C8 Disc Herniations Respond to Fort Wayne Chiropractic

Thoracic disc herniations. They’re not very common. They’re not talked about 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. Aaron Chiropractic Clinic welcomes unusual! Unusual calls for care and attention. Aaron Chiropractic Clinic tends to unusual presentations like thoracic disc herniations, specifically 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 does not typically have Luschka joints. These joints secure the intervertebral discs in place and reduce the risk of herniation. They allow flexion and extension and control the amount of lateral flexion in the neck. One medical report documents a rare episode 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 expected. (1) Be confident that your Fort Wayne chiropractor will do a careful examination and discover the root cause of your pain with familiarity of unusual occurrences 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 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 extend outward between the C7 vertebra and the T1 vertebra. (4) These nerves sit above the C8 disc making it unusual for a disc herniation to compress the C8 nerve. (5) Nevertheless when it does, a C7/T1 disc herniation usually fires 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 won’t confuse your Fort Wayne chiropractor though! Aaron Chiropractic Clinic is ready with the tests to do and questions to ask to determine the diagnosis.

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