Cervical Disc Herniation Specialists
July 4, 2010 2:00 am Health and FitnessA damaged disc may be a result of some sort of trauma or over-extension of the cervical spine. Typically, though, cervical disc herniation can be common in middle-aged individuals. C5 and C6 are terms used by doctors to describe exactly which discs are damaged. C stands for cervical (L for lumbar) and the number indicates how far down the damage is; i.e. which disc is injured.
A herniated disc occurs when the soft tissue of the inner part of the disc comes out through the outer core and presses (called pinching) on the cervical nerve. The pain travels along the nerve pathway, often causing pain in the arm, as opposed to expected neck irritation.
Typical symptoms of a herniated cervical disc include arm pain, shoulder pain, neck pain and difficulty stretching or moving the muscles in the chest. This happens because the disc “pinches” the nerve, causing intense pain and possibly nerve damage.
The typical treatment for a herniated disc is surgery, but if you are uncomfortable with the surgical procedure, then there are a few non-surgical treatment options for a herniated cervical disc. Normally, there are accomplished with over-the-counter pain medications, such as Ibuprofen. Physical therapy works to reduce pain and swelling due to cervical disc herniation as well.
