disc protrusion T4 T5 what is thecal sac

[sandy]

help here please , can anyone tell me what is disc protrusion, ive heard bulge herniated disc but never protrusion

I have T4 T5 disk protrusion which minimally flattens the thecal sac, what is getting flattened
what is thecal sac

I also have this lumbar l5 s1

[Justin]

help here please , can anyone tell me what is disc protrusion, ive heard bulge herniated disc but never protrusion

I have T4 T5 disk protrusion which minimally flattens the thecal sac, what is getting flattened
what is thecal sac

I also have this lumbar l5 s1

Hi Sandy,

A disc protrusion is actually a "normal" finding that almost everyone has somewhere in their spine. This is especially true as we age. The thecal sac is the sac that surrounds the spinal cord. Thus, it is saying that your disc is protruding at T4/T5 in such a way that the thecal sac is showing minimal flattening.

A herniated disc is when part of the inside of the disc protrudes through the protective cartilage that surrounds the disc. You can think of your disc like a jelly donut: if you poke a hole in the jelly donut, then some of the jelly can find its way out. Essentially, this is what a herniated disc is--part of the disc has been compromised so that some of the nucleus pulposus (the inside part of the disc, the "jelly") has pushed it's way out of the disc through the protective annulus fibrosus (a very tight-weaved covering that surrounds the outside of the disc that helps keep the "jelly" inside).

I hope this helps.