Cervical discs conditions can be very frustrating to live with, not only because of the pain they cause, but also because of the disability that can occur. This article will discuss what a cervical disc is, the most common conditions that can develop with one, symptoms related to them, as well as the most successful treatment options for these conditions.
The discs of the spine are cushions that separate each set of vertebrae in the back. Their main purpose is to act as shock-absorbers between the vertebrae, which protects the vertebrae of the spine from breaking or rubbing together when you move (which would be very painful).
The discs of the spine are actually a special type of ligament, and their other purpose is to hold the vertebrae of the spine together. Each one is composed of two main parts – a strong, outer covering (called the annulus), and a soft jelly center (called the nucleus).
This structure is very important – especially the jelly in the center of each disc. One of the problems with the discs of the spine is that they don’t receive a very good blood flow, which dramatically slows their healing time if you ever damage one.
The jelly actually stores oxygen and nutrients for the disc to heal if there is ever an injury, which is why that part of the disc is so important.
Keeping this in mind, there are two main conditions that can develop related to a cervical disc. The first is a neck disc herniation (you may hear this condition referred to as a bulging disc, herniated disc, or even a slipped disc). With this condition, the strong outer covering of the disc tears, and the jelly begins to shift out of the center of the disc, into the area where the disc is torn.
This creates an area in the injured disc that literally bulges out. Now, one thing that you may not be aware of related to the discs of the spine is that they are unable to feel pain sensations. This may sound crazy at first, because if you’re living with this condition, or know someone who has suffered with this, you know it can be very painful.
If you think about it, though, it makes sense that the discs of the spine wouldn’t be able to feel pain because of their purpose of absorbing shock. So, if this is the case, what actually causes all the pain with this condition?
Well, if you were to look at the spine, what you would see is that the nerves of the spine are actually located directly behind each spinal disc, which is usually where they will bulge. Because of this, the neck disc herniation will usually apply pressure on the nerve, which can be very painful.
In addition to the pain, a neck disc herniation can also cause quite a bit of disability because the nerves of the spine control everything in the body, and if there’s pressure on a nerve, it will stop communicating with the body properly and lead to problems with whatever the involved nerve is controlling.
The second major condition that can occur with a cervical disc is called cervical disc disease (which is a form of arthritis that develops in the disc). In this case, the jelly in the center of the disc will start to become dehydrated (which means it loses water). This causes the disc to flatten, which also causes pressure to be applied to the nerve in that location.
So, if the main source of the pain in each of these cases is the affected nerve, what types of symptoms may occur if you develop a problem with a cervical disc?
In addition to neck pain, it’s also very common for a person to suffer with headaches, shoulder, arm, and/or hand pain, weakness in the arms, numbness in the arms, chest pains, thyroid problems (which usually leads to weight issues), ringing in the ears, and vision problems.
These symptoms are typical because these are the parts of the body that are affected by the nerves in the neck.
If you’re experiencing pain from a cervical disc condition, there are a number of things you can do for relief. Most doctors will prescribe medications (usually a combination of muscle relaxers and pain relievers), pain injections (such as steroids or epidurals), physical therapy, and surgery (as a last resort).
However, it is important to note that these treatments usually don’t provide lasting relief because they are primarily focused on numbing the involved nerve to affect the pain levels. Although this may sound good on the surface, it’s important to remember that the source of the pain is actually the injured disc, so if you don’t get the disc to heal, the pain returns when you stop those treatments.
Alternative treatments are also available for these conditions. Treatments such as chiropractic, massage therapy, and acupuncture have all been found to be beneficial with these conditions.
One thing I should mention at this point, however, is that cervical disc conditions are usually more complicated and difficult to heal because of the lack of blood going to them. Because of this, I have found that it’s usually a combination of treatments that provide the best results for these conditions.
You need to be patient with the healing process, because it can take anywhere from 2 to 5 years for a disc to heal completely with the right combination of treatments, so try your best to not get frustrated (although I know that’s easier said than done when you’re suffering).
If you are interested in learning more about the most successful treatments (and combination of treatments) for a cervical disc condition (whether it be a neck disc herniation or cervical disc disease), you can click here (cervical herniated disc).