Cervicothoracic Junction Disc Herniations Respond to Murfreesboro Chiropractic

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 presented in the spine literature more due to their unusualness. Most Chiropractic Clinic embraces unusual! Unusual merits care and attention. Most Chiropractic Clinic tends to 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.

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) rather than centrally. What makes that unusual? The C7/T1 disc level does not normally have Luschka joints. These joints hold the intervertebral discs in place and reduce the risk of herniation. They allow flexion and extension and restrain the extent of lateral flexion in the neck. There is a report of a rare existence of a central C7/T1 disc herniation that produced lower extremity numbness and weakness as well as gait disturbance though in a patient who had no or very little hand-related symptoms that would otherwise be expected. (1) Know that your Murfreesboro chiropractor will do a careful examination and uncover the root cause of your pain with awareness of unusual incidences like this.

C7/T1 disc herniations account for 3.5% to 4% of all herniated cervical discs. (2,3) They are inclined 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 extend outward between the C7 and T1 vertebrae. (4) They sit 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 shoots pain down the arm into the ring and pinky fingers (which sometimes confuses the case as pain here also suggests of ulnar neuropathy). (3,4) It will not be confusing to your Murfreesboro chiropractor though! Most Chiropractic Clinic knows the tests to do and questions to ask to make the diagnosis.

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