- Ice or heat therapy. Applying ice for 15 or 20 minutes at a time may help reduce inflammation and alleviate pain. ...
- Cervical traction. A mechanical device is strapped to the head and used to gently lift upward and stretch the cervical spine. ...
- Massage therapy. A gentle massage may provide some relief by helping to loosen muscles, increase blood flow, and promote relaxation. If a massage worsens pain, stop immediately.
How serious is a herniated cervical disc?
In some patients, a cervical herniated disc can cause spinal cord compression, where disc material pushes on the spinal cord. This is a much more serious condition and may require a more aggressive treatment plan. Spinal cord compression symptoms include: Awkward or stumbling gait. What happens if a cervical herniated disc goes untreated?
How to heal a herniated disc naturally?
The following supplements are also beneficial for herniated disc treatment:
- Omega-3 fish oil supplement — 1,000–2,000 milligrams a day — or a fish roe supplement ( 4)
- MSM supplement, a sulfur-containing supplement that helps with joint repair ( 5, 6)
- Glucosamine and chondroitin ( 7)
- Anti-inflammatory herbs, such as turmeric (curcumin), help heal and repair damaged tissues ( 8)
What happens if a herniated disc goes untreated?
Your treatment plan may include one or more of the following:
- Spinal manipulation or adjustments
- Non-surgical spinal decompression
- Pelvic Blocking techniques
- Ultrasound
- Infrared
- Chiropractic massage therapy
- Heat or ice therapy
- Stretching program
Do herniated spinal discs heal on their own with time?
Typically a disc will not heal itself. If a disc herniates and the patient does not take action to correct the herniation, the symptoms will likely become worse as time goes on. That being said, disc herniations come in various forms. Some cause little to no pain at all.
What is the most common treatment for herniated discs?
A herniated disc is frequently treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication, if the pain is only mild to moderate. An epidural steroid injection may be performed utilizing a spinal needle under X-ray guidance to direct the medication to the exact level of the disc herniation.
What happens if a cervical herniated disc goes untreated?
Nerve Damage When a herniated disc puts significant pressure on a nerve, it can lead to significant damage by cutting off nerve impulses. Compressed nerves can lead to significant conditions, including loss of sensation in lower extremities or even loss of bowel control.
How long does it take for a herniated disc in the neck to heal?
In most cases cervical disc herniations improve with time and symptomatic treatment. This can take 6-12 weeks. Improvement is usually seen within 2-3 weeks and full recovery in the ensuing 2-3 months.
Can a cervical herniated disc heal without surgery?
The good news is that the vast majority of herniated discs can be treated without surgery using manual therapy and exercise or with IDD Therapy disc treatment. It is only a small percentage of cases which go on to have surgery.
What is the fastest way to heal a herniated disc?
How to heal a herniated disc quicklyAlternate applying heat and cold.Stay as active as you can. Take walks to avoid becoming too stiff from resting too often.Try alternative treatments like acupuncture, massage, or chiropractic.
How do you sleep with a cervical herniated disc?
The optimal sleeping position for a herniated disc is on your back. Lying on your back keeps your spine in a neutral position so you have less chance of pinching the nerve. For added comfort, nestle a small pillow or rolled-up towel under your knees and lower back.
Can a herniated disc in neck get worse?
Rarely, a cervical herniated disc's signs and symptoms may gradually feel worse rather than eventually stabilizing and resolving on its own. If a cervical nerve root remains pinched or inflamed, tingling, numbness, and/or weakness may progress in the arm.
How do you treat a c5 C6 herniated disc?
This treatment will likely involve being prescribed medication such as steroids for inflammation, injections, physical therapy, disc surgery, or spinal-fusion surgery. These treatment forms do little to address the condition's underlying cause, often offer only short-term pain relief, and are invasive.
Is walking good for herniated disc?
Absolutely. Walking is an excellent choice for patients with herniated discs, as it stimulates blood flow and oxygen to the cells. It also helps keep your discs hydrated, which is important for healing. Other low-impact aerobic activities to try are swimming and cycling.
When does a cervical herniated disc need surgery?
Surgery for cervical radiculopathy from a herniated disc should only be considered in those cases when 6 to 12 weeks of nonsurgical treatment fails to relieve neurological deficits in the arm, such as pain, numbness, and/or weakness.
How is C6/C7 herniated disc treated?
C6-C7 Herniated Disc Recovery Time For minor symptoms, non-surgical procedures might be sufficient. These include physical therapy, better posture, or pain-reducing over-the-counter medication. For major cases, surgery becomes a necessary course of action and injections or several surgical procedures can be conducted.
What are the symptoms of a herniated disc in the neck C5 C6?
Symptoms of c5-c6 disc herniation can include numbness, tingling, burning, weakness, problems with vision, and more.
What is the procedure to remove a herniated disk?
Surgery. Diskectomy is the surgical removal of the damaged portion of a herniated disk in your spine. A herniated disk occurs when some of the softer material inside the disk pushes out through a crack in the tougher exterior. This can irritate or compress nearby nerves and cause pain, numbness or weakness.
What tests are needed for a herniated disk?
In most cases of herniated disk, a physical exam and a medical history are all that's needed for a diagnosis. If your doctor suspects another condition or needs to see which nerves are affected, he or she may order one or more of the following tests.
What test can be used to confirm the location of the herniated disk and to see which nerves are affected
This test can be used to confirm the location of the herniated disk and to see which nerves are affected. Myelogram . A dye is injected into the spinal fluid before X-rays are taken. This test can show pressure on your spinal cord or nerves due to multiple herniated disks or other conditions.
What is nerve conduction?
Nerve conduction study. This test measures electrical nerve impulses and functioning in your muscles and nerves through electrodes placed on your skin. The study measures the electrical impulses in your nerve signals when a small current passes through the nerve. Electromyography (EMG).
How to treat low back pain?
Spinal manipulation has been found to be moderately effective for low back pain that has lasted for at least a month. Rarely, chiropractic treatment of the neck can cause certain types of strokes. Acupuncture. Although results are usually modest, acupuncture appears to ease chronic back and neck pain. Massage.
Can a surgeon remove a disk?
Loss of bladder or bowel control. In nearly all cases, surgeons can remove just the protruding portion of the disk. Rarely, the entire disk must be removed. In these cases, the vertebrae may need to be fused with a bone graft.
Can you take codeine for disk herniation?
Because of the side effects of opioids and the potential for addiction, many doctors hesitate to prescribe them for disk herniation. If other medication doesn't relieve your pain, your doctor might consider short-term use of opioids, such as codeine or an oxycodone-acetaminophen combination (Percocet, Roxicet).
Causes of cervical herniated discs
A herniated disc is caused by severe compression in the spine, usually due to general wear and tear or injury. Usually, a herniated disc will either occur in the cervical spine (neck) or lumbar spine (lower back) due to the natural degeneration of the spine over time.
Treatment options for cervical herniated discs
Most patients begin with conservative treatments to help reduce the pain caused by a herniated disc in the neck. The most common forms of conservative treatment include chiropractic care and physical therapy. However, if you do not find pain relief from these treatments, you may consider a surgical option to treat your herniated disc at the source.
Diagnosis and Treatment
In order to diagnose your condition, a neurosurgeon will first listen to your description of symptoms and conduct physical exam to see if there are any areas of pressure. Once the doctor suspects that a cervical disc herniation is the cause of your pain, they’ll order an imaging test.
Surgical Options
The most common surgery for a cervical disc herniation is the Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Spine Fusion (ACDF) procedure. In this operation, the problemed disc is removed through a small one-inch incision in the front of the neck. After the disc is removed, the disc space itself is fused, and a plate may be added for stability.
How to help a cervical herniated disc?
Avoiding specific movements that worsen pain, such as turning head to one side. Modifying sleep positions, such as by changing the pillow and/or sleeping on the back instead of the side or stomach. Watch: Pillows and Positions for Easing Neck Pain Video. Rest tends to help a cervical herniated disc become less painful.
What is the best treatment for a herniated disc?
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ( NSAIDs) help to reduce inflammation in the body. Since some of the worst pain caused by a herniated disc comes from inflammation of nerve roots and other tissues. Over-the-counter NSAIDs (Advil, Aleve, Motrin) are commonly the first medications recommended.
How to treat a herniated disc?
Many other treatments may provide some relief from a cervical herniated disc, such as: 1 Ice or heat therapy. Applying ice for 15 or 20 minutes at a time may help reduce inflammation and alleviate pain. Some people may find applying heat for 15 or 20 minutes at a time also offers relief. Whether applying ice or heat, allow 2 hours between applications to reduce the risk for skin damage. 2 Cervical traction. A mechanical device is strapped to the head and used to gently lift upward and stretch the cervical spine. The goal is to reduce pressure on the discs and nerve roots. Some people experience pain relief during traction but others do not. If traction provides relief, some patients may opt for a home device to perform the treatment on their own. 3 Massage therapy. A gentle massage may provide some relief by helping to loosen muscles, increase blood flow, and promote relaxation. If a massage worsens pain, stop immediately.
What is the purpose of a cervical herniated disc injection?
The goal of an injection for a cervical herniated disc is to place the medication directly where it needs to be without damaging any critical structures within the spine, such as nerve roots, blood vessels , or the spinal cord . Two common injections for cervical herniated discs include:
What is the most common injection for herniated discs?
This injection is by far the most common one used for herniated discs. Watch: Cervi cal Epidural Steroid Injection Video. Selective nerve root injection.
What to do if neck pain radiates down?
If the neck pain is severe and/or radiates down into the arm or hand, a short period of rest and/or activity modification is advised. Some examples may include: Refraining from strenuous activities, such as physical labor or playing sports. Avoiding specific movements that worsen pain, such as turning head to one side.
How to reduce inflammation in the cervix?
Ice or heat therapy. Applying ice for 15 or 20 minutes at a time may help reduce inflammation and alleviate pain. Some people may find applying heat for 15 or 20 minutes at a time also offers relief. Whether applying ice or heat, allow 2 hours between applications to reduce the risk for skin damage. Cervical traction.
How to diagnose cervical disc herniation?
The following may be used to diagnose a cervical disc herniation: Medical history, including symptoms and past neck injuries or surgeries. Physical examination to identify which nerve (s) might be compressed. Blood tests to look for inflammation, tumor, or other conditions that might be causing the symptoms.
What is the procedure to remove a herniated disc?
If these conservative methods don’t help, or if symptoms are severe or worsening, surgery may be required, such as: Anterior cervical discectomy with fusion. In this procedure, the herniated disc is removed.
What are the symptoms of a herniated cervical disc?
The type of symptoms that occur and their location depend on which nerve is compressed by the herniated cervical disc, but include: Muscle tenderness or spasms in the neck or shoulders. Pain in the neck, shoulder, or shoulder blade. Numbness or weakness in the arm or hand. Eye or ear pain, or headache.
What is the soft center of a spinal disc?
Spinal discs have a soft center ( nucleus pulposus) and a tough outer covering ( annulus fibrosus ). Disc herniation is when part or all of the center pushes out through a tear or weak area of the outer covering. Most often a herniated disc develops gradually, or chronically.
What is a herniated disc?
A herniated disc, also known as a slipped disk or ruptured disk, occurs when a tear in the tough outer covering of a spinal disc allows the spongy center to bulge out. A cervical disc herniation occurs in the part of the spine in the neck, or cervical region.
How long does it take for a herniated disc to heal?
For most people with a cervical herniated disc, symptoms decrease on their own over six weeks as the body heals the herniated disc and the tissues that surround it. Non-surgical treatments can support this healing and reduce symptoms during that time.
How to keep cervical spine healthy?
It is not possible to completely prevent the age-related changes that occur to the spinal discs, but you can take several steps to keep your cervical spine and spinal discs healthy, including: Maintain good posture in the neck and upper back, especially while using a computer or handheld device.
What are the treatments for a herniated disc?
Herniated disc surgeries and nerve decompression. Nonsurgical treatments for a herniated disc. Alternative treatments for a herniated disc — popular options. Relieving your herniated disc symptoms with physical therapy. Alternative treatments for a herniated disc — acupuncture. One of the most frequently diagnosed causes ...
What are the symptoms of a herniated disc in the neck?
Common specific symptoms described are shooting pain, numbness and muscle weakness in the different parts of the body. Since the spinal nerve roots exit at different vertebrae and travel out to the upper body a herniated disc in the neck can cause symptoms in the following locations: Neck. Shoulders. Arms.
Can a herniated disc hurt in the neck?
Symptoms of a herniated disc in the neck. While a herniated disc in the neck, or a cervical herniated disc, is less common than a herniated disc in the lower back, or a herniated lumbar disc, cervical discs are still prone to injury and age-related deterioration. The pain experienced from a herniated disc in the neck is usually due ...
CONSERVATIVE DISC TREATMENT OPTIONS
Medications – A herniated disc in the cervical spine is caused by first, the pinching of the spinal cord or nerve root and second, the inflammation associated with the disc itself. The following are recommended to provide relief:
NON-OPERATIVE TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR A CERVICAL HERNIATED DISC
Pain Management – nerve blocks and steroid injections work well to pinpoint pain generators in the cervical spine and also provide therapeutic pain relief. If injections are effective but relief is short-term, interventional procedures such as the medial branch radiofrequency ablation are often recommended by pain management physicians.
LEAST INVASIVE SURGICAL OPTIONS TO TREAT CERVICAL DISC HERNIATION
Endoscopic Rhizotomy – Through a ½ inch incision our surgeon targets small peripheral nerves in the facet joints of the cervical spine with an endoscope and an HD camera. Through the scope, these nerves can be seen and ablated with a radiofrequency probe.
MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGICAL OPTIONS TO TREAT CERVICAL DISC HERNIATION
CERVICAL ARTIFICIAL DISC REPLACEMENT (ADR) – was developed as an alternative to spinal fusion. The procedure has a 90% success rate at given patients relief of pain in the neck, shoulders, and hands. In addition, the ADR preserves natural motion of the neck and reduces likelihood of additional cervical surgery unlike cervical spinal fusion.
Diagnosis
Treatment
- Conservative treatment — mainly modifying activities to avoid movement that causes pain and taking pain medication — relieves symptoms in most people within a few days or weeks.
Lifestyle and Home Remedies
- Besides taking the pain medications your doctor recommends, try: 1. Applying heat or cold.Initially, cold packs can be used to relieve pain and inflammation. After a few days, you might switch to gentle heat to give relief and comfort. 2. Avoiding too much bed rest.Staying in bed can lead to stiff joints and weak muscles — which can complicate your...
Alternative Medicine
- Some alternative and complementary medicine treatments might help ease chronic back pain. Examples include: 1. Chiropractic.Spinal manipulation has been found to be moderately effective for low back pain that has lasted for at least a month. Rarely, chiropractic treatment of the neck can cause certain types of strokes. 2. Acupuncture.Although results are usually modest, acupuncture appears to ease chronic back and neck pain. 3. …
Preparing For Your Appointment
- You're likely to start by seeing your family doctor. You might be referred to a doctor specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation, orthopedic surgery, neurology, or neurosurgery.