I saw this chart of the connection between the spine and specific organs, including our thyroid, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
Written by Brent Wells, D.C.
If you want to take care of your organs, make sure they are healthy, and they are functioning properly, you need to take care of your spine. Although a spine and organ connection may not be readily apparent, your spine and your major internal organs are connected.
Your organs and your body as a whole are all controlled by your central nervous system. The two largest and most important organs that make up your central nervous system are your brain and your spinal cord. Therefore, it makes a lot of sense that your spine is connected to all of the major organs and their functioning in your body as well.
Interestingly, your brain has to send and receive information via your spine. For example, let’s say you cut your finger while you are slicing an apple. The knife goes through your skin and you are hurt. But in order for you to feel the pain associated with the cut, your brain needs to process that information to feel the sensation of pain. For your brain to receive the pain message, it needs to travel through your spinal cord first before it gets to your brain and you can feel the pain.
Since the brain, spine, body, and organs are so connected and intertwined with one another, it is quite obvious that if you have an issue with your spine, say a misalignment or a blockage, it can have a serious impact on your organs and your health overall.
Are Your Spine and Organs Actually Connected?
In so many words, your spine is not actually connected to your organs. However, how it works is that the nerves that are located at the edges of your spine can run to different organs and this is when you will feel pain or issues with organs in different parts of your body.
Cervical Spine & Your Thyroid
If you have misalignments in the cervical region of your spine, the superior cervical ganglion is linked to upper regions of the body including the head, scalp, brain, eyes, ears, sinuses, tongue, lips, mouth, teeth, forehead, vocal cords, neck, tonsils, shoulders, and you guessed it, the thyroid.
Issues in this region of the spine may be the cause of pain or other issues like:
- Headaches
- Memory and concentration problems
- Mood disturbances
- Migraines
- Trouble with the eyes, ears, nose
- Teeth and gum problems
- Dizziness
- Hair loss
- Neck and shoulder pain
- Thyroid disease
Thoracic Spine and Your Organs
This region of your spine is connected with many of the organs in your body. The different vertebrae that make up the area of this spine are each connected to certain organs.
T2 is connected to you heart, chest, and blood vessels. T6 is connected to your stomach. T4 is connected to your gallbladder. T10 is connected to your kidneys.
Say you are experiencing an issue with digestion. You are getting bloated all the time, you feel stomach cramps often, and you know something just feels off in your stomach. This could be a sign that you are experiencing an issue in your thoracic spine in the T6 vertebra. Another example would be someone having an issue with their heart. Perhaps it is chest pains or other forms of discomfort. The issue may be caused by the T2 vertebra in your thoracic spine, which is in turn causing the pain in your chest region.
The Spine and Thyroid Connection
The thyroid gland is one of the most important parts of your body. Thyroid hormones are vital and impact so many different functions in your entire body. The thyroid plays a role in metabolism, growth, and regulation of many different bodily systems including metabolism.
So, exactly how is your thyroid so closely connected with the spine?
Firstly, your thyroid is located in your neck in the cervical spine region. If you have a thyroid issue that causes swelling in the thyroid, the swelling can cause a vertebra in your spine to push out of place causing a subluxation in the cervical region of the spine. C7 vertebra is connected to the thyroid gland but swelling of the thyroid gland may push other vertebra in close proximity out of place too including C6 which is connected to neck muscles, shoulders, and tonsils or C5 which is connected to the vocal cords.
Swelling of the thyroid gland is particularly common for people who suffer from the thyroid autoimmune disease Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. A goiter is an enlarged thyroid gland that causes the neck to swell and the vertebra of the spine are vulnerable. The same goes for benign nodules as well as thyroid cancer. It is not surprising that warning signs include hoarseness, pain in the throat, persistent cough, difficulty swallowing and breathing.
Furthermore, someone who has hypothyroidism that has gone uncontrolled for a long period of time can feel the effects in their spine. The imbalances in the thyroid can create damage in your peripheral nerves. These nerves are responsible for carrying information from your spinal cord and your brain to different parts of your body.
If these nerves are damaged, you may experience symptoms like:
Pain
Numbness
Tingling
Muscle weakness
Loss of muscle control
These signs and symptoms will be located in the area of the back where it has been affected and nerve damage has happened. As you can see, your spine, organs, and thyroid are all connected in fascinating and intricate ways. We often do not think about all of the different ways our bodies are connected, but it is time to start looking at your health and body in a new and different light. I have seen hundreds of patients come into my office for pain in certain areas in their body they had no idea were connected to their spine.
In the end, spine health is essential and is a major connector in you body. Take care of your spine to live the happiest and healthiest life possible.
About Brent Wells, D.C.
Dr. Brent Wells, D.C. is the founder of Alaska’s Better Health Chiropractic & Physical Rehab and has been a chiropractor for over 20 years. Dr. Wells is the author of over 700 online health articles. He is a member of the American Chiropractic Association and the American Academy of Spine Physicians.
READ NEXT: HOW POSTURE AFFECTS YOUR THYROID
About Dana Trentini
Most Drs. Only treat symptoms, they don’t want to cure you, they just want to cover up the real problems with pills. So you never really get better. They (Drs), get richer, and you get lied to. Honestly most people who have ailments, just have a vertebrae out of align.
I believe chiropractic is so much better because chiropractors want to resolve (fix), your issues, not just cover them up.
FYI ASPARTAME IS IN THE SAME CLASS AS CYANIDE, AND ALSO CAUSES OVER 93 ILLNESSES, AND MIMICS LUPUS, MS, DEMENTIA, etc.
ASPARTAME IS AN ARTIFICIAL SWEETENER, AND ITS IN ANYTHING THAT IS ZERO SUGAR, etc.
EAT ORGANIC FOODS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
Christie Brinkley only eats organic and she looks younger now then she did when she was 20.
Thanks for sharing Audra. When you mentioned artificial sweeteners, I thought you would be interested in this article that I included on Hypothyroid Mom all about how artificial sweeteners including aspartame may actually also trigger a thyroid condition: https://hypothyroidmom.com/what-are-artificial-sweeteners-doing-to-your-thyroid/
Thank you for this information. Stupidly had spinal fusion at c5/c6 resulting in non-union of fusion then made an even bigger mistake by allowing a spinal tap which caused unrelenting, agonizing, pain and led to eventual blood patch procedure. Now diagnosed with thyroid nodules and have severe scar tissue build-up from anterior surgical scar. The scarring webs out in thick, white, ‘strings’ and seeing the ‘strings’ connected to several thick, white lumps of scar tissue between anterior cervical disks. I am not just choking on food/water but my own saliva. Feels like I’ve been punched in the throat. Drs want to do MORE invasive procedures but I cannot bear anymore injury. Use systemic enzymes(ProOneZyme) and while it works, it’s hard on the system and scars quickly return after stopping a course. I need better solutions but there’s little info online & no true solutions by allopathic practitioners. With this and the severe spinal/neck/head and upper arm/shoulder pain, living is nearly unbearable. Down to 85 lbs because eating is so difficult. Is there any real help with such issues?
I have bone cancer all throughout my spine. I’ve been pointing out how pain has gravitated most in my neck. Did a neck MRI and they’re pointing out how much bulging disc’s are pressing on my Thyroid. It looks like I’m at the beginning of what my mind is going through: I’m in fear of the disks piercing my Thyroid. What happens when a Thyroid is pierced?
oh wow Margaret that sounds so awful what you are going through. I’m sorry to hear this. I have not heard anyone yet tell me about a pierced thyroid experience from bulging discs so I cannot say. I do know that any damage even in cases where I’ve heard of card accidents that caused damage to the front of the neck or even cases where the surgeon nicked the thyroid gland during a tonsillectomy that people have told me that their thyroid problems began because of the damage to that area of the thyroid gland. I imagine it would depend on the degree of damage done because I do know of cases where people have had damage to one small area but managed to be well thanks to the remaining thyroid gland being healthy enough to compensate for the damaged part. I’m sorry you have to go through this. I hope that your discs never pierce your thyroid and that you will be okay.
Good to have you at Hypothyroid Mom.
How did you find the inflamed thyroid?
I have had chronic iodine deficiency since young. Treated only once after diagnosis of low BMR at age 14. Had various problems through life that look like thyroid. Chiropractic treatment did not help. Had a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia. Got sick with the coronavirus and started taking iodine and selenium (therapy of Dr Brownstein) Thyroid test always normal but therapy seemed to bind the reactive oxygen species along with healing tissues damaged from past problems. The unique thing was it cured the apparent goiter causing misalignment of the cervical spine. Did not know I had goiter. It affected my teeth and my parotid glands and solved problems with balance and coordination. Found the inflamed thyroid gland by accident and treated with Iodoral/Selenium
How did you find the inflamed thyroid?
I had this happen to me. One doctor writes down that he or she thinks your depressed and any doctor you see after that feeds off those old records instead of forming his own opinion. I had my whole thyroid removed due to a 128gram goiter and I know my level of meds is not right for me! He put me on 200mcg’s Levo 1 pill a day then after one of my blood test he says take a pill for 5 days skip 2 days, well guess what for 5 days in over drugged and 2 days nothing and so the cycle goes. Am finally going to my regular doctor and going to have all levels and hormones checked for thyroid. I’m on just that t4 and have read that I should also be on a t3. Hoping I get answers soon.
They had me on levothyroxine for a long time and I kept asking for the Armour Thyroid instead. Ever since my doctor my endocrinologist finally agreed I’ve been so much better with no side effects. I live at the rocks and made me cramp up made me achy etc.
Dana~ thank you for sharing this amazing information, as well as your own story. I was diagnosed over a year ago with ‘hypo’, levels still not right (and Covid has put everything on hold. After reading this, I feel better prepared for my next Dr. visit…I don’t think he’s been aggressive enough with treatment, sometimes saying “well that can just be age”…I’m only 53! Best of luck to you all.
Sincerely~
Shelly
wow, it may not be you, but it is definitely applicable to others. Hashimoto’s is different for everyone. I have chronic epstein-barr and it rears up from time to time. Exercise is key but at different times in my life, I could literally not get out of bed. You are very lucky to be doing so well and that is awesome for you. Listen to your body, find a good dr that will listen and do what is right for you. Negativity doesn’t really help anyone. Good luck and good health to you.
My sister in law has Hashimotos and there is nothing lazy about her. So glad you could lose 50lbs Maybe your Hashimotos just makes you cranky and judgemental??
Wow…great read! My C6/ C7 vertebrae has a significant subluxation that has been recurring the past 5/6 years. I started traditional Synthroid medication about 5 years ago when my TSH levels were finally looked at and so out of range. Since then, with symptoms coming back or worsening, at times…antibodies were finally looked at ( what a hassle trying to get that done!) and surprise….Hashimoto’s it is. I am still having a HUGE amount of difficulty getting the Dr. to check the T3 levels ( as I found another great article on this site about that). I had no idea about the cervical spine connection, or possibility of the thyroid swelling and causing me these problems. I have had xrays at an imaging center and in house at a chiropractor’s office and been diagnosed with the subluxation on the same area. Thanks for the post!
Kristyn,
You sound really unhappy! If that’s your thyroid being “within range” I don’t want to go where you do. This was just am interesting article, a suggestion, if you will….something that may HELP some readers! Please, take that bitterness elsewhere.
I have Chronic Scoliosis..which has caused Osteo-arthritis. I also have Hypothyroidism…Would my severely bent spine have causes the thyroid issues ??
How do we get our providers to listen? They ignore vital info concerning hypothyroidism (see FDA, ATA, Endo Soc. warnings on biotin skewing tests) & deliberately misdiagnose. In my case I have severe spinal issues:DDD, cervical fractures, etc. thru my whole spine & was stable on 124 mcg Levo for over 10 years. Then an NP became obsessed with my thyroid meds ignored the FDA,ATA etc, deliberately misdiagnosed me hyper & reduced my meds dangerously low. When I tried to get her to understand she started putting false info in my ‘records’ & now is saying I am mentally ill so no one will believe the truth. She has started issuing threats for me to backoff from trying to regain my needed meds How do we get these unscrupulous providers to listen to facts?Changing doctors is useless since there is no HIPAA for them & she is still interfering. Records can NOT be changed any more. Where do we find help to literally save our lives?
I had this happen to me. One doctor writes down that he or she thinks your depressed and any doctor you see after that feeds off those old records instead of forming his own opinion. I had my whole thyroid removed due to a 128gram goiter and I know my level of meds is not right for me! He put me on 200mcg’s Levo 1 pill a day then after one of my blood test he says take a pill for 5 days skip 2 days, well guess what for 5 days in over drugged and 2 days nothing and so the cycle goes. Am finally going to my regular doctor and going to have all levels and hormones checked for thyroid. I’m on just that t4 and have read that I should also be on a t3. Hoping I get answers soon.