C8 Disc Herniations Respond to Fort Wayne Chiropractic

Thoracic disc herniations. They are 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 shared in the spine literature more because of their unusualness. Aaron Chiropractic Clinic welcomes unusual! Unusual calls for care and attention. Aaron Chiropractic Clinic cares for unusual presentations like thoracic disc herniations, specifically those at the C7/T1 level of the spine 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 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 hold the intervertebral discs in place and lessen the risk of herniation. They permit flexion and extension and limit the amount of lateral flexion in the neck. One medical report documents a rare occurrence of a central C7/T1 disc herniation that produced lower extremity numbness and weakness as well as gait disturbance though in a patient who tells of no or very little hand pain or numbness that would otherwise be anticipated. (1) Know that your Fort Wayne chiropractor will perform a careful examination and discover the source of your pain with familiarity of unusual incidences like this.

C7/T1 disc herniations make up 3.5% to 4% of all herniated cervical discs. (2,3) They tend 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 exit 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 sometimes confuses the case as pain here is also indicative of ulnar neuropathy). (3,4) It won’t be confusing to your Fort Wayne chiropractor though! Aaron 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.