C8 Disc Herniations Respond to Groton Chiropractic
Thoracic disc herniations. They’re not very ordinary. They are not talked about 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. Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office welcomes unusual! Unusual deserves care and attention. Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office tends to unusual presentations like thoracic disc herniations, especially those at the C7/T1 spinal level aka the cervicothoracic junction where the neck connects 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 tend to herniate laterally (out to the side) instead of centrally. What makes that unusual? The C7/T1 disc level does not normally have Luschka joints. These joints secure the intervertebral discs in place and reduce the risk of herniation. They allow flexion and extension and limit the extent of lateral flexion in the neck. There is a report of a rare episode of a central C7/T1 disc herniation that instigated 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 anticipated. (1) Be confident that your Groton chiropractor will perform a careful examination and uncover the root cause 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 inclined to be misdiagnosed owing to their unusual neurological findings. C7/T1 disc herniations (aka herniations of the C8 disc) instigate 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) Nonetheless 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 also suggests of ulnar neuropathy). (3,4) It won’t be confusing to your Groton chiropractor though! Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office 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.
