Cervicothoracic Junction Disc Herniations Respond to Georgetown 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 reported in the spine literature more because of their unusualness. Dr. Butwell welcomes unusual! Unusual warrants care and attention. Dr. Butwell cares for unusual presentations like thoracic disc herniations, especially those at the C7/T1 level of the spine which is also known as 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) instead of centrally. What makes that unusual? The C7/T1 disc level doesn’t typically have Luschka joints. These joints hold 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 instigated lower extremity numbness and weakness as well as gait disturbance though in a patient who had no or very little hand-related symptoms that would otherwise be anticipated. (1) Be confident that your Georgetown chiropractor will perform a careful examination and figure 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 tend 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 vertebra and the T1 vertebra. (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 won’t confuse your Georgetown chiropractor though! Dr. Butwell 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.