Question
MRI Reports: There is a disc protrusion/herniation at T5-T6. This is primarily a right paracentral disc protrusion. This also deforms the ventral cord. There is no central canal stenosis. There is no significant neuroforaminal narrowing.   

Can you please tell me what this means is terms that I can understand?

I do have very severe back symptoms, that I have had for a long time. I have had 2 surgeries already, but still no relief. I am still seeking treatment currently, but would like to know what these results mean in terms that I can understand.

My current symptoms are excruciating chest pain...associated with my back problems. The pain is in my upper thoracic area, wraps around my rib cages and causes pain, numbness, and tingling in my right arm. I also get some very severe pain on the right side of my back.    

I had spinal fusion surgery on my T8-T9 disc which they thought was the problem, but I got no relief. Then I had my hardware removed, and still have all the same pain. This pain is so bad I cannot work or function on a daily basis.   

I am wondering since my MRI reports that the herniation is primarily a right paracentral disc protrusion, if this could possibly be the disc that is causing my pain?    

It makes me wonder if possibly they fixed the wrong disc, since I got no relief from the first surgery.   All of my pain and symptoms match up with the area of where the T5-T6 disc is in the spine.    

The MRI also reports that it deforms the ventral cord. Does that mean the bulging disc is pushing on the spinal cord?   

Could that be what is causing the numbness and tingling in my right arm?   

Thanks again for any information you may be able to give me. I am just trying to get information and research this so that I know what kinds of questions to ask my Dr.

Thank you,
Dena Cline

Answer
Dear Dena,

Interpreting MRI reports is not my specialty; however, tingling and numbness generally indicate pressure on the nerve tracts that go to the areas of tingling and numbness.

Disc problems are commonly the result of excessive muscular tension causing pressure on discs and related nerves.

The surgery almost certainly did nothing to alleviate muscular contractions in the area, and that may be what your doctors are missing.

That's the clue that leads to the kinds of question you might ask.

To deal with reflexively held muscular tension is another issue, altogether.  May I suggest you read the articles on pain I have posted at somatics.com/page4.htm.


with regard,
Lawrence Gold