Cervical Herniated Disc: Symptoms, Causes & Diagnosis

A cervical herniated disc, commonly referred to as a ruptured disc, is a common condition. It usually occurs as a result of an injury or trauma to the neck area. The cervical area of the back consists of the neck to the middle of the shoulder blades.

Symptoms

• When herniation of a cervical disc occurs, neck and should pain are a common complaint. Additional symptoms include tingling in the arm, hands and fingers as well as numbness in the arm.

Diagnosis

• Diagnosis of a cervical herniated disc can be confirmed using magnetic renosonse imaging (MRI).

Non-Surgical Treatment

• In some individuals, rest and anti-inflammatory medication may reduce symptoms and therefore surgery is not required.

Surgical Treatment

• Depending on the severity of the disc herniation, surgery may be required. Surgical treatment can include a decompression, (removal of tissues) or stabilization, also know as fusion. In the event of a fusion, rods, pins and screws are used to stabilize the affected disc.

Prognosis

• Recovering from a herniated disc surgery has a good prognosis with a 90 percent success rate.