The spine in your neck is made up of 7 vertebrae. Spinal discs separate each of these seven vertebrae and provide shock absorption. While a stiff or sore neck may occasionally bother you after a poor night’s sleep or poor posture, neck pain and other symptoms could be the result of a herniated disc. A herniated neck disc can cause uncomfortable symptoms that last for a week or more. A herniated disc can occur for a number of reasons, from a whiplash injury after a car accident to wear and tear on the spinal joints and discs over time. Determining what caused your herniated disc will help inform the best options for neck pain treatment and help reduce the long-term effects of a herniated disc in the neck.
What Is a Herniated Disc?
Whether you call it a herniated disc or a slipped disc, the results are the same: this condition occurs when a spinal disc tears or ruptures, irritating surrounding nerves. A healthy spinal disc separates two vertebrae and provides cushion to these joints during everyday movements. Spinal discs help support the natural movement of your spine and also help keep the vertebrae in place. The vertebrae in your neck are smaller than elsewhere in your spine, and the cervical spine is, therefore, more susceptible to injury or damage. Spinal discs that separate vertebrae are comprised of a jelly-like center protected by a tough outer shell. A herniated disc refers to when that tough outer shell cracks or tears, allowing the jelly-like nucleus of the spinal disc to leak out and aggravate nearby nerves. Common causes for a herniated disc include poor posture, spinal injury, and movements like lifting, pulling, or bending.
Symptoms of a Herniated Disc
Symptoms of a herniated disc in the neck can include pain, tingling, numbness, and weakness. People who experience herniated discs might look for back pain treatment, but it could also affect other parts of your body. A neck herniated disc will cause pain in the neck, but pain may also occur in the shoulders and arms. A pins and needles sensation may also occur in your arms due to a cervical herniated disc. Pain from a herniated disc may be dull and aching or sharp and stabbing. This type of pain caused by a cervical herniated disc is also known as cervical radiculopathy. When a herniated disc in the neck compresses a nearby nerve, it can cause painful and uncomfortable symptoms. A pinched or compressed nerve in the neck can disrupt healthy functioning and sensations in your shoulder, arm, and hand. A pinched nerve caused by a herniated disc in the neck can also lead to arm weakness.
5 Long-Term Effects of a Herniated Disc
If left untreated, a herniated disc in your neck can lead to unfortunate long-term effects. Here are five examples of herniated disc long-term effects that occur in the neck and affect other parts of the body.
Chronic Pain
Pain from a herniated disc can be managed and treated by a professional. However, when left untreated, a herniated disc can cause pain and discomfort that becomes chronic. Chronic pain can occur when the herniated disc continues to press against nerves and the spinal cord. It is possible to sustain permanent nerve damage from a herniated disc, which typically causes chronic pain. A herniated disc in your neck can continue to irritate nerves in your neck that control sensation and mobility in your upper body. Chronic pain from a herniated disc can affect your neck, shoulder, and arm. Chronic pain is typically defined as pain that lasts longer than 12 weeks.
Headaches
A herniated disc can also lead to chronic headaches. A group of nerves known as the cervical plexus run from your neck and into your head. These nerves control pain receptors and help communicate pain sensations to and from your brain. When any of these nerves become aggravated by a herniated disc, it can cause pain symptoms in your head, too. Headaches from a herniated disc may start to happen more frequently if the herniated disc continues to aggravate these nerves. Every once in a while, a headache will typically go away on its own, but headaches from a herniated disc may not go away until the disc herniation is treated properly.
Limb Weakness
Pain and other symptoms of a herniated disc in the neck can go on to affect extremities like your shoulder, arm, and hand. Another long-term effect of a neck herniated disc is arm weakness. Over time, a compressed nerve from a herniated disc in your neck can reduce sensation and functioning in your arm. A pinched nerve in your cervical spine can eventually lead to a loss of motor functioning and limb weakness. You may notice weakness in your wrist and hand, making once-easy tasks like gripping or writing become more challenging.
Neurological Deficits
Other neurological deficits can occur as a long-term result of a herniated disc. Extended periods of numbness can reduce sensation in parts of your body controlled by the compressed nerve. You may lose sensation in your shoulder or arm due to a herniated disc in your neck. In addition to weakness and decreased sensation in your limbs, other neurological deficits may include abnormal reflexes. A herniated disc in your neck can negatively impact the nervous system and affect the brain’s ability to transmit impulses to your shoulders, arms, and hands.
Decreased Mobility
A herniated disc in the neck can also lead to decreased mobility in parts of your upper body. This may include a reduced range of motion in your neck or difficulty with certain movements in your shoulders, arms, and hands. You may find it more difficult to lift or grasp objects due to a progression of weakness in these areas. Typical, everyday tasks may become more difficult, like typing, buttoning your blouse, or turning a doorknob.
Neck Pain Treatment for a Cervical Herniated Disc
The best way to avoid the long-term effects of a herniated disc is to seek proper treatment right away. Depending on your symptoms and their severity, your doctor may recommend a range of treatment options. Here are examples of neck pain treatment for a cervical herniated disc that can help you avoid long-term complications.
At-Home Treatments
One of the best things you can do for a herniated disc is to rest. Making intentional time to rest will help alleviate symptoms that may be made worse by certain movements. Other things you can do at home to help relieve neck pain and other symptoms of a herniated disc include ice and heat therapy. Applying a cold compress to your neck can help reduce any inflammation and provide a temporary numbing sensation that helps alleviate your discomfort. Another natural way of healing herniated discs include avoiding sitting for too long, so as not to put strain. A heating pad or hot water bottle can also help soothe sore, stiff muscles and alleviate neck pain caused by a herniated disc.
Modifying Activity
Certain activities may make your symptoms of a cervical herniated disc worse. Your doctor may recommend modifying certain activities to help reduce your symptoms and allow for more effective treatment. Some activities, like physical labor or high-impact sports, can exacerbate your symptoms. Refrain from these types of strenuous activities or other movements that make your pain worse. Your doctor may also talk to you about how to modify your sleep position to help reduce your symptoms and allow you to get a better night’s sleep.
Medications
In some cases, your doctor may recommend over-the-counter medications to help with reducing pain and inflammation. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can help target nerve roots that may have become inflamed as a result of a herniated disc in your neck. Medications are typically recommended for a short period of time and in addition to other treatment options. While medications can help temporarily reduce your discomfort, they do not address the root cause of your pain.
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care can also help you avoid the long-term effects of a herniated disc. Visit a chiropractor for a herniated disc in your neck for an all-natural approach to treatment. Skip the medications and learn how a hands-on treatment approach with a chiropractor can help address the herniated disc at the source. Your chiropractor may recommend therapeutic adjustments to help restore proper alignment in your spine. This can help take pressure off nearby nerves when the vertebrae and spinal discs in your neck and back are properly aligned. Your chiropractor may also recommend therapeutic massage and other treatment techniques to help alleviate your symptoms and prevent future occurrences of a herniated disc.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy can help you regain the strength and mobility that may have been impacted by a herniated disc. Strengthening the muscles that support your neck can help you maintain a healthy posture for longer periods of time. This can reduce your chances of developing a herniated disc caused by poor posture. Stretches and exercises with a physical therapist can also help reduce pain in certain areas affected by the herniated disc in your neck.
If you are dealing with a herniated disc in your neck, then visit AICA Orthopedics in Tucker to get started on a personalized plan of treatment right away. Our team of doctors will help you avoid the long-term effects of a herniated disc by providing you with comprehensive care that helps resolve your pain and prevent flare-ups of a herniated disc.