The thoracic spine, the middle section of your
spine, gets ignored. “Mid back pain” doesn’t 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 related
to seemingly unrelated conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, painful or frequent
urination. The Novelli Wellness Center does talk
about the thoracic spine and its mid-back pain. The Novelli Wellness Center gently treats the thoracic spine’s mid-back pain to successfully
ease it.
THORACIC DISC HERNIATION
The frequency of thoracic disc
herniation in asymptomatic people is 11-37%. It’s not as infrequent 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 presented with a lateral abdominal wall bulge that shrank
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 reports
describe 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% had the diagnosis of thoracic disc protrusion.
70.76% of thoracic disc herniations were 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 had abdominal pain (and
16.88% of them had had 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 whole lower extremities. (5) The Novelli Wellness Center does a complete examination to determine how a thoracic disc herniation is affecting our Buffalo, NY chiropractic mid-back pain patients.
EXAMINATION
Gastrointestinal surgeons are very 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 dependable test to see if the
abdominal pain is related to problems 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 Buffalo, NY patients
with unexplained abdominal pain or strange
abdominal wall bulges, consult The Novelli Wellness Center 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 The Novelli Wellness Center
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 significant thoracic disc herniation. Dr. Olding describes
the thoracic disc herniation and its symptomatology as well as its alleviating
treatment with Cox® Technic.
Schedule a Buffalo, NY chiropractic appointment at
The Novelli Wellness Center for your thoracic spine and its mid-back concerns.
The Novelli Wellness Center doesn’t overlook the thoracic
spine, and you shouldn’t either!