Herniated Disc — Cervical
A herniated disc in the neck compresses the nerves that travel into your arms. The symptoms are often felt far from the source.
Also Called: Slipped disc, ruptured disc, bulging disc, disc protrusion, disc extrusion. The same terms used for a lumbar herniation, applied to the neck.
What It Is
Discs in the neck sit between the bones, cushioning them and letting your head turn and bend. A cervical disc herniates the same way a lumbar one does: the outer ring tears and the soft center pushes through. The nerves in the neck run into the shoulder, arm, and hand, so a herniated disc there often causes pain, numbness, or weakness in the arm. Some patients feel little or no neck pain at all.
Causes & Risk Factors
Age-related disc degeneration is the most common factor. A movement or minor strain is usually the trigger people notice, though the degeneration came first. Repetitive neck strain, a prior injury, and a genetic tendency toward earlier degeneration all raise the risk. Smoking speeds disc breakdown throughout the spine, including the neck.
Symptoms
- Pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness that travels from the neck into the shoulder, arm, or hand
- Some patients have significant neck pain
- Others have almost none — only arm symptoms
There's no single right treatment for Herniated Disc — Cervical. The best plan depends on your imaging, your history, and your exam. The next step is a conversation about your specific case.
Dr. Hirsch is board-certified and Yale-trained. Read his full background.