T2 interspace. Neurosurgery. (h) Postoperative T2-weighted MRI: showing appropriate decompression of the spinal cord at T1T2 level. Stillerman CB, Chen TC, Couldwell WT, Zhang W, Weiss MH. Thoracic disc herniations are rare conditions compared with other disc herniations seen at cervical and lumbar spine levels. Symptoms characteristic of T1 disk herniation can often overlap with other maladies. (a) T2-weighted sagittal magnetic resonance imaging shows a T1T2 extruded disc migrated up. T1-T2 slip disc or disc protrusion is a common word for all these conditions. If the lower thoracic region is involved, a patient may encounter pain radiating to one or both lower extremities. Abbott KH, Retter RH. The fourth patient had an MR left-sided laterally located extruded disc at the T1T2 level managed nonsurgically [ Figure 4a and b ]. Upper back pain is usually attributed to minor injuries, such as muscle strain, sprain, poor posture, improper lifting, or twisting, but not often a herniated disc. Evid Based Spine Care J 2010;1:21-28. (e) Showing removal of the sequestrated disc fragment. C8 and T1 nerve roots compound both ulnar and median nerves.3 Therefore C8 and T1 radiculopathies . When we discuss about D1-D2 disc problem or T1-T2 disc problem, symptoms are more like- cervical disc herniation. Also Check: Symptoms Of Heartworm In Dogs. Within the spine itself there are also many other disorders that can have similar presenting symptoms of upper back pain and/or radiating pain, such as a spine fracture , infection, tumor, and certain metabolic disorders. Thoracic Disc Herniation: Surgical Treatment.. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. Shortly after the postganglionic fibers leave the superior cervical ganglion, vasomotor and sudomotor fibers branch off to travel along external carotid artery to innervate the blood vessels and sweat glands of the face. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 1991;16(10 suppl):S542-S547. If you are experiencing pain or others symptoms of a herniated thoracic disc, you should make an appointment to see your primary care doctor. The video can be found here1). 1956. Given the neurologic findings on examination, a cervical and thoracic MRI was obtained which revealed T1-T2 left paracentral disk extrusion with mild superior migration and left intraforaminal extension causing moderate left lateral recess stenosis and abutment of the left T1 nerve root (Figure 2). I have a severe pressure senstation in the area of the bulge and when I lay down I have the burning in my neck and also in my (L)arm. Apply an ice pack or cold compress to the affected area for 15- to 20-minute intervals every two hours. (a) T2-weighted sagittal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) shows T1T2 disc herniation. Vaidya Dr. Pardeep does it according to the scientific principles of Ayurveda. 6. Symptomatic thoracic disc herniation is uncommon and has been estimated to less than 0.75% of all symptomatic spinal disc herniations. After literature review, 39 cases of T1-2 disk herniation were discovered.1 Only seven of these cases presented with an associated Horner syndrome (Table 1). (c) Axial T2-weighted MRI shows a hyperintense disc on the left side. Specially in case of T1-T2 disc problem, age plays an important role. Disc herniation; T1T2 disc space; spontaneous resolution; sternal splitting approach; thoracic disc; upper thoracic disc herniation. Gelch MM. If any of the thoracic nerves become inflamed, such as from a thoracic herniated disc or a narrowing of the foramen, thoracic radiculopathy can develop with symptoms of pain, tingling, numbness, and/or weakness radiating along the nerve root. You May Like: Parvo Symptoms In Older Dogs. Kanno H, Aizawa T, Tanaka Y, et al. Surgical options will vary based on the size, type, and location of the injury, but the most common are. If the C8 nerve is compressed or irritated, additional symptoms may occur, such as: If the spinal cord is injured, the upper and/or lower limbs and the torso may be completely or partially paralyzed.2 There may also be changes in bowel and/or bladder functions. For example, you may feel pain in your neck, arms, hands, fingers, or parts of the shoulder. [ 3 , 6 , 19 , 28 , 30 , 34 ] Most thoracic disc herniations occur below the T8 level, and the majority are found at T11T12. Careful radiographic analysis is needed preoperatively to identify the upper limit of the sternum. You will not be suddenly and completely paralyzed by a herniated thoracic disc. Bethesda, MD 20894, Web Policies 19: 449-51, 3. When the pressure is increasing with the time and jelly starts moving towards the periphery of the disc, it causes several symptoms according the compression on the nerve roots. On examination, she had lower extremity hyperreflexia, an abnormal gait, and lower lumbar pain but lacked any radicular findings. On postoperative day 1, the patient reported improvement in his left-sided radiating back pains, partial return of sensation along the left medial forearm, and hand with some mild persistent paresthesias. The spurs may cause narrowing of the spinal canal and impinge on the spinal cord. Surgery should occur only when objective findings of structural defects are correlated with the patients symptoms and signs. 1998 Jan;88(1):148-50. doi: 10.3171/jns.1998.88.1.0148. This fact is most likely explained by the restricted mobility and facet orientation of the thoracic spine. For more information, please refer to our Privacy Policy. This is a rarest condition in case of all thoracic discs, but can appear in this reason due to trauma. 1. 49: 599-606, 23. The patient was then discharged from the emergency center with oral methylprednisolone and follow-up with an orthopaedic spine surgeon. Epub 2017 Apr 6. Radiation of pain in the upper arm on the front side. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Osteoarthritis appeared to be the predominant cause of the disc herniation in both patients. Generally speaking, most neurosurgeons will advise against surgery if you are not experiencing pain or symptoms. Most studies report improvement in pain and neurologic dysfunction, but Horner syndrome can be refractory to surgical decompression.12,18 Similarly, our patient at 6 weeks postoperative had resolution of his pain, motor, and sensory deficits but persistent Horner syndrome at nine months postoperatively. eCollection 2019. 1960. The first reported case was in 1945; since then, only 31 additional cases have been published. Horner syndrome or oculosympathetic paresis is evident because of interruption of sympathetic nerve supply to the eye, which consists of a 3-neuron pathway. Protrusions of thoracic intervertebral disks. 2001. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). Because this nerve root is the part of the brachial plexus. This is the reason in few reports it is mentioned as D1-D2 region also. Your spine is made up of 33 vertebrae divided into five different segments, which are listed below in order from your head to your legs: 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. So the treatment is dependent on the following parameters-. A standard posterior approach with laminoforaminotomy and diskectomy was done. Morgan H, Abood C. Disc herniation at T1-2. The most common symptom of a thoracic herniated disc is pain. Experiencing pain in your thoracic region could be due to many conditions that can affect these tissues, including: More common causes of thoracic spine pain that directly involve your spinal column include: Conditions that specifically affect your vertebrae, spinal cord and/or nerve roots in your thoracic spine, include: Other conditions that can affect any region of your spine, including your thoracic region, include: You may have had a medical exam that revealed an underlying health problem. The symptoms of T1-T2 slip disc are-. Careers. Upper thoracic spine arthroplasty via the anterior approach. J Orthop Sci. Compression fractures are especially common in the lower thoracic area, and they often result from osteoporosis and mild trauma. 48: 710-5, 18. (c) Manubrium line and cervicothoracic (CT) angle on T2-weight magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): manubrium line intersects T2 vertebral body near to T2T3 disc, CT angle is about 38. Weakness with finger abduction results from C8 radiculopathy and/or peripheral ulnar nerve entrapment. Hann EC. If you begin to experience symptoms, or if your mild symptoms like pain, radiculopathy, myelopathy become worse, it may be time to consider surgery. -, Bransford R, Zhang F, Bellabarba C, Konodi M, Chapman JR. . (c) Reconstructed sagittal computed tomography (CT) scan of the CT region showing T1T2 hard disc, indicating that the compression, also note that CT angle is 10. It is important to understand the symptoms, causes, and treatments for a bulging disc to prevent the condition from worsening. (e) Axial CT scan shows a pedicle screw in an upper thoracic vertebra. -, Caner H, Kilinoglu BF, Benli S, Altinrs N, Bavbek M. Magnetic resonance image findings and surgical considerations in T1-2 disc herniation. 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. Clipboard, Search History, and several other advanced features are temporarily unavailable. By specifically examining these five muscles, one can differentiate between cubital tunnel syndrome, which leaves their motor strength intact, and C8-T1 radiculopathy. There is no charge to read or download any SNI content, but registering for a free membership will provide you with additional special features. A herniation here may cause pain at the back or chest around the first rib, or pain in the ring and/or pinky fingers. 1 Cervical pathologies causing these radiculopathies include herniated nucleus pulposus and cervical spondylosis. Nowadays, endoscopic techniques have become increasingly popular and full-endoscopic surgery can be performed in the thoracic spine . So when we provideAyurvedic treatment of T1-T2 slip disc we are careful about providing a proper solution. 2005. These disc problems in thoracic region remains silent in most of the case. Surgical approaches to thoracic disk herniations correlate with patient anatomy, location of nerve root compression, and surgeon familiarity. t1-2 disc herniation. (b) Sagittal, (a) T2-weighted sagittal magnetic resonance imaging shows a T1T2 extruded disc migrated up., MeSH (g) Post-operative CT AP X-ray: shows the cage in T1T2 disc space. 73: 598-9, 13. Arbit E. A surgical approach through the pedicle to protruded thoracic discs. Patients with cervical radiculopathy symptoms and physical examination findings consistent with Horner syndrome should be evaluated with a MRI that includes the upper thoracic spine. Rossitti S, Stephensen H, Ekholm S, von Essen C. The anterior approach to high thoracic (T1-T2) disc herniation. When Natalie is not working, you can find her gardening and taking care of her animals on her mini farm. High thoracic disc herniation. Management of Thoracic Disc Herniations via Posterior Unilateral Modified Transfacet Pedicle-Sparing Decompression With Segmental Instrumentation and Interbody Fusion. 8600 Rockville Pike She has 24 years of experience in various areas, including Trauma, Neuro, Orthopedics, Critical Care, Emergency and Perioperative nursing. 29: 375-8, 36. Keachie K, Shahlaie K, Muizelaar JP. The location of the pain depends on the location of the herniated disc. 12: 303-5, 31. (c) T2-weighted sagittal image shows complete resolution of the disc at 5-month follow-up. Massage and acupuncture can be useful in managing pain. Background:Symptomatic T1T2 disc herniations are rare and, in most cases, are located posterolaterally. Recommended Reading: Chronic Bronchitis Signs And Symptoms, A limited description of the specific lumbar spinal nerves includes: L1 innervates the abdominal internal obliques via the ilioinguinal nerve L2-4 innervates iliopsoas, a hip flexor, and other muscles via the femoral nerve L2-4 innervates adductor longus, a hip adductor, and other muscles via the obturator nerve L5. MR studies documented a soft central disc in one patient, and a calcified central disc in the second [Figures 1 and 2 ]. The T-1 radiculopathy usually involves weakness of the intrinsic muscles of the hand. The .gov means its official. Stillerman CB, Chen TC, Couldwell WT, Zhang W, Weiss MH: Experience in the surgical management of 82 symptomatic herniated thoracic discs and review of the literature. Increased reflexes in one or both legs that can cause spasticity in the legs. The tough outer layer (annulus fibrosus) loses elasticity with age, increasing the risk of tears that can result in herniation. Surgical repair carries a risk of complications, including worsening neurological outcomes due to the close proximity to the spinal cord. 1986;19:44951. Read Also: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms, Neck Pain, Cervical Disc Herniation & Radiculopathy-Everything You Need To Know Dr. Nabil Ebraheim, Herniated Disc Symptoms, (All You Need To Know To Cure), L3 Herniated Disc/Nerve Root Compression Evaluation, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms, Symptoms Of Ovarian Cysts After Hysterectomy, Magnetic resonance imaging is the best tool for observing and diagnosing problems with intervertebral discs, Other Imaging tests, such as X-ray or computed tomography may be used, but are not as accurate as MRI in diagnosing a herniated thoracic disc, Myelography, which involves injecting dye into the space around your spinal cord and taking X-ray or CT images to identify any narrowing in the spinal canal, Medical history to identify any accidents, pre-existing conditions, or trauma that may have caused an injury to your spine, Physical examination to record the type, severity, and location of your pain or other symptoms and draw conclusions about their cause, Sacrum, where the spine connects to the hips. All surgically treated patients recovered fully. Rossitti S, Stephensen H, Ekholm S, von Essen C: The anterior approach to high thoracic (T1-T2) disc herniation. Neurosurgery. 2009. This narrows the space between your vertebrae, causing certain issues. If the herniation occurs in the neck, for example, it can cause pain that radiates into the shoulder and arm; if it occurs in the lower back, the pain produced can radiate down into the hip and leg. Fortschr Neurol Psychiatr 2001;69:236-241. This distinction is made by David F. Fardon, MD, and Pierre C. Milette, MD in their Combined Task Forces of the North American Spine Society. The further down the spine the injury occurs, the greater chance for at least partial recovery. A large herniated disc can compress the spinal cord within the spinal canala condition called myelopathyresulting in numbness, tingling, and or weakness in one or both lower extremities, and sometimes bowel and bladder dysfunction, and in extreme cases, paralysis.