Cervicothoracic Junction Disc Herniations Respond to Ashburn and Herndon Chiropractic

Thoracic disc herniations. They’re 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 shared in the spine literature more because of their unusualness. Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn welcomes unusual! Unusual deserves care and attention. Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn 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 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 tend to herniate 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 decrease the risk of herniation. They permit flexion and extension and restrain the extent of lateral flexion in the cervical spine. There is a report of a rare episode of a central C7/T1 disc herniation that produced lower extremity numbness and weakness along with 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 Ashburn and Herndon chiropractor will perform a careful examination and uncover the source 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 are inclined 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 are positioned above the C8 disc making it unusual for a disc herniation to compress the C8 nerve. (5) But 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 confuse your Ashburn and Herndon chiropractor though! Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn knows the tests to do and questions to ask to make the diagnosis.

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