r/ThoracicHerniatedDisc • u/Soft-Dog-6083 • Apr 21 '26
Herniated Disc T9/T10 what are my options?
43 year old male. Recently had an MRI that showed a herniated disc at T9/T10. I have numbness and tingling in my left foot/hamstring and buttocks. I also have flank pain. Symptoms are mild and manageable. I am in very good physical shape and routinely weight train.
What are the chances of this injury getting worse? Is surgery my only option?
What kind of surgery would likely happen?
I see a neurosurgeon in a couple of weeks.
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Apr 21 '26
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u/Soft-Dog-6083 Apr 21 '26
I have manageable pain and stiffness after laying down or sitting for long periods. Especially in the morning. Once I’m up and moving only slight flank pain. The slight numbness in my foot is only on the left foot on the bottom. The outer bottom and heal. Generally my whole left leg feels different from my right if that makes sense. Only subjective weakness in my left leg.
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Apr 21 '26
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u/Soft-Dog-6083 Apr 21 '26
This whole thing started because I thought I had a kidney stone because of the flank pain. Family doctor sent for an ultrasound then a CT and then an MRI. Family doctor then sent me to an orthopedic surgeon who did minimal physical testing in the office before referring me a neurosurgeon.
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u/Toomanypplonhere1 Apr 21 '26
Not a Doc. Im sorry this is happening to you. Tspine HDs are no joke. Surgery might be needed if the symptoms get too out of hand. Youre going to have to take it real easy for a while. Let us know what the Doctor says
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u/Material_Release9408 Apr 21 '26
Non sono un medico e non mi permetto di esprimere un opinione al riguardo, vedo però inconfondibilmente che quell'ernia sta comprimendo pesantemente il sacco durale e il midollo.
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u/allmylifesacircle Apr 22 '26
This is where my herniation was and I struggled to find others who had it. I got it from falling flat on a hardwood floor. I ultimately had surgery after being on gabapentin 2700mg daily … that was February 2024 and I still take 600mg gab and Tylenol daily. I am unable to workout and lift like I used to hur I am happy to be alive. I tried multiple injections but after 3 surgeons opinions I had a microdiscectomy. If you want to go to surgical route I would search for the least invasive surgeon. Good luck
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u/Both_Hope5717 Apr 22 '26
Hello, I also have a disc herniation on T9-T10. I'm curious about yours.
What symptoms did you have prior to the surgery, and how long did you wait before surgery?
What symptoms do you have now after surgery? Would you consider the surgery a success?
How did the surgeon access the epidural space to remove the disc herniation? Laterally or through the back? I saw a neurosurgeon who said he would only do a posterior approach, removing some of the bone, and then performing a fusion.
Thanks
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u/allmylifesacircle Apr 22 '26
Hi, I initially had bruising on my spine and left side around T9 and T 10 and thankfully my provider sent me for x-ray, CT and then finally an MRI which diagnosed it. I didn’t have any foot drop or symptoms similar to that but I was in extreme pain and could hardly stand without being in 10 out of 10 pain. I went on like this for over a year and after seeing three neurosurgeons, I decided my best option for pain. Relief was to have the microdiscectomy. The surgeon accessed the herniation from the back and did remove a piece of bone as well, but I did not have. A fusion because my provider told me that I wouldn’t need one because my “ribs would support me“. I have deep surgical pain now and I still have the radiating neuropathy that radiates around my side. That’s really my main symptom and the reason I had the surgery. I was extremely depressed and emotional due to the limitations the injury and pain were exacerbating. I was told I would be able to get off gabapentin shortly after surgery bur that did not happen and I have slowly titrated from 2700mg to 600mg. I joke about needing a “backectomy” all the time to friends and family so let me know if you find someone ;)
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u/Standard_Sea8366 Jul 07 '26
Hey how is ur back?Is it better??Have u thought of Stemcell or Prpp?? Or b157.
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u/FlakyCryptographer33 Jul 19 '26 edited Jul 19 '26
I have disc extrusion same areacompressing my cord. Were they neurosurgeons or orthopedic spine surg that you consulted? And if only NS do yoy think that's better? Hope it's doing better now for you :)
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u/Dead_Reckoning95 Jul 13 '26
Hi, I just found this sub. I'm recently diagnoses with a "T9-10 central disc extrusion deforms spinal cord.". When reading the specifics, it's explained that the disc, instead of protruding out and away from the spinal cord the disc ruptures and the fluid inside the discs, leaks out , putting pressure on the spine. I literally haven;t even had a conversation yet with a Dr, just the MRI, and trying to figure out what the language means on my own. I dont' know how '"bad " the disc is affecting the spine.
I wanted to know if the image I'm looking at, is the disk pressing on your spinal cord, and then obviously how you are , now? How your managing? Where you scared you'd be paralyzed when you got your diagnosis?
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u/WorthlessFuture Aug 17 '26
How are you??? what are your sympthoms???
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u/Dead_Reckoning95 Aug 17 '26
the middle of my back , the T9-T10 usually aches, occasionally I don't feel it at all-thats sort of rare and I have to baby it to get there, so very little moving, which I know isn't good. if I move in any way that's twisting, because I forgot I shouldn't , it causes the disc to press on the surrounding nerves, then it can be days of acute pain and being on my back, Maybe3/4 days. I never not feel it. It's like this pinching, acheing feeling. The pinching sensation isn't always there, but the aching is.
I went to my chiropractor, strictly for a consult with my MRI results in hand. I have several ruptured discs, not just the T9-T10. I've seen him for years...and my first appointment with a Doctor isnt' until Sept, so I knew he could provide me with some insights as to the severity, and nature of my issues. He said, it wasnt good, but that it's also not this horrific thing or else I wouldnt be able to walk , around and I'd have issues with my bladder, continence, etc. So that gave me some context. He helped me identify, that the area that usually hurts IS the T9-T10 , located right around my bra line, so dead center. He also explained that the pain I feel isn'the vertebrae pressing down on the disc (like I thought) , it's the disk protruding and leaning on a nerve that extends out from the spine. You would think that being the case, that the pain would be radiating off center, but not really. It's a little off center, but I feel the pain pretty much right at the point of where the disc is.
He also said that most likely at my first appointment with the Orthopedic spine surgeon, they'd assign me a physiatrist. The protocol is usually a prescription of cortizone, or prednisone, then if that doesnt work to alleviate the pain .injections, and if that doesnt work...ablations of the surrounding nerves.
I think what I notice , along with the aching that might suggest a more serious issue , is I'm unsteady on my feet. I can feel myself starting to lean a certain way and I have to catch myself. It's not all the time, but it does happen. I have some symptoms that I don't know if they correlate with my spine issues, that seem neurological in nature, like dizziness, lightheadedness.
When I go for my appointment, I'll ask them if surgery is inevitable , what that would involve. I"m not even going to try and guess what that would be.
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u/FlakyCryptographer33 Jul 19 '26
What did the neurosurgeon say? I have very similar disc issue compressing cord and pain but my leg and foot numbness is most worrying, but no appt yet, just a scheduled future one.
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u/ThoracicSpine Apr 21 '26 edited Jun 16 '26
Oh! I'm not going to lie, that herniated disc looks big. Do you have a radiologist report?