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La Grande Chiropractic Care for Thoracic Disc Herniation

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 related to seemingly unrelated conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, painful or frequent urination. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC does talk about the thoracic spine and its mid-back pain. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC gently cares for the thoracic spine’s mid-back pain to successfully relieve 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 presented with a lateral abdominal wall bulge that diminished 8 months later as the disc herniation got better. (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 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 incidence 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 had a positive DN4 test for neuropathic pain compared with just 8% in the control group. 77% of the patients experienced 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% have genital area pain, 66% report 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 displayed moderate lower extremity weakness, amplified patellar tendon reflex, and sensory disturbance of the whole lower extremities. (5) Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC does a complete examination to determine how a thoracic disc herniation is affecting our La Grande 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 dependable test to discover whether the abdominal pain is related 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 La Grande patients with inexplicable abdominal pain or strange abdominal wall bulges, consult Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC 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 Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC

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 significant thoracic disc herniation. Dr. Olding defines the thoracic disc herniation and its symptomatology as well as its alleviating treatment with Cox® Technic.

Schedule a La Grande chiropractic appointment at Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC for your thoracic spine and its mid-back issues. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC doesn’t ignore the thoracic spine, and you shouldn’t either! 

Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC diagnoses and manages thoracic disc herniation pain and relieves its symptoms like unexplained abdominal pain or other gastrointestinal issues.  
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"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by Dr. James M. Cox I."