C8 Disc Herniations Respond to St Peters Chiropractic

Thoracic disc herniations. They are not very ordinary. They are not discussed much. But thoracic disc herniations do exist. The C7/T1 disc herniations are even more unusual and are presented in the spine literature more because of their unusualness. Old Mill Chiropractic welcomes unusual! Unusual deserves care and attention. Old Mill Chiropractic cares for unusual presentations like thoracic disc herniations, especially those at the C7/T1 level of the spine which is also known as the cervicothoracic junction where the neck links with the upper back.

C7/T1 disc herniations are unusual from their adjacent segments, cervical disc herniations (neck) and thoracic disc herniations (mid-back). Why? They are inclined to herniate laterally (out to the side) instead of centrally. What makes that unusual? The C7/T1 disc level does not typically have Luschka joints. These joints hold the intervertebral discs in place and reduce the risk of herniation. They permit flexion and extension and restrain the amount of lateral flexion in the cervical spine. One medical report documents a rare occurrence of a central C7/T1 disc herniation that instigated 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 St Peters chiropractor will perform a careful examination and figure out the source of your pain with knowledge of unusual occurrences like this.

C7/T1 disc herniations account for 3.5% to 4% of all herniated cervical discs. (2,3) They are likely to be misdiagnosed owing to their unusual neurological findings. C7/T1 disc herniations (aka herniations of the C8 disc) cause 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) 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 be confusing to your St Peters chiropractor though! Old Mill Chiropractic is ready with the tests to do and questions to ask to make the diagnosis.

Listen to a podcast about neck pain helped with Cox Technic.