Pain Due to Disk Problems in Neck

If you are experiencing pain in your neck and nearby areas like your shoulders, it could be caused by problems with the cervical disks in your neck. Your doctor can recommend treatment options.

Cervical Disks

• Cervical disks are soft round pads that lie in between the vertebrae in your neck. They cushion your spine and help give it flexibility.

Disk Problems

• Disk problems are more common in older adults because the disks dry out and shrink over time. This makes it more likely a disk will rupture. When this happens, the nucleus of the disk pushes out through the edge of the disk, putting pressure on your spinal cord.

Neck Pain

• Disk problems in the neck can cause pain in your neck. It will usually occur when you move your neck and can feel like tingling, burning or pulsing.

Other Pain

• If you have disk problems in your neck, you could also experience deep pain in the area of your shoulder blade. Pain could also radiate down your arms.

Treatments

• Treatments for disk problems in the neck include anti-inflammatory medication, immobilizing the neck and surgery to remove the protruding portion of the disk.