Cervical Disc Herniation

About Cervical Disc Herniation

A cervical disc herniation in your neck can lead to debilitating pain. While you may think that you just need to rest or do some more stretching, you may actually have a herniation that requires medical attention as soon as possible. Instead of waiting and guessing, call the experts at the Spine & Rehab Group for exceptional care in New York City and northern New Jersey. They are spine experts who quickly diagnose your condition and provide expert treatment. When you just need to take it easy, they’ll let you know, and when further treatment is necessary, you’ll get it. Call today for an evaluation.

What Is Cervical Disc Herniation?

Cervical disc herniation is a condition caused by a ruptured disc. When this occurs, the gelatinous material known as the nucleus pulpous inside a cervical disc breaks through the outer cervical disc wall. The material from the herniated disc compresses an exiting spinal nerve, called cervical radiculopathy, the spinal cord itself or both. This condition causes pain in various parts of your body, as well as other symptoms.

Your cervical spine provides flexibility to your neck and stability to your head. This section of your spine comprises six cervical discs lying between the vertebrae to absorb shocks. The discs facilitate movement in your neck. With age, injury or disease, a cervical disc can degenerate, leading to spinal disorders, including cervical disc herniation.

The pain and other symptoms caused by a herniated disc in the cervical spine can alter your life and require urgent treatment. Dr. Amr Hosny, a board-certified spine doctor, along with his team at the New York- and New Jersey-based Spine & Rehab Group, uses advanced medical technology to ensure a correct diagnosis and targeted cervical herniated disc treatment.

What Are Symptoms of Cervical Disc Herniation?

If you’re experiencing nagging neck pain, it may be due to a herniated cervical disc. Neck pain, a debilitating health condition, affects 30 to 50 percent of adults in the country. Symptoms vary, depending on which disc ruptures and the location of the pressure from the herniated cervical disc. Some symptoms that point to a cervical herniated disc include:

• Neck, scapula or shoulder pain
• Numbness or tingling in your arm and shoulder radiating down to your fingers
• Difficulties walking, such as stumbling or feeling off-balance
• Tingling sensation or a shock-like feeling that runs down into your legs
• Difficulties with fine motor skills
• Loss of balance and coordination
• Muscle spasms
• Neck and trapezial tenderness in the back of your neck and shoulders
• Weakness during finger flexion, hand-gripping and thumb extension

If you notice these symptoms, consult a spine specialist for a firm diagnosis. Dr. Hosny carries out a thorough examination and diagnostic tests to rule out other spinal problems, including shoulder injuries, cervical degenerative disc disease, cervical facet syndrome, or cervical slipped or bulging disc.

What Leads to a Herniated Cervical Disc?

Every herniated disc is unique. Your spine specialist uses your medical history and reports from the diagnostic tests to pinpoint the cause of your pain. Causes of a cervical herniated disc include:

• Excessive stress on the cervical disc during heavy lifting
• Aging that leads to degeneration of ligaments surrounding the cervical discs
• Genetic factors
• Sudden jarring motions
• Poor posture, which places additional stress on the cervical spine
• Some occupational and recreational activities
• Various sports that cause cervical sports injuries, such as weightlifting

By identifying the underlying cause of the herniated disc, your spinal doctor can offer a more effective treatment plan. The team at the Spine & Rehab Group relies on modern technology to detect the herniated disc and other medical issues.

Am I At Risk of Cervical Disc Herniation?

Some factors increase your vulnerability to cervical disc herniation. Learning these factors can help you protect yourself from this debilitating spine condition. The risk factors for cervical disc herniation include:

• Aging
• Smoking
• Lack of regular exercises
• Sporting activities that put pressure on the spine
• Spinal injury
• Poor posture
• Incorrect lifting and twisting

The spinal medicine team at the New York and New Jersey spine clinics helps you understand the causes and risk factors as part of their treatment plan. Find the office nearest you.

What’s the Treatment for Cervical Disc Herniation?

The best treatment for herniated cervical disc restores function to your neck and back, allowing you to live a pain-free life. An early diagnosis helps you get effective treatment and improves the quality of your life. Your spine doctor can combine non-surgical treatment for cervical herniated disc with surgical options in the case of a severe cervical herniated disc. Treatment options for a herniated cervical disc include:

• Over-the-counter painkillers
• Physical therapy
• Heat or ice treatment
• Changing daily activities to reduce pain
• Muscle relaxers
• Laser surgery for cervical herniated disc
• Cervical epidural steroid injections

If you’re suffering from debilitating neck and shoulder pain, it’s time to get a long-term solution. If you’re in New York City, contact the Spine & Rehab Group doctors in the Financial District, Greenwich Village or Midtown Manhattan. In New Jersey, contact the team in Paramus, Riverdale, Englewood Cliffs, Cranford, or East Brunswick. At the first sign of discomfort, contact Spine & Rehab Group for an evaluation to prevent further complications.