C8 Disc Herniations Respond to West Des Moines Chiropractic

Thoracic disc herniations. They are not very ordinary. They’re 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 due to their unusualness. Executive Chiropractic of Iowa embraces unusual! Unusual merits care and attention. Executive Chiropractic of Iowa cares for unusual presentations like thoracic disc herniations, specifically those at the C7/T1 spinal level which is also known as 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 have a habit of herniating laterally (out to the side) instead of 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 decrease the risk of herniation. They permit flexion and extension and control the amount of lateral flexion in the neck. There is a report of a rare occurrence 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 West Des Moines chiropractor will do a careful examination and discern 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 likely 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) 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 fires 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 West Des Moines chiropractor though! Executive Chiropractic of Iowa is ready with the tests to do and questions to ask to determine the diagnosis.

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