C8 Disc Herniations Respond to Colorado Springs 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 reported in the spine literature more due to their unusualness. The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR embraces unusual! Unusual calls for care and attention. The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR 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 neighbors, cervical disc herniations (neck) and thoracic disc herniations (mid-back). Why? They have a habit of herniating laterally (out to the side) rather than centrally. What makes that unusual? The C7/T1 disc level doesn’t typically have Luschka joints. These joints secure the intervertebral discs in place and lessen the risk of herniation. They allow flexion and extension and limit the amount of lateral flexion in the neck. There is a report of a rare episode of a central C7/T1 disc herniation that caused 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 Colorado Springs chiropractor will perform a careful examination and figure out 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 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 and T1 vertebrae. (4) They are positioned 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 sometimes confuses the case as pain here is telling of ulnar neuropathy). (3,4) It will not be confusing to your Colorado Springs chiropractor though! The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR knows the tests to do and questions to ask to make the diagnosis.

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