Herniated Disc (Cervical)

A herniated disc also referred to as a bulging disc or slipped disc, is an extremely painful condition that affects your spine. This condition is very common and can occur in different locations along the spine. This includes the thoracic, cervical, and lumbar segments. The condition is the result of your discs, the cushions in between your vertebrae, being pushed out or torn. When this occurs, you may experience a great deal of pain and irritation to the surrounding nerves. When talking about the cervical discs specifically, this may cause you to experience pain in your back, neck, arms, hands, and upper body.

While common, this isn’t a condition that should be taken lightly. It is important to seek our medical assistance as soon as possible so that there are no further complications. If you are seeking treatment, there is a pain management doctor in Nassau County that can help relieve your pain! Integrated Spine & Pain Care has been serving local Long Island patients for several years.

Symptoms:

While at times, you may not have any symptoms at all, there are a few tell-tale signs of a cervical herniated disc. The number one being neck pain. Aside from that though, there are a few other symptoms you may experience in different areas. For instance, if the problem disc is pressing on a nerve root you’ll experience:

• Numbness or tingling from your shoulder down to your fingers.
• Experiencing weakness in your hand or arm.

Whereas if the disc is pressing on your spinal cord, the symptoms may become more serious. You’ll want to notify a pain management doctor in Nassau County if you are experiencing:

• Awkward walking, or stumbling.
• Experiencing tingling or a “shock” that runs down your body to your leg.
• Having issues using your hands or arms when it comes to fine motor skills.
• Losing balance or coordination easily.

Unfortunately, it is not always simple to pinpoint the exact cause of your herniated disc. A good portion of the time, it can be due to the wear and tear, known as disc degeneration, that occurs as we get older. In other cases, it can be due to using your back muscles rather than leg muscles when lifting heavy objects or traumatic events such as a fall. No matter the case though, it is important to contact a pain management doctor in Nassau County as soon as you suspect there may be an issue.

Risks:

Like any condition, there are factors that can increase your risk of suffering from a herniated disc. When it comes to a herniated disc, the following factors can increase your chances of suffering from this problem:

• Your weight – Being overweight can put more stress on your discs.
• Your Occupation – Physically demanding jobs that include repetitive motions such as lifting, pulling, pushing, twisting, or bending sideways can lead to a herniated disc.
• Genetics – It is possible to inherit a predisposition to herniated discs.

Prior to meeting with a pain management doctor in Nassau County, you may want to try out some techniques to relieve your pain while at home. One of the best ways to help ease the pain of a cervical herniated disc can be through exercise. You can try incorporating some of the following exercises into your daily routine to help bring some relief:

• Neck Extensions.
• Chin Tuck (Neck Retraction).
• Shoulder Retraction.
• Lateral Bend.
• Scalene Stretch.
• Neck Rotation.
• Neck Extension with Head Lifts.
• Isometric Hold.

When it comes to a herniated disc, it is crucial that you see a doctor as soon as you begin to experience one or more of the symptoms we previously discussed. When you visit a pain management doctor in Nassau County, at Integrated Spine & Pain Care, you’ll start by getting a full physical examination. From there, we will determine which treatment plan will best fit your needs. When it comes to cervical herniated discs, it is common to try out non-invasive options prior to going with surgery. These methods may include:

• Pain Medication
• Physical Therapy
• Rest

If you are experiencing pain in your back and neck more often than not, you may be suffering from a cervical herniated disc. If this is the case, you’ll want to make an appointment with a pain management doctor in Nassau County as soon as possible. Contact Integrated Spine & Pain Care today to get back to living a pain-free life!