I am a 32-year-old man, I am from Europe, from Poland. I've had a problem with my thoracic spine for 11 years, at that time, a th9/th10 hernia was diagnosed, but the last seven years were practically symptom-free. I hiked, skied, and biked, and it felt really good. I've been running for four years, but only for short distances, around 10 km. I also started lifting weights and did it for about six months. For example I squatted 60 kg for 12 reps, and I weigh 65 kg. In early March, after waking up, I felt pain in my thoracic back. It started radiating to my ribs. I didn't do anything about it for two months, thinking it would go away on its own. I've been on sick leave for three months and taking medication. The pain has subsided somewhat, but not completely. I feel discomfort even when lying down, It's like currents in the spine. My shoulders often hurt. I have strange sensations throughout my body, like shivers. I also have very severe dizziness, mainly when I change position, e.g. lie down. My physiotherapist recommended stretching my chest muscles. Another physiotherapist said that such pain could not be coming from my discopathy. I don't know what to do. The neurosurgeon determined that the changes in my spine were minor and are not suitable for surgery.

This is my MRI: Description: An MRI of the thoracic spine was performed before and after contrast administration. The MRI of the thoracic spine shows a mild kyphosis and a slight right-sided scoliosis. Discreet degenerative changes are visible in the form of marginal extrusions of the thoracic vertebral bodies. The endplates are deepened, reflecting overload changes. At the Th4/Th5 level, there is a medial protrusion of the intervertebral disc, deviating to the right, which shapes the dural sac and subtly causes narrowing of the right lateral recess. At the Th5/Th6 and Th6/Th7 levels, protrusion of the intervertebral discs is observed, adjacent to the dural sac. At the Th9/Th10 level, a larger medial herniated disc of the lumbar spine, which compresses the dural sac. Small zones of Modic II degenerative changes are present near the endplates, particularly at the apex of the kyphosis, with the greatest extent occurring at the Th6/Th7 and Th9/Th10 levels. A discreet dilatation of the central canal of the spinal cord in the Th3-Th7 segment, to approximately 1.6 mm, is visible. Contrast administration revealed no signs of pathological enhancement. Otherwise, the image of the spine and spinal canal in the thoracic region remains within normal limits. The image of the thoracic spinal cord is normal, with no visible focal changes.
And resonance imaging of the cervical spine:
Minor, intrathecal disc herniations of the C5/C6/C7 intervertebral discs, mildly modeling the dural sac, without compression of neural structures.

Other than this, the cervical spine MRI showed no significant abnormalities.

A segment of the spinal cord was visualized without focal lesions.

Could anyone offer any advice? Where should I seek help? I'm willing to travel to New York or anywhere in Europe. Does anyone have any ideas about what could be causing these symptoms? Is it a herniated disc causing all of this, or are there other causes? I'd be very grateful for any suggestions.

Posted Aug 27, 2026, 1:04 PM UTC