Thoracic disc herniations. They
are not very ordinary. They’re not mentioned
much. But thoracic disc herniations do exist. The C7/T1 disc herniations are
even more unusual and are shared in the spine literature
more because of their unusualness. Chiropractic Spine Sports And Rehabilitation welcomes
unusual! Unusual warrants care and attention.
Chiropractic Spine Sports And Rehabilitation tends to unusual presentations like thoracic
disc herniations, especially those at the C7/T1 spinal
level aka the cervicothoracic
junction where the neck joins with the upper back.
Unusual Disc Herniation
C7/T1 disc herniations are unusual
from their neighbors, cervical disc herniations (neck) and
thoracic disc herniations (mid-back). Why? They tend to herniate laterally (out to the side) rather
than centrally. What makes that unusual? The C7/T1 disc level does
not typically have Luschka joints. These joints secure
the intervertebral discs in place and lessen the risk of
herniation. They permit flexion and extension and restrain
the extent of lateral flexion in the neck. One
medical report documents a rare existence
of a central C7/T1 disc herniation that triggered
lower extremity numbness and weakness in addition to
gait disturbance though in a patient who had no or very little hand-related
symptoms that would
otherwise be anticipated. (1) Know that your
Tonawanda chiropractor will do a careful examination and
discern the source
of your pain with knowledge of unusual occurrences
like this.
Symptoms of C8 Disc Herniation
C7/T1 disc herniations account
for 3.5% to 4% of all herniated cervical discs. (2,3) They are likely to be misdiagnosed due to their unusual
neurological findings. C7/T1 disc herniations (aka herniations of the C8 disc) produce
weakness in hand muscles. The C8 nerve
roots exit between the C7 and
T1 vertebrae. (4) They are positioned
above the C8 disc making it unusual for a disc herniation to compress
the C8 nerve. (5) But when it does, a C7/T1 disc
herniation usually sends pain down the arm into the ring and
pinky fingers (which sometimes confuses the case as pain
here is telling of ulnar neuropathy). (3,4)
It won’t confuse your
Tonawanda chiropractor though! Chiropractic Spine Sports And Rehabilitation is ready with
the tests to do and questions to ask to determine the diagnosis.
Make An Appointment
Listen to a podcast about neck pain helped with Cox Technic.
"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the
DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by
Dr. James M. Cox I."