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Herniated Cervical Disc.A Herniated cervical disc is very common and often extremely painful. What is a herniated cervical disc?Well, a healthy disc is like a jam doughnut! It has a firm outer shell and a soft pulpy centre. A herniated disc is where the soft centre has oozed away from its central position and/or where the shell has been damaged and cracked. Inflammation is often associated with a herniated disc. The pain you experience is simply the result of that inflammation, and if the disc is pressing on a nerve you may have arm pain, pins and needles and numbness. Although disc pain varies a lot it is usually very severe at the outset. Your neck is made up of 7 cervical vertebrae. Between six of these vertebrae are cushions known as discs. Each vertebra has a nerve coming from its right and left sides. When the disc moves out of position it is known as a herniated cervical disc. Due to the close position of the discs to nerves, disc movement often results in a nerve becoming compressed by the disc, resulting in further pain and disability.  I treat herniated cervical discs on a daily basis in my physiotherapy practice.
I find that the most common disc to herniate in your neck is at the level of C5/C6.
This is a disc at the base of your neck close to where your upper back meets your neck. The reason for this common presentation at C5/6 is
due to poor posture. It commonly affects people who are sitting for long periods of time and are usually
office workers or long distance drivers.
The posture that places excess pressure on your lower neck is a chin poke posture. This is where your chin is poked forwards causing a build
up in pressure in your lower neck. Eventually over time breakdown in your neck, upper back or shoulders will result.
If you are suffering with posture-related neck pain after sitting seek physiotherapy advice before it becomes more serious. So, how do you treat a herniated cervical disc? Treatment of a herniated cervical disc will depend on the severity of the herniation as well as the degree of pain and symptoms that you are experiencing. Most cervical disc herniations can be treated effectively with mobilisation and strength therapy. However, if your herniated disc is severe and is associated with neurological signs and symptoms then surgery may be required. Please seek an MRI scan and a good physiotherapy opinion prior to any spinal surgery.  One effective manual treatment technique for cervical discs is manual traction. This is where your neck is gently stretched longitudinally
to allow the disc material to centralise again. Once the disc is correctly aligned, the deep muscles of your neck will require
strengthening exercises to reduce the risk of your disc herniating again.
Strength work is very important in the long term management of cervical disc herniations.
Pilates is my exercise programme of choice in the latter stages of a herniated cervical disc.
Postural correction is a very important aspect of both the prevention and treatment of a herniated cervical disc. I don’t think I have ever seen anyone sitting correctly at their desk job without having been educated on how they should work and sit at their desk by a qualified professional. Seek ergonomic advice with your work station layout to help reduce the risk of neck and back pain associated with poor sitting posture. My favourite piece of postural advice for your neck is this! Sit tall; imagine a helium balloon coming out from the top of your head lengthening you. This will take the weight of your head off your neck and shoulders and reduce the pressure on your cervical discs. Return from Herniated Cervical Disc to Herniated Disc Return from Herniated Cervical Disc to Back Pain Relief Home |
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The information on this web site does not replace specific medical advice. It should only be used to complement advice from your doctor. Always seek in-person advice from a doctor or other qualified health provider for your particular condition. | ||
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