Cervicothoracic Junction Disc Herniations Respond to Sitka Chiropractic

Thoracic disc herniations. They are not very ordinary. They are not discussed much. But thoracic disc herniations do exist. The C7/T1 disc herniations are even more unusual and are presented in the spine literature more because of their unusualness. Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka welcomes unusual! Unusual deserves care and attention. Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka tends to unusual presentations like thoracic disc herniations, especially those at the C7/T1 spinal level aka the cervicothoracic junction where the neck links 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) 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 lessen the risk of herniation. They allow flexion and extension and limit the amount of lateral flexion in the cervical spine. One medical report documents a rare occurrence of a central C7/T1 disc herniation that instigated 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 anticipated. (1) Be confident that your Sitka chiropractor will perform a careful examination and discover the source of your pain with knowledge of unusual occurrences 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 owing to their unusual neurological findings. C7/T1 disc herniations (aka herniations of the C8 disc) produce weakness in hand muscles.  The C8 nerve roots exit between the C7 and T1 vertebrae. (4) These nerves sit above the C8 disc making it unusual for a disc herniation to press on the C8 nerve. (5) Nonetheless when it does, a C7/T1 disc herniation usually shoots pain down the arm into the ring and pinky fingers (which sometimes confuses the case as pain here is telling of ulnar neuropathy). (3,4) It won’t be confusing to your Sitka chiropractor though! Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka knows the tests to do and questions to ask to make the diagnosis.

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