The thoracic spine, the middle part of your
spine, gets ignored. “Mid back pain” doesn’t 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 unrelated conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, painful or frequent
urination. Soft Health and Healing Clinic does talk
about the thoracic spine and its mid-back pain. Soft Health and Healing Clinic gently cares
for 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’s not as rare as we think. Two studies described
abdominal wall bulges: A patient later found to have a
thoracic disc herniation at T11-12 on MRI imaging came to the
doctor with a lateral abdominal wall bulge that diminished
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 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 occurrence 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 tested positive in the DN4 test for
neuropathic pain in contrast with only 8% in the
control group. 77% of the patients experienced abdominal pain (and
16.88% of them had had 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 showed moderate lower
extremity weakness, amplified patellar tendon reflex, and
sensory disturbance of the whole lower extremities. (5) Soft Health and Healing Clinic does a thorough examination to determine how a thoracic disc herniation is affecting our Brooks chiropractic mid-back pain patients.
EXAMINATION
Gastrointestinal surgeons are quite likely to see
patients with thoracic disc herniation because 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 Brooks patients
with inexplicable abdominal pain or strange
abdominal wall bulges, consult Soft Health and Healing Clinic 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 Soft Health and Healing Clinic
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 defines
the thoracic disc herniation and its symptomatology as well as its relieving
treatment with Cox® Technic.
Schedule a Brooks chiropractic appointment at
Soft Health and Healing Clinic for your thoracic spine and its mid-back concerns.
Soft Health and Healing Clinic does not overlook the thoracic
spine, and you shouldn’t either!