How serious is a herniated disc in the neck?

Cervical disc herniation is a common cause of neck pain in adults. The severity of the disease can range from mild to severe, and even life-threatening.


What is the best treatment for herniated discs in neck?

Treatment with rest, pain medication, spinal injections, and physical therapy is the first step to recovery. Most people improve in 6 weeks and return to normal activity. If symptoms continue, surgery may be recommended.

What are the side effects of a herniated disc in your neck?

A herniated disc in the neck can cause neck pain, radiating arm pain, shoulder pain, and numbness or tingling in the arm or hand. The quality and type of pain can vary from dull, aching, and difficult to localize to sharp, burning, and easy to pinpoint.


Does herniated disc in neck require surgery?

A cervical herniated disc occurs when one of these particular nuclei ruptures through a tear or break in the disc wall. Simple solutions such as medication and rest, in tandem with physical therapy, can be a remedy for many patients. Nonetheless, others may require surgery.

What happens if a cervical herniated disc goes untreated?

If you leave a herniated disc untreated, you may experience intense, sharp pains, partial paralysis, or the inability to control bowel movements in relatively dire situations.


Herniated Cervical Discs



Can you become paralyzed from a herniated disc?

With a herniated disc, the capsule cracks or breaks, and the nucleus squeezes out. This can irritate the spinal cord or nearby nerves, causing weakness and numbness in the arms or legs. A severely herniated disc can cause paralysis.

Can you live with herniated disc in neck?

Living with a herniated disc

Most people who have a herniated disc are better in about 4 weeks. Sometimes it takes longer. If you still have pain or numbness after 4 to 6 weeks, or if you feel worse, talk with your doctor. Sometimes it takes surgery to relieve pain.

What is the recovery time for herniated disc surgery in the neck?

Typically, patients make a full recovery within two to six weeks. After you recover from anterior cervical discectomy and fusion surgery, you should be able to resume regular activity with your range of motion impacted minimally, if at all.


How do I know if my herniated disc needs surgery?

Your doctor might recommend surgery as an option for your herniated disc if:
  • Your symptoms have lasted at least 6 weeks and make it hard to do your normal activities, and other treatments haven't helped.
  • You need to get better quickly because of your job or to get back to your other activities as soon as possible.


How long is a recovery from surgery for a herniated disc in neck?

Most people can return to their usual activities around 4 weeks after herniated disc surgery. People who follow a rehabilitation program after surgery may experience a shorter recovery time and better mobility.

What nerves do C5 C6 C7 affect?

From the lateral cord, C5, C6, and C7 supply the pectoralis major and minor muscles, via the lateral and medial pectoral nerves, as well as the coracobrachialis, brachialis and biceps brachii, via the musculocutaneous nerve. The musculocutaneous nerve provides sensation to the skin of the lateral forearm.


How serious is a bulging disc C5 C6?

If the C5 and C6 discs are bulging, they only cause pain about 50 percent of the time, but this condition can lead to a straightened neck; this leads to tension on the spine, known to cause numbness, pain, and tingling throughout the upper body.

When should I go to ER for herniated disc in neck?

Anytime you get progressive numbness or the numbness is getting worse and worse by the hour, that is an emergency. Anytime you have progressive weakness or the arm or both arms are getting weak, that is an emergency. Anytime you develop progressive numbness or weakness in the legs, that is an emergency.

What does a neurosurgeon do for herniated disc in neck?

The most common operation for a herniated cervical disc is called an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). This procedure involves an incision in the neck, which exposes the front of the spine. The disc is removed relieving any pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots.


What causes disc herniation in the neck?

Common causes of cervical herniated disc include: Disc degeneration over time. As a disc ages, it naturally loses hydration and becomes less flexible and durable. Cracks and tears are more likely to develop in a disc that has a lower water content.

What are the symptoms of a C5 C6 disc herniation?

C5 and C6 are the most common areas for disc herniation. Symptoms include weakness in the biceps and front of the upper arms, weakness in the wrist extensor muscles, and pain, numbness, and tingling that radiate to the thumb side of the hand.

How long do you stay in the hospital after herniated disc surgery?

If you have traditional herniated disc surgery, your procedure will take place in a hospital, and you will have to stay there for several days afterwards. While the exact length of the stay will depend on how well you are healing, patients can expect to remain in the hospital for 4-5 days.


How long are you out with herniated disc surgery?

You may have relief from your symptoms right away, or you may get better over days or weeks. In the weeks after your surgery, it may be hard to sit or stand in one position for very long. You may need pain medicine. It may take up to 8 weeks to get back to doing your usual activities.

Who is a good candidate for herniated disc surgery?

You may be a candidate for discectomy if you have: diagnostic tests (MRI, CT, myelogram) that show a herniated disc. significant pain, weakness, or numbness in your leg or foot. leg pain (sciatica) worse than back pain.

How do you sleep with a herniated disc in your neck?

The best position to be in if you have a herniated disc is to lie in the fetal position. By tucking your knees into your chest when you are lying on your side, you can reduce spinal bending and open up your joints. Make sure the head and neck are supported with a pillow when you lie in the fetal position.


Are you awake for herniated disc surgery?

Surgeons usually perform diskectomy using general anesthesia, so you're not awake during the procedure. Ideally, just the piece of disk that's compressing the nerve is removed. However, small amounts of spinal bone and ligament might need to be removed to get to the herniated disk.

What makes a herniated disc worse?

The pain from a herniated disc usually is worse when you are active and gets better when you are resting. Coughing, sneezing, sitting, driving, and bending forward may make the pain worse. The pain gets worse when you make these movements because there is more pressure on the nerve.

Are you ever the same after a herniated disc?

Though it can cause intense pain and discomfort, the good news is that there are a wide range of treatment options for herniated discs in the lower back. “A lot of pain from disc herniations will subside with time,” says Dr. Mukai. In fact, 85% of people with a herniated disc feel better within 8 to 12 weeks.


Is a herniated disc a lifetime problem?

In cases where a herniated disc has been untreated for too long, this type of damage can be permanent. Patients may also permanently lose feeling in their legs and lower back.

What is a severely herniated disc?

A herniated disc (also called bulged, slipped or ruptured) is a fragment of the disc nucleus that is pushed out of the annulus, into the spinal canal through a tear or rupture in the annulus. Discs that become herniated usually are in an early stage of degeneration.
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