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CERVICAL DISC HERNIATION with RADICULOPATHY, describe a condition

where one of the intervertebral discs in in the cervical spine (neck) herniates

and contacts a nerve inside the spinal canal, or as a nerve leaves the spine

through the holes that these nerves normally pass through called foramen.

The condition where a herniated or bulging disc contacts a spinal nerve

causing pain in the arm or hand is called a "Cervical Radiculopathy".

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WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

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Depending on which spinal nerve is involved, pain may be experienced as a

burning, numbness/tingling, or sharp and intense pain radiating down one

arm or infrequently both arms.  The pain may travel into one or several fingers

of the hand, depending on the particular disc level in the spine and the nerve

involved.  There may or may not be weakness in one or more muscle in the

shoulder, arm or hand.

 

HOW DOES IT START? 

 

Beginning in the early 20's some people have changes in the proteins in the intervertebral discs which absorb water and keep the disc hydrated.  The disc

then  starts to dessicate or "dry out" and become more brittle.   At some point, with or without trauma, the inner part of the disc called the "nucleus" may bulge out or herniate outside of the outer layer of the disc (called the annulus).  If this disc herniation happens to contact a nerve root in the spine, it will cause pain which radiates into the upper extremity in the area of the arm or hand.  The location of your pain in the arm or hand will depend on which nerve is

involved, and where it normally is responsible for carrying painful signals to

the brain from.

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TREATMENT initially consists of pain medications, Physical Therapy.

 If symptoms persist or become unbearable, these interventions will

usually be quite helpful/curative:

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1. Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection

2. Cervical Discectomy, (with or without fusion)

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