Cervicothoracic Junction Disc Herniations Respond to Toronto Chiropractic

Thoracic disc herniations. They are not very common. They are not discussed 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. Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre welcomes unusual! Unusual warrants care and attention. Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre 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 connects with the upper back.

C7/T1 disc herniations are unusual from their adjacent segments, cervical disc herniations (neck) and thoracic disc herniations (mid-back). Why? They are inclined 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 hold the intervertebral discs in place and lessen the risk of herniation. They permit flexion and extension and control 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 expected. (1) Know that your Toronto chiropractor will do a careful examination and discern the root cause of your pain with knowledge of unusual occurrences like this.

C7/T1 disc herniations make up 3.5% to 4% of all herniated cervical discs. (2,3) They are likely to be misdiagnosed owing to their unusual neurological findings. C7/T1 disc herniations (aka herniations of the C8 disc) cause weakness in hand muscles.  The C8 nerve roots exit between the C7 and T1 vertebrae. (4) They 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 sends pain down the arm into the ring and pinky fingers (which may be confusing as pain here is also indicative of ulnar neuropathy). (3,4) It will not confuse your Toronto chiropractor though! Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre knows the tests to do and questions to ask to make the diagnosis.

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