C8 Disc Herniations Respond to Oxford Chiropractic

Thoracic disc herniations. They are not very ordinary. They are not mentioned 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. Satterwhite Chiropractic welcomes unusual! Unusual merits care and attention. Satterwhite Chiropractic cares for unusual presentations like thoracic disc herniations, specifically those at the C7/T1 level of the spine aka the cervicothoracic junction where the neck joins 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 reduce the risk of herniation. They permit flexion and extension and restrain the extent of lateral flexion in the neck. There is a report of a rare episode of a central C7/T1 disc herniation that triggered 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) Be confident that your Oxford 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 make up 3.5% to 4% of all herniated cervical discs. (2,3) They tend 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 extend outward 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) Nonetheless when it does, a C7/T1 disc herniation usually fires pain down the arm into the ring and pinky fingers (which sometimes confuses the case as pain here also suggests of ulnar neuropathy). (3,4) It will not confuse your Oxford chiropractor though! Satterwhite Chiropractic knows the tests to do and questions to ask to determine the diagnosis.

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