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Cervical Disc Herniation

Overview

Cervical Disc Herniation

Cervical spine disc herniation is a common cause for neck and radiating upper extremity symptoms. This can be debilitating. Dr. Guirgues and his team will evaluate you and formulate a treatment plan to get you on the road to recovery. If surgery is indicated, he and his team will provide you with the surgical treatment utilizing the latest technologies and advancements in surgical technique and devices that will advance you to recovery as quickly as possible.

What is Cervical Disc Herniation?

Cervical disc herniation is a condition where the inner gel-like center (nucleus pulposus) of a disc in the cervical spine (the neck region) pushes through a tear or weakness in the outer ring (annulus fibrosus) of the disc.

Causes

Aging (disc degeneration)
Trauma (e.g., whiplash)
Repetitive strain
Poor posture or prolonged sitting

Symptoms

Neck pain
Radiating pain into the shoulder, arm, or hand (radiculopathy)
Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the arm or fingers
Rarely, if the spinal cord is compressed: trouble walking, loss of coordination, or bowel/bladder issues (cervical myelopathy)

Diagnosis

Methods of diagnosis could consist of:

Physical exam
MRI (gold standard for visualizing disc and nerve compression)
CT or X-rays for bone detail
EMG/nerve studies if symptoms are unclear

Treatment Options

Conservative (First Line):

Rest, ice/heat
Physical therapy
NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen)
Oral steroids or muscle relaxants
Epidural steroid injections

Surgical (If severe or unresponsive to therapy):

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF)
Cervical artificial disc replacement (motion-preserving option)

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