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• Cervical Annular Tear

Cervical Annular Tear

A cervical annular tear is the condition when a herniated disc occurs in the cervical, or upper, part of the spine. Specifically, an annular tear is the opening in the outer wall of an intervertebral disc that results from the natural degeneration of the disc over time as part of the aging process. A disc can bulge, thin, or weaken to the point that an annular tear can develop, allowing the gel-like inner material of the disc to extrude through the opening and into the spinal canal.

Symptoms

Interestingly, a cervical annular tear causes no symptoms by itself. In fact, your cervical spine might have multiple herniated discs at this very moment that aren't causing you any issues. But, when the inner disc material extrudes into the spinal canal and places pressure on a nearby spinal nerve that the potentially debilitating symptoms associated with this condition can arise. These can include:

• Weakness
• Numbness
• Tingling
• Chronic pain
• Pain radiating the length of the nerve

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Treatment Options

The good news is that a cervical annular tear might heal on its own as the body is capable of resorption of the nuclear disc material. Furthermore, your doctor might also recommend a treatment program consisting of nonsurgical, conservative treatments that have proven to be very effective in managing the symptoms of a herniated disc. These can include everything from pain medication and physical therapy to hot/cold therapy and exercise regimens. However, if you've tried conservative treatments for weeks or months with little relief, contact Laser Spine Institute today. Our orthopedic specialists perform a variety of minimally invasive endoscopic procedures that are alternatives to open back surgery. These safe, effective procedures have helped tens of thousands of patients rediscover their lives without back and neck pain.

Please note: Laser Spine Institute currently does not perform endoscopic procedures on the thoracic spine.