The thoracic spine, the middle section of your
spine, gets overlooked. “Mid back pain” doesn’t easily
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 associated with seemingly dissimilar conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, painful or frequent
urination. Manahawkin Chiropractic Center does talk
about the thoracic spine and its mid-back pain. Manahawkin Chiropractic Center gently treats the thoracic spine’s mid-back pain to effectively
ease it.
THORACIC DISC HERNIATION
The rate 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 healed. (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 vary 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 studies report on 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% 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 in contrast 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 find 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% have
lower limb pain. (4) Thoracic disc herniation sufferers often experience
these issues – chronic abdominal pain, digestive issues, and urological
symptoms. Another researcher gave details about 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) Manahawkin Chiropractic Center does a thorough examination to determine how a thoracic disc herniation is affecting our Manahawkin 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 related to issues with the abdomen
or a visceral issue is Carnett’s Sign. It is highly documented 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 Manahawkin patients
with mysterious abdominal pain or strange
abdominal wall bulges, consult Manahawkin Chiropractic Center 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 relieve pain and symptomatology of the thoracic disc
herniation.
CONTACT Manahawkin Chiropractic Center
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 Manahawkin chiropractic appointment at
Manahawkin Chiropractic Center for your thoracic spine and its mid-back issues.
Manahawkin Chiropractic Center does not overlook the thoracic
spine, and you should not either!