The thoracic spine, the middle part of your
spine, gets overlooked. “Mid back pain” does not simply
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. Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries does talk
about the thoracic spine and its mid-back pain. Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries gently cares
for the thoracic spine’s mid-back pain to effectively
relieve it.
THORACIC DISC HERNIATION
The incidence 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 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 healed. (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% were diagnosed with 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 tested positive in the DN4 test for
neuropathic pain compared with only 8% in the
control group. 77% of the patients had abdominal pain (and
16.88% of them had gone through a surgery to get rid of
the pain to discover that they still have the same pain after surgery).
90% of thoracic disc pain patients have back pain, 43% report
pubic pain, 35% report genital area pain, 66% have
lower limb pain. (4) Thoracic disc herniation sufferers often experience
these issues – chronic abdominal pain, digestive issues, and urological
symptoms. Another researcher described two
patients with T10-11 herniations who showed moderate lower
extremity weakness, amplified patellar tendon reflex, and
sensory disturbance of the entire lower extremities. (5) Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries does a thorough examination to figure out just how a thoracic disc herniation is affecting our Manchester 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 discover whether the
abdominal pain is related to problems with the abdomen
or a visceral issue is Carnett’s Sign. It’s highly documented for its sensitivity of 78 to 85% and specificity of 88 to 97%. (6) It directs
the examining physician to the source of pain! For Manchester patients
with unexplained abdominal pain or odd
abdominal wall bulges, consult Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries 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 ease pain and symptomatology of the thoracic disc
herniation.
CONTACT Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries
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 important thoracic disc herniation. Dr. Olding describes
the thoracic disc herniation and its symptomatology as well as its alleviating
treatment with Cox® Technic.
Schedule a Manchester chiropractic appointment at
Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries for your thoracic spine and its mid-back concerns.
Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries does not ignore the thoracic
spine, and you shouldn’t either!