In any three-month period, about 15% of adults in the United States experience neck pain, which can be an incredibly challenging condition to navigate. From driving your car to going grocery shopping, your everyday tasks can become difficult when neck pain interferes with them, and you want solutions.
As experts in spine health, the team at World Medical Group dba Neuropathy & Pain Centers of Texas has extensive experience helping patients with neck pain. One of our first steps is to identify the underlying problem.
In this blog, we look at one possible culprit — cervical disc herniation — and its unique set of symptoms.
Your spine is made up of 33 vertebrae that are separated by 23 intervertebral discs, which provide critical cushioning, mobility, and shock absorption along your spine. Your neck contains 7 vertebrae and 6 discs, which together form your cervical spine.
With age and use, the discs can lose moisture, wear down, and become more brittle. The result can be a herniated disc, a condition in which disc material becomes compressed and escapes the intervertebral space.
Herniated discs tend to develop in areas of your spine that are more active, and that boils down to your lower back and your neck. Herniated discs in your mid and upper back are relatively rare because these areas of your spine don’t enjoy the same mobility and range of motion.
Now, let’s dive into some of the more common side effects of herniated discs in your neck, which include:
Your cervical spine is home to 8 pairs of cervical nerves that exit your neck and form part of your peripheral nervous system. When a disc herniates, it often pinches a nearby nerve root, which can lead to pain in your neck, especially around the back and sides.
Depending upon the extent of the herniation, this pain can be mild and only flare with certain movements or activities, or it can be a sharp, burning pain that’s more constant.
One of the big challenges with pinched nerve roots is that pain can travel down the affected nerve, causing discomfort outside your neck, often in the shoulders, arms, and hands.
Another common problem associated with cervical herniated discs is what we call radiculopathy, which is numbness, tingling, and weakness that can extend into your shoulder, arm, hand, and even down into your fingers.
Cervical radiculopathy can occur for a number of reasons, but herniated discs account for nearly one-quarter of cases.
Your body often responds to herniated discs by causing inflammation, which can lead to a stiff, sore neck. So, if you’re having trouble swiveling your head, it may indicate a herniated disc in your neck.
If you’re experiencing the symptoms outlined above, it’s time to come in for an evaluation. By reviewing your symptoms and using advanced imaging, we can identify the root cause of your neck pain and get you on the road to relief.
To get that ball rolling, we invite you to call or message one of our offices in Arlington or Fort Worth, Texas, today to schedule an appointment.943014002332
