Spine Conditions
Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative disc disease is a weakening of one or more vertebral discs, which normally act as a cushion between the vertebrae. Discs can degenerate as a natural part of the aging process, but may also result from injury to the neck.
Symptoms
Some people with degenerative disc disease experience pain localized to the neck. This pain may radiate into the base of the skull and the back of the neck or towards the shoulder blade. This pain can be episodic and can be positional. Typically bringing the head backwards and/or sitting with suboptimal posture can increase the extent of the neck pain. Lying down may relieve the pain depending on the necks position.
For most people moving the neck and not being in a fixed position is often helpful in relieving the pain.
Treatments
- Chiropractic care
- Massage/ acupuncture
- Medications (NSAID’s, muscle relaxers, and short-term narcotics)
- Epidural and/or facet injections
- Physical Therapy
- Spine surgery in selected patients
Herniated Disc
When a disc in the cervical spine ruptures, soft, jelly-like material from inside the disc (nucleus) can protrude outside and through the outer ring (annulus) and compress the spinal cord and nerve roots. A herniated disc can arise through the wear and tear of aging or from minor injury to the spine.
Symptoms
A herniated disc can cause painful burning, tingling or numbing sensations in the neck, shoulders, arms and hands. It may also cause muscle weakness. Pain due to a herniated disc may worsen with activity.
Treatments
- Rest
- Immobilization of the neck with a soft collar
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Pain Medications
- Muscle Relaxants
- Physical Therapy
- Spinal Injections
- Spine surgery