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Herniated Neck Disc

A herniated neck disc is a common cause behind neck and back pain, as well as discomfort in the shoulders, arms, and hands. As the name indicates, this condition occurs when one of the soft intervertebral discs in the neck break open and extrude material into the spinal canal. This disc material can apply pressure on nerve roots and the spinal cord in the upper spine, and the resulting interference with nerve tissue can cause pain, numbness, a tingling feeling, and muscle weakness.

A herniated neck disc (also known as a cervical herniated disc), is not as common as a herniated lumbar disc (in the lower back), but neck discs are still prone to injury and conditions like arthritis and degenerative disc disease. The pain experienced from a herniated neck disc stems from the location of the damaged disc and the specific nerve roots that are being compressed by disc material.

Eight pairs of nerve roots are located in your cervical spine and they are numbered C1-C8, with each nerve root serving a different area of the upper body. This being the case, a herniated disc in the neck can affect your:

• Head and neck (C1-C2)
• Diaphragm (C3)
• Shoulders, arms, and hands (C4, C7-C8)
• Wrists (C5- C6)

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Fortunately, advances in modern medicine have made managing a herniated neck disc much more realistic. Depending on the severity of the herniation and the location of the affected disc, a number of herniated disc treatment options exist. At first, your doctor may suggest a conservative approach, recommending cold and hot therapy, prescription or over-the-counter medication, exercise, physical therapy, or even lifestyle changes.

If pain from the herniated neck disc persists, your doctor may present the option of surgery to help alleviate your suffering. Should this be the case, the award-winning doctors at Laser Spine Institute (LSI) offer a variety of minimally invasive, outpatient procedures to address neck and back problems, including herniated discs in the neck. Contact LSI today for a free review of your MRI or CT scan, and to learn more about the alternatives to living with a painful herniated neck disc.

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