If you experience the following symptoms, get immediate medical attention or call 911. stiffness while the cracked vertebrae heals. Spinal cord compression occurs when something squeezes the spinal cord and causes a disruption in nerve-to-nerve signaling throughout your body. People who play contact sports have a higher risk of such injuries. Abscess: An accumulation of pus around the spinal cord can cause compression. Emergency surgery to repair a broken spine, which may include removing bone or disc fragments, Radiation therapy and sometimes surgery to remove a tumor, Antibiotics to treat an abscess, and sometimes surgery to remove it, depending on the symptoms it’s causing, Vitamin K injections or plasma transfusion if a hematoma is caused by a bleeding disorder, Corticosteroid injections to reduce swelling around the spinal cord, often followed by surgery. Radiating pain may be perceived to be in the chest or belly, and this leads to a quite different diagnosis that will need to include an assessment of heart, lung, kidney and gastrointestinal disorders as well as other non-spine musculoskeletal causes. version.2020.07.019-2020.07.003, Upper Back Pain from a Thoracic Herniated Disc. For some people, this pain is described as a burning sensation in the thighs or calves, a 1987 article in the "Journal of Neurosurgery" notes. Presenting symptoms of a thoracic herniated disc often correlate with the size and location of the disc herniation. Background: Surgical options for treating thoracic spinal cord compression that results from circumferential stenosis typically involve instrumented fusion procedures. Neurogenic (neurological) thoracic outlet syndrome. Compression fractures may or may not cause symptoms. Spinal cord trauma. If you’re willing to try a few new things, though, you might find some relief. The spinal cord extends through the cervical and thoracic regions extending to the junction of the thoracic and lumbar spine. This may be evident by sensory disturbances (such as numbness) below the level of compression, difficulty with balance and walking, lower extremity weakness, or bowel or bladder dysfunction. Ruptured or herniated disks: A herniated disc more often compresses the spinal nerve roots (spinal nerve compression), but may also put pressure on the spinal cord. Find out about psoriatic arthritis. This may begin as muscle spasms, cramps, and uncontrollable movements or gait disturbances. If the compression occurs suddenly, surgery must occur as soon as possible to prevent permanent damage to the spinal cord. The narrowing of the spinal canal due to a compression fracture can either lead to immediate injury to … Loss of feeling in the feet. Pain is one of the most common symptoms of thoracic stenosis. A tumor or an infection can cause symptoms to show up within a few days or weeks. Location. Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy (Spinal Cord Compression). Without treatment, spinal cord compression can cause damage to the spinal nerves, which can result in loss of bladder or bowel control or paralysis. Additionally, loss of normal bowel, bladder, or sexual function may develop. Spinal cord compression in the lower back can cause the disorder cauda equina syndrome. Thoracic myelopathy causes the spinal cord in this area to be compressed from a bulging or herniated disc, bone spurs, or a trauma to the spine. 2017;376:1358-69. The four spinal cord regions are: The cervical spinal cord: This is the topmost portion of the spinal cord, where the brain connects to the spinal cord, and the neck connects to the back.This region consists of eight vertebrae, commonly referred to as C1-C8. A spinal compression fracture is a crack in one of the bones that make up your spine. Spinal cord compression symptoms may come on suddenly or gradually, depending on what’s causing the pressure. Always consult a medical provider for diagnosis and treatment. This usually develops over a few days or weeks. A hematoma can occur suddenly. Pain is often the first symptom and more than 9 out of 10 people (90%) with spinal cord compression have it. Medical Reviewer: William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS. Spinal cord compression surgery can include removing bone spurs, repairing fractured vertebrae, or stabilizing the spine with rods and screws or fusion. But do they actually work? Privacy Policy | Advertising Policy | Cookie Policy | Privacy Preferences Center | Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Spinal cord compression can occur anywhere from your neck down to your lower spine and cause symptoms, such as numbness, pain, and weakness. Numbness or tingling in the fingers, toes, hands or arms. Sciatica symptoms include pain along the sciatic nerve, from your lower back down to your leg. © 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 (e.g. Cervical Herniated Disc Symptoms and Treatment Options, Lumbar Herniated Disc: What You Should Know. Call 911 for help. These injuries can include a car crash, a fall, a gunshot wound or a sporting injury. If anything begins to narrow the spinal canal - such as if the vertebrae protrude into its space, the risk of irritation and serious injury of the spinal cord or nerves increases. from osteoporosis), infection, tumor, and certain metabolic disorders. Typical symptoms for each include: Watch Video: Can Herniated Discs Heal on Their Own? Use of this website and any information contained herein is governed by the Healthgrades User Agreement. Our spinal cord is a solid structure approximately one centimeter (3/8) in diameter. Symptoms depend on where the pressure is in the spinal cord. The symptoms of spinal stenosis depend on the anatomical region affected and the severity of neurological compression, and can vary widely from patient to patient. One of the most common symptoms is stiffness or … Along with back pain, spinal compression fractures also can cause: Pain that gets worse when you stand or walk but with some relief when you lie down Trouble bending or twisting your body When these bones are abnormally compressed or damaged due to injury or degeneration, the nerves that run along the spinal cord can become pinched. Treatment for spinal cord compression is typically surgery, especially when there’s an immediate problem, such as a serious injury. These fractures more commonly occur in the thoracic spine (the middle portion of the spine), especially in the lower part. While injuries can be unpredictable, make sure to protect yourself as much as possible, such as wearing a seatbelt when riding in a car. Spinal cord compression symptoms include pain, numbness or weakness in the arms, hands, legs or feet. Spinal cord compression risk factors include: Conditions that weaken the bones, such as osteoporosis and some cancers, Spinal arthritis including osteoarthritis and other degenerative forms that can damage the spine, Certain cancers likely to metastasize to the spine, such as breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, or kidney cancer, Participating in sports or activities with a higher risk of injuring the neck or spine, such as diving into shallow water. 520 Lake Cook Road, Suite 350, © Copyright 2020 Healthgrades Operating Company, Inc. Patent US Nos. It seems unfair that a good night’s sleep, which would make you feel so much better, is so hard to attain when you’re suffering from back, neck or shoulder pain. Presentation. The following may be associated with thoracic spine nerve damage: Significant leg weakness or loss of sensation Thoracic spinal cord injury symptoms depend on the type of nerve damage. Thoracic spine pain will always occur in the area where the top 12 bones of the spine are. Spinal cord compression is often caused by a sudden traumatic injury. If the disc herniates into the spinal cord area, the thoracic herniated disk may also present with myelopathy (spinal cord dysfunction). A minor injury will result in minor symptoms such as weakness, numbness, as well as partial or complete lack of muscle control over only one side of the body. Treatment of spinal cord compression is often surgery, but an orthopedic or neurosurgeon who specializes in back and spine treatments may recommend other therapeutic medical treatments depending on what’s causing the pressure. Find out when sciatica nerve pain means it's time to see a doctor. Thoracic back pain may be exacerbated when coughing or sneezing. 60015. prime Chiropractic Treatment for a Thoracic Disc Herniation. Loss of sensation in the feet. What happens when your immune system attacks your joints? If the compression on the spinal cord affects only a few nerves, you may notice only mild symptoms, which include: Pain and stiffness in the neck or lower back that might radiate to an arm, hand, leg or foot, Numbness or tingling in the fingers, toes, hands or arms, Tenderness in the area, which is often caused by a tumor, an abscess (caused by an infection) or a hematoma, Breathing problems, blood pressure problems, or body temperature control problems, if the compression was caused by an injury. A patient may experience pain in … The length of time between injury and surgery or other treatment can affect the degree of spinal cord compression and nerve damage. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Pain and stiffness in the neck, upper back or lower back. 2. If you’re thinking about having knee replacement surgery, you’re in good company. Presenting symptoms of a thoracic herniated disc often correlate with the size and location of the disc herniation. Without treatment, spinal cord compression can permanently damage the nerves in the spine, which can result in long-term disability. They depend on how severe the compression is and on what area of the spinal cord is compressed. Early treatment of a spinal compression fracture can help the pain and All Rights Reserved. The most common symptoms experienced with thoracic spinal stenosis include: Limited ability to rotate the torso Difficulty moving side to side Sharp pain in the back that radiates to the lower back and legs This may be evident by sensory disturbances (such as numbness) below the level of compression, difficulty with balance and walking, lower extremity weakness, or bowel or bladder dysfunction. Numbness, weakness, and/or cramping in the hands, arms or legs. The information is produced and reviewed by over 200 medical professionals with the goal of providing trusted, uniquely informative information for people with painful health conditions. 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