Cervicothoracic Junction Disc Herniations Respond to Concord, NC Chiropractic

August 01, 2017

Thoracic disc herniations. They’re not very ordinary. They are not mentioned much. But thoracic disc herniations do exist. The C7/T1 disc herniations are even more unusual and are reported in the spine literature more due to their unusualness. Pure Chiropractic embraces unusual! Unusual deserves care and attention. Pure Chiropractic cares for unusual presentations like thoracic disc herniations, specifically those at the C7/T1 level of the spine 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 have a habit of herniating 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 limit the extent of lateral flexion in the cervical spine. One medical report documents a rare episode of a central C7/T1 disc herniation that produced 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 expected. (1) Know that your Concord, NC chiropractor will do a careful examination and discover the source of your pain with knowledge of unusual incidences 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) instigate weakness in hand muscles. The C8 nerve roots exit between the C7 and T1 vertebrae. (4) These nerves lie above the C8 disc making it unusual for a disc herniation to compress the C8 nerve. (5) Nonetheless when it does, a C7/T1 disc herniation usually shoots pain down the arm into the ring and pinky fingers (which may be confusing as pain here is telling of ulnar neuropathy). (3,4) It will not confuse your Concord, NC chiropractor though! Pure Chiropractic 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.

Then, schedule a Concord, NC chiropractic appointment today. Bring your painful neck and tingling fingers and weak hands to Pure Chiropractic to find the source and the Concord, NC chiropractic treatment plan probably incorporating gentle Cox Technic treatment to reduce intradiscal pressures and widen the canal space for relief.

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