What is a thecal sac impingement?
Thecal Sac Compression – The spinal cord and nerves are also protected by a membrane filled with cerebral spinal fluid known as the thecal sac or dural sac. Flattening or compression of the thecal sac will occur in other conditions that cause pressure or pinching of the spinal cord, such as stenosis.
What does encroachment of a nerve mean?
Nerve root encroachment refers to the crowding of the space in and around the spinal column through which nerves pass. This crowding could be the result of spinal stenosis, herniated disc or other things, like injury, repetitive movement, arthritis and/or poor posture habits.
What does Osteophytic encroachment mean?
Nerve root encroachment is often caused by degenerative (“wear and tear”) changes in the vertebrae, which is part of the normal aging process. 1 Specifically, these degenerative changes may lead to the formation of bone spurs called osteophytes.
Is thecal sac compression serious?
Metastatic epidural spinal cord compression is a common complication of cancer that can cause pain and potentiaLly irreversible loss of neurologic function. In most cases this syndrome is caused by compression of the thecal sac and the spinal cord by extradural metastatic mass.
Is nerve impingement serious?
A pinched nerve can become serious, causing chronic pain, or even lead to permanent nerve damage. Fluid and swelling can do irreversible damage to the nerves, so be sure to contact your provider if your symptoms worsen or don’t improve after several days.
Is impingement the same as a pinched nerve?
Nerve impingement, known to some as a pinched nerve, occurs where there is too much pressure applied to a nerve by surrounding tissues such as bone, tendon, cartilage, or muscles.
How is nerve root impingement treated?
The most common technique for treating nerve root impingement is through a spinal decompression procedure. This surgical technique aims to reduce pressure on the nerve root and give it more space to heal naturally.
What is the treatment for thecal sac compression?
MRI is generally the preferred imaging modality because of its noninvasive ability to study the entire thecal sac. Surgery and radiotherapy are the primary approaches to treat tumor compressing the spinal cord.
Can thecal sac cause pain?
This bulging material may contact or “pinch” the thecal sac or nerve roots. There are a variety of symptoms n a case like the one above. Some people may experience little to no discomfort, while others may have severe radicular pain, which travels to the shoulder blade, down the arm and into the hand or fingers.
What is thecal sac impingement?
Thecal Sac Impingement Explained. Thecal sac impingement is often noted on diagnostic imaging reports of people with various back pain and neck pain conditions. The thecal sac is the protective membrane which surrounds the spinal cord and other vital neurological structures.
Can thecal sac encroachment be treated?
The majority of diagnoses involving thecal sac encroachment are incorrect and horrific treatment results reflect this simple truth. Remember that the thecal sac can be compressed without causing any injury in many cases, as long as no nerve structure gets caught up in the affected area.
What does a herniated disc encroaching on the thecal sac mean?
Herniated disc encroaching on the thecal sac. Herniated disc displacing the thecal sac. In all cases, this means that the bulging portion of the disc is making contact to some degree with the thecal membrane and enacting some force against the side wall of the structure.
What happens if the thecal sac effacement is damaged?
If the thecal sac effacement of your spinal cord is damaged it will eventually lead to truly painful conditions. This is mostly a symptom for another condition. The thecal sac has a fluid in it and is a protective membrane which is covering the spinal cord and neurological structures within the body.