Hi Holly!
Disc Desiccation is the drying out of the discs. It is a degenerative process. It happens to everyone to a degree over time. If you look at your discs on an MRI they should be light and full. As discs begin to wear out they will look gray and be smaller. The space between your vertebrae will be shorter. Disc protrusion means that some of the jelly-like center of the disc is protruding out. It is a disc herniation that allows the disc material to come out. Think of a disc as a shock absorber with a tougher outside layer and jelly-like material in the middle. The thecal sac is a membrane on the spinal cord or spinal nerves. Your MRI means that that disc material is leaking out of the disc and touching the thecal sac. A lot of people have herniated discs that aren't causing any symptoms since the disc material isn't touching anything. Some people have a lot of problems because the material is impinging or compressing a nerve. It sounds like you are in the middle. The material is touching your spinal cord or spinal nerves but not compressing them. Spondylosis is a type of degenerative osteoarthritis in the spine. Anterolaterally would be the location on the particular levels noted (T-8 through T-11). I hope this helps!
Craig
