The thoracic spine, the middle part of your
spine, gets ignored. “Mid back pain” doesn’t easily
roll off your tongue 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 associated with seemingly unrelated conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, painful or frequent
urination. Layden Chiropractic does talk
about the thoracic spine and its mid-back pain. Layden Chiropractic gently cares
for the thoracic spine’s mid-back pain to successfully
ease it.
THORACIC DISC HERNIATION
The incidence of thoracic disc
herniation in asymptomatic people is 11-37%. It
is not as rare as we think. Two studies reported
abdominal wall bulges: A patient later found to have 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) Another 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 occurrence of gastrointestinal and gastrourinary
problems 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 in contrast with just 8% in the
control group. 77% of the patients experienced abdominal pain (and
16.88% of them had had 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% report genital area pain, 66% report
lower limb pain. (4) Thoracic disc herniation sufferers often have
these issues – chronic abdominal pain, digestive issues, and urological
symptoms. Another researcher reported on two
patients with T10-11 herniations who displayed moderate lower
extremity weakness, increased patellar tendon reflex, and
sensory disturbance of the entire lower extremities. (5) Layden Chiropractic does a thorough examination to figure out just how a thoracic disc herniation is affecting our Plainville chiropractic mid-back pain patients.
EXAMINATION
Gastrointestinal surgeons are quite likely to see
patients with thoracic disc herniation since their symptoms are
gastrointestinal and/or gastrourinary in nature but without any organic reason
for them. A dependable test to discover whether the
abdominal pain is due to issues with the abdomen
or a visceral issue is Carnett’s Sign. It’s 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 Plainville patients
with inexplicable abdominal pain or strange
abdominal wall bulges, consult Layden Chiropractic who understands the connection
of these issues to the thoracic disc herniation. Gentle, chiropractic
spinal manipulation with Cox® Technic to the thoracic spine may
help relieve pain and symptomatology of the thoracic disc
herniation.
CONTACT Layden Chiropractic
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Kurt
Olding on The Back Doctors
Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson who really knows and understands the rare
but important thoracic disc herniation. Dr. Olding defines
the thoracic disc herniation and its symptomatology as well as its relieving
treatment with Cox® Technic.
Schedule a Plainville chiropractic appointment at
Layden Chiropractic for your thoracic spine and its mid-back issues.
Layden Chiropractic does not ignore the thoracic
spine, and you should not either!