An Overview of Cervical Disc Protrusion
Cervical disc protrusion describes a vertebral disc degenerating or protruding outside of its normal parameters in the neck or upper region of the spine. As a result, pressure, irritation, or pinching of the affected nerves will occur. This will cause pain, tingling, numbness, and weakness in the arms, hands, and fingers. To learn about the causes of these debilitating symptoms and the treatment options available to provide you with lasting relief, read the following article.
Common Causes of Cervical Disc Protrusion
This condition can stem from a variety of reasons, including:
- Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption
- Excess weight
- Poor dietary habits
- Living a sedentary lifestyle
- Traumatic injury
- Genetic factors
- Age-related degeneration
Cervical Disc Protrusion Conservative Treatments
If you are suffering from the symptoms described above and believe that you have a protruding disc in your cervical spine, then your doctor can conduct a thorough physical examination and diagnostic tests. Once you receive a proper diagnosis of your condition, your doctor will then recommend an appropriate treatment regimen. This regimen will be based on the severity of the protruding disc.
Prior to undergoing surgery for your cervical disc protrusion, your doctor will typically come up with a conservative plan to ease your symptoms without the need for an invasive treatment measure. This may consist of pain medications such as muscle relaxants, epidural steroids, and anti-inflammatories. Physical therapy, heat massages, range of motion exercises, and chiropractic care may also be used as an option.
Minimally Invasive Surgery
If your symptoms persist after several weeks or months, surgical intervention may then become necessary, such as the minimally invasive spine surgery offered at BEST Health System. To learn about the advantages of our outpatient procedure, contact us today. Our streamlined patient experience reduces hospital-associated costs and allows our patients to get back to their lives faster.
BEST Health System is the leader in minimally invasive spine surgery and will help you find relief from chronic neck or back pain. Our highly skilled surgeons use small muscle-sparing incisions in order to remove the damaged disc associated with cervical disc protrusion or to stabilize the spine. Contact us today to find out if you are a potential candidate for our outpatient procedure.
