Hi... I am trying to understand my MRI results. My family doctor was not very helpful and I am wondering if I need a referral to a specialist.

My results show: disc protrusion and annular tear of the left T9-T10 neural foramina.

I'm curious to know if others have had the same diagnosis and what the prognosis is for recovery. Although I've always had a "bad back", I can blame this specific episode on shovelling snow. So... I wish I knew if these results are showing the results of an acute injury from shovelling or if the protrusion and/or tear have been years in the making.

At T9-10 you have a disc bulge. There is also annular tear in that area. The annula is the fluid filled sac that the disc sits in.

It would be hard to say if this was the result of shoveling snow. These can be from general wear & tear.

If you're having a lot of pain, your best bet would be physical therapy. Ask your doc for a referral to PT -- also ice helps the pain too. Heat generally makes the pain worse as it draws blood to the heated area and causes more swelling & pain. Ice reduces the swelling & relieves the pain. Make sure you wrap the ice in a towel, so it's not directly on the skin!

Best of luck! I hope your pain is reduced soon. God bless. Hugs, Lee

Thanks!

The pain isn't too bad. It's an odd feeling. Like an old sprain. Just a dull throbbing sensation.

It would be nice to know definitively if it were actually "healing". Time will tell, I guess. I start PT this week.

An annular tear is a tear of the annular ligaments or Sharpy's fibers which are the very small vertical-oriented ligaments of the disc (arranged in many circumferential rows like rings in a tree) that anchor into the vertebral endplates above and below. When annular fibers tear out of the endplates, granulation tissue forms which can be seen on an MRI.

As far as a thoracic herniation or tear, I would make certain that your finding is not a red herring and is related to your symptoms. Thoracic herniations make up only 0.5% of all disc herniations so they are exceedingly rare. With a true thoracic disc issue as you describe (BTW, the neural foramina is a tunnel for the exiting nerve root, it doesn't tear, it is a hole), I would expect you to have midline pain around the bottom of your shoulder blades or so with pain, and/or numbness and/or tingling radiating around the left ribcage. There would not likely be any noticable strength loss that you would perceive.

That said, thoracic herniations are problematic as the central canal is not much wider than the cord at that level (although the cord is tapering as it terminates at about T12). Treatment-wise, conservative approach is thoughtful; intermittent traction, anti-inflammatory medication, medrol dose pak, activity/work modification, epidural although there are unique risks for such at the thoracic levels. Surgery is BIG for that problem relative to similar issues ot the cervical or lumbar discs!

I don't know about a neural foraminal tear but I have a moderate central protrusion of my t7/8 disc and it is pressing into my spinal cord. I have a numb left foot and tingles down both legs along with cramp like pain.
I first injured my thoracic spine about 27 years ago lifting while nursing. But it did eventually resolve. I ruptured two discs in my neck and required fusions looking after my mother 19 years ago and then had another one rupture about 9 years ago and I now have an artificial disc in my neck. I am very lucky to have an excellent neurosurgeon.
Because of the way I stand and hold my neck etc my t7/8 disc most likely has borne the brunt of the load and has given way. I have had to be so careful for the past 19 years so I haven't done anything that would cause it to go. I am now in the position where my surgeon doesn't think it will resolve, it is too far out and has moved further forward into the cord in the last three months so therefore I am facing major surgery to remove the protruding disc.
He did say that I could have had injections if we had known about the rupture earlier which may have helped it resolve - that may be an option for you.
So take care and good luck.
Libby