C8 Disc Herniations Respond to Burlington and Hamilton Chiropractic

Thoracic disc herniations. They’re not very ordinary. They’re not talked about 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. Spinal Care Clinic welcomes unusual! Unusual merits care and attention. Spinal Care Clinic cares for unusual presentations like thoracic disc herniations, especially those at the C7/T1 level of the spine 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 tend to herniate 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 decrease the risk of herniation. They permit flexion and extension and restrain the extent of lateral flexion in the neck. One medical report documents a rare existence of a central C7/T1 disc herniation that caused lower extremity numbness and weakness along with gait disturbance though in a patient who tells of no or very little hand pain or numbness that would otherwise be anticipated. (1) Be confident that your Burlington and Hamilton chiropractor will do a careful examination and discover the root cause of your pain with awareness 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 due 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 are positioned above the C8 disc making it unusual for a disc herniation to compress the C8 nerve. (5) But when it does, a C7/T1 disc herniation usually sends pain down the arm into the ring and pinky fingers (which may be confusing as pain here also suggests of ulnar neuropathy). (3,4) It will not be confusing to your Burlington and Hamilton chiropractor though! Spinal Care Clinic knows the tests to do and questions to ask to determine the diagnosis.

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