C8 Disc Herniations Respond to Vancouver 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. Vancouver Disc Centers welcomes unusual! Unusual calls for care and attention. Vancouver Disc Centers tends to unusual presentations like thoracic disc herniations, specifically those at the C7/T1 level of the spine 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 does not typically have Luschka joints. These joints secure 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 occurrence of a central C7/T1 disc herniation that caused lower extremity numbness and weakness in addition to gait disturbance though in a patient who tells of no or very little hand pain or numbness that would otherwise be expected. (1) Be confident that your Vancouver chiropractor will do a careful examination and discern the root cause of your pain with awareness of unusual occurrences like this.

C7/T1 disc herniations make up 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) cause weakness in hand muscles.  The C8 nerve roots exit between the C7 vertebra and the T1 vertebra. (4) They are positioned 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 be confusing to your Vancouver chiropractor though! Vancouver Disc Centers knows the tests to do and questions to ask to make the diagnosis.

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