A right paracentral disc protrusion refers to an intervertebral disc that is bulging outside of its normal circumference. As the name implies, the protrusion (or bulge) is occurring on the right side of the patient’s body.
A disc protrusion means that one of the tough, pliable oval-shaped discs located between the vertebrae has weakened and is pushing outward from its center. In cases of disc protrusions, however, the disc has not yet broken open and allowed its jelly-like center to leak out into the spinal column.
Because a right paracentral disc protrusion does invade the surrounding space, there is a chance that it may compresses other parts of the spine, such as the spinal nerves that are branching off the spinal cord.
A disc protrusion can be divided into two categories:
- Broad-based – a broad disc protrusion occurs when the protruding section of the disc covers 90-180 degrees of the total intervertebral disc circumference.
- Focal – when the protruding section of the disc covers less than 90 degrees of the total intervertebral disc circumference.
The terms bulging disc and protruded disc are differentiated based upon proportion of the disc’s circumference. A protruding disc refers to an expanded area involving less that half of the disc’s circumference. A bulging disc is often classified as a disc expansion involving more than 180 degrees of the disc’s 360-degree circumference.
Right paracentral disc protrusion symptoms can take the following forms:
- Cervical disc protrusion – problems with mobility in neck, head, and shoulders; loss of feeling in hands and arms.
- Thoracic disc protrusion – pain that feels concentrated around the torso, sternum, rib cage, or diaphragm.
- Lumbar disc protrusion – numbness or tingling in the lower back, legs, and feet; radiating pain due to pressure on the sciatic nerve.
If you feel that your disc protrusion symptoms are reducing your daily quality of life and no treatments have been able to help you, surgery may be indicated. Contact the experts at Laser Spine Institute. We offer state-of-the-art, minimally invasive procedures. Our outpatient endoscopic procedures have helped tens of thousands of patients find relief. Contact us today to find out more and to receive a complimentary review of your MRI or CT scan.
