Cervicothoracic Junction Disc Herniations Respond to Pflugerville 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 presented in the spine literature more because of their unusualness. Pflugerville Wellness Center welcomes unusual! Unusual warrants care and attention. Pflugerville Wellness Center 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 neighbors, cervical disc herniations (neck) and thoracic disc herniations (mid-back). Why? They tend to herniate laterally (out to the side) rather than 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 reduce the risk of herniation. They allow flexion and extension and restrain the extent of lateral flexion in the neck. One medical report documents a rare occurrence of a central C7/T1 disc herniation that instigated 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 Pflugerville chiropractor will do a careful examination and work out the source of your pain with familiarity of unusual incidences 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 due 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) They 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 sends 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 won’t be confusing to your Pflugerville chiropractor though! Pflugerville Wellness Center knows the tests to do and questions to ask to determine the diagnosis.

Listen to a helped with Cox Technic.