Cervical Herniated Disc
Arm pain from a cervical herniated disc is one of the more common cervical spine conditions treated by spine specialists. It usually develops in the 30 to 50-year-old age group.
Although a herniated disk may originate from some sort of trauma or injury to the cervical spine, the symptoms commonly start spontaneously. The arm pain from a cervical herniated disc results because the herniated disc material pinches or presses on a cervical nerve, causing pain to radiate along the nerve pathway down the arm. Along with the pain, numbness and tingling can be present down the arm and into the fingertips. Muscle weakness may also be present.
The two most common levels in the cervical spine to herniate are the C5 – C6 level (cervical 5 and cervical 6) and the C6 – C7 level. The next most common is the C4 – C5 level, and rarely the C7 – T1 level may herniate. The nerve that is affected by the disc herniation is the one exiting the spine at that level, so at the C5 – C6 level, it is the C6 nerve root that is affected.
Symptoms: A cervical herniated disc will typically cause pain patterns and neurological deficits as follows:
The pain is usually most severe as the nerve first becomes pinched. The majority of the time, the pain from a cervical herniated disc can be controlled with conservative (non-surgical) treatments alone, which is enough to resolve the condition. Once the pain does start to improve, it is unlikely to return, although it may take longer for the weakness and numbness/tingling to improve. If the pain gets better, it is acceptable to continue with conservative treatment, as there really is no literature that supports the theory that surgery helps the nerve root heal quicker.
All treatments for a cervical herniated disc are essentially designed to help resolve the pain and neurologic symptoms, and improve function.
Although a herniated disk may originate from some sort of trauma or injury to the cervical spine, the symptoms commonly start spontaneously. The arm pain from a cervical herniated disc results because the herniated disc material pinches or presses on a cervical nerve, causing pain to radiate along the nerve pathway down the arm. Along with the pain, numbness and tingling can be present down the arm and into the fingertips. Muscle weakness may also be present.
The two most common levels in the cervical spine to herniate are the C5 – C6 level (cervical 5 and cervical 6) and the C6 – C7 level. The next most common is the C4 – C5 level, and rarely the C7 – T1 level may herniate. The nerve that is affected by the disc herniation is the one exiting the spine at that level, so at the C5 – C6 level, it is the C6 nerve root that is affected.
Symptoms: A cervical herniated disc will typically cause pain patterns and neurological deficits as follows:
- C5 (C5 nerve root): Can cause weakness in the deltoid muscle in the upper
arm. Does not usually cause numbness or tingling. Can cause shoulder pain. - C6 (C6 nerve root): Can cause weakness in the biceps (muscles in the front
of the upper arms) and wrist extensor muscles. Numbness and tingling along with
pain can radiate to the thumb side of the hand. This is one of the most common
levels for a cervical disc herniation to occur. - C7 (C7 nerve root): Can cause weakness in the triceps (muscles in the back
of the upper arm and extending to the forearm) and the finger extensor muscles.
Numbness and tingling along with pain can radiate down the triceps and into the
middle finger. This is also one of the most common levels for a cervical disc
herniation. - T1 (C8 nerve root): Can cause weakness with handgrip. Numbness and tingling
and pain can radiate down the arm to the little finger side of hand.
The pain is usually most severe as the nerve first becomes pinched. The majority of the time, the pain from a cervical herniated disc can be controlled with conservative (non-surgical) treatments alone, which is enough to resolve the condition. Once the pain does start to improve, it is unlikely to return, although it may take longer for the weakness and numbness/tingling to improve. If the pain gets better, it is acceptable to continue with conservative treatment, as there really is no literature that supports the theory that surgery helps the nerve root heal quicker.
All treatments for a cervical herniated disc are essentially designed to help resolve the pain and neurologic symptoms, and improve function.
Dr. Brad Landrum, DC
235 Burley Ave
Hopkinsville, KY 42240
270.886.3136
[email protected]
http://goo.gl/maps/1jNt.
