C8 Disc Herniations Respond to Millville Chiropractic

Thoracic disc herniations. They’re not very common. They’re 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 because of their unusualness. Wilson Family Chiropractic welcomes unusual! Unusual deserves care and attention. Wilson Family Chiropractic cares for unusual presentations like thoracic disc herniations, especially those at the C7/T1 spinal level which is also known as the cervicothoracic junction where the neck links with the upper back.

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) instead of centrally. What makes that unusual? The C7/T1 disc level doesn’t normally have Luschka joints. These joints hold the intervertebral discs in place and decrease the risk of herniation. They permit flexion and extension and restrain the amount of lateral flexion in the cervical spine. There is a report of a rare episode of a central C7/T1 disc herniation that triggered lower extremity numbness and weakness along with gait disturbance though in a patient who had no or very little hand-related symptoms that would otherwise be expected. (1) Be confident that your Millville chiropractor will do a careful examination and discover the root cause of your pain with knowledge of unusual incidences 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 due 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) These nerves lie above the C8 disc making it unusual for a disc herniation to press on 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 may be confusing as pain here is telling of ulnar neuropathy). (3,4) It will not be confusing to your Millville chiropractor though! Wilson Family Chiropractic knows the tests to do and questions to ask to make the diagnosis.

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