C8 Disc Herniations Respond to Toronto Chiropractic

Thoracic disc herniations. They are not very ordinary. 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. Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre welcomes unusual! Unusual warrants care and attention. Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre cares for unusual presentations like thoracic disc herniations, especially 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 normally have Luschka joints. These joints secure the intervertebral discs in place and decrease the risk of herniation. They allow flexion and extension and control the amount of lateral flexion in the cervical spine. 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 tells of no or very little hand pain or numbness that would otherwise be expected. (1) Know that your Toronto chiropractor will perform a careful examination and discover the root cause of your pain with familiarity 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 extend outward between the C7 and T1 vertebrae. (4) They lie above the C8 disc making it unusual for a disc herniation to compress the C8 nerve. (5) Nonetheless 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 telling of ulnar neuropathy). (3,4) It will not confuse your Toronto chiropractor though! Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre is ready with the tests to do and questions to ask to make the diagnosis.

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