The thoracic spine, the middle section of your
spine, gets ignored. “Mid back pain” does not simply
come out of your mouth in quite the same way as “neck
pain” and “back pain” or “arm pain” and “leg pain”. But the thoracic spine can
have pain of its own. A thoracic disc herniation may be related
to seemingly dissimilar conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, painful or frequent
urination. Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn does talk
about the thoracic spine and its mid-back pain. Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn gently treats the thoracic spine’s mid-back pain to effectively
relieve it.
THORACIC DISC HERNIATION
The frequency of thoracic disc
herniation in asymptomatic people is 11-37%. It
is not as infrequent as we think. Two studies reported
abdominal wall bulges: A patient later diagnosed with a
thoracic disc herniation at T11-12 on MRI imaging presented with a lateral abdominal wall bulge that reduced
8 months later as the disc herniation got better. (1) An
additional two similar cases with herniations at T12-L1 and T10-11 and
T11-12 had paresis of the abdominis muscle. After conservative treatment, muscle
strength returned to normal in 3 to 6 months. (2) Symptoms of thoracic disc
herniation can range from abdominal pain, constipation, urinary
incontinence, anesthesia or lack of anal reflex, bowel dysfunction, nausea, to
irritable bowel among other issues. (3) A couple other reports
describe the incidence of gastrointestinal and gastrourinary
issues with thoracic disc herniations. In a study of 100
patients with thoracic disc herniation, 95% had one or more digestive-urologic symptoms,
but only 3% had the diagnosis of thoracic disc protrusion.
70.76% of thoracic disc herniations occurred below the T7 level. Most
were central herniations (65.25%). 85% of thoracic disc herniation patients with
abdominal pain had a positive DN4 test for
neuropathic pain compared with just 8% in the
control group. 77% of the patients experienced abdominal pain (and
16.88% of them had gone through a surgery to relieve
the pain to discover that they still have the same pain after surgery).
90% of thoracic disc pain patients report back pain, 43% report
pubic pain, 35% have genital area pain, 66% have
lower limb pain. (4) Thoracic disc herniation sufferers often have
these issues – chronic abdominal pain, digestive issues, and urological
symptoms. Another researcher described two
patients with T10-11 herniations who displayed moderate lower
extremity weakness, amplified patellar tendon reflex, and
sensory disturbance of the entire lower extremities. (5) Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn does a thorough examination to figure out just how a thoracic disc herniation is affecting our Ashburn chiropractic mid-back pain patients.
EXAMINATION
Gastrointestinal surgeons are quite likely to see
patients with thoracic disc herniation as their symptoms are
gastrointestinal and/or gastrourinary in nature but without any organic reason
for them. A reliable test to see if the
abdominal pain is due to problems with the abdomen
or a visceral issue is Carnett’s Sign. It is well-known
for its sensitivity of 78 to 85% and specificity of 88 to 97%. (6) It leads
the examining physician to the source of pain! For Ashburn patients
with mysterious abdominal pain or strange
abdominal wall bulges, consult Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn who understands the connection
of these problems to the thoracic disc herniation. Gentle, chiropractic
spinal manipulation with Cox® Technic to the thoracic spine may
help ease pain and symptomatology of the thoracic disc
herniation.
CONTACT Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Kurt
Olding on The Back Doctors
Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson who really knows and understands the unusual
but significant thoracic disc herniation. Dr. Olding describes
the thoracic disc herniation and its symptomatology as well as its relieving
treatment with Cox® Technic.
Schedule a Ashburn chiropractic appointment at
Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn for your thoracic spine and its mid-back concerns.
Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn does not ignore the thoracic
spine, and you should not either!