Donald Corenman, MD, DC

You must first describe your symptoms to correlate with your MRI findings. Many “problems” found on the MRI are asymptomatic and nothing to worry about.

I can tell you that many small disc hernations found on the thoracic MRI are non-symptomatic. This hernation you describe is not compressing the spinal cord so myelopathy (see website) would not be a concern.

You could have mid thoracic pain from this herniation. By your description, this hernation is not one that needs to have surgery.

Thoracic herniations (if they cause pain) typically cause local pain and occasionally radiate into the chest wall. Some thoracic muscle spasms can result.

Lyme disease will not cause thoracic disc herniations (or any herniations for that matter).

Dr. Corenman

Your description of a “slight disc hernation” at C6-7 does not fit with the pain and motor weakness that you describe. I assume that there is a substantial herniation or something else is causing these symptoms (Parsonage Turner syndrome or the like).

Shoulder muscle contraction is typically related to disc herniations but there are many other disorders that can cause these contractions. I am concerned that the physical therapist found significant muscle weakness of the trapezius. When you note decreased strength with workouts “I attempt to do very light workouts, it aggravates it and I lose some strength in my left arm again”, this is an indication that the strength in the arm is still significantly poor. A muscle that has lost much of its nerve supply may seem strong initially but will fatigue quickly.

Grip strength involves the C8 nerve which is not involved here. Measuring grip strength will not indicate anything about the health of the C7 nerve. I am unclear about; “other strength tests by my chiropractor show that neighboring discs are also affected” as this would be unlikely.

You need to find a well qualified, meticulous and experienced spine surgeon to give you an opinion. Bring all your studies with you to that visit.

Dr. Corenman

You have symptoms that match your MRI findings. Your history of surgery looks to be appropriate. When you developed foot drop, the rushed microdiscetomy was a good decision. Unfortunately, your motor weakness did not fully resolve but at least you can function without a support (AFO or ankle foot orthosis).

Your residual symptoms are of sacral pain and lower back instability; “My lower Back easily stresses now”. This is generally not a residual of the disc herniation but of discal stability. This is not atypical as the disc herniation by definition is caused by a large tear in the annulus of the disc and this tear can lead to instability and back pain.

Sacral pain is typical for degenerative disc disease as long as it is upper sacral pain. If the pain is low (at the coccyx) and not in the upper sacrum, this might indicate a different pathology.

Numb spots in the thigh can be residuals from the nerve compression. The surgery takes the pressure off the nerve root but mother nature has to heal the nerve. Residual symptoms are not uncommon. You also have some scar around the root which is also to be expected.

Sacral pain generated from degenerative disc disease can be treated with therapy, ergonomics, medications and injections. Finally, if the symptoms are intolerable, a work-up can be performed to determine if you are a candidate for fusion surgery.

Dr. Corenman