Cervical Herniated Disc Pain: Causes, Symptoms & Relief

Herniated discs are most likely to occur in people over the age of 40. If one of your cervical discs herniates, you could experience symptoms including stiffness and pain.

Herniated Disc

• The vertebrae in your spine are separated by soft round discs that act as cushions for the bones. If one of them slips out of place in your neck, it is called a cervical herniated disc.

Causes

• As you grow older, your cervical discs shrink. This makes it more likely one of them will become herniated and cause pain by pressing down on nerves in your neck.

Pain Symptoms

• Pain caused by a herniated cervical disc begins in your neck and can be a tingling or a burning sensation. It can then radiate down one or both of your arms and also cause numbness in your shoulders.

Treatment

• Pain from a cervical herniated disc can be managed with over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). If they do not bring relief, surgery is another treatment option.

Considerations

• With the help of pain medication and stretching, most patients experience relief from cervical herniated disc pain without surgery.