About neck disc prolapse
A neck disc prolapse (disc prolapse) occurs when the ring of cartilage cracks open so that core material is pressed out of the disc itself. If it presses on or irritates a nerve root, you can get radiating pain in the arms, often called “brachialgia”.
A disc bulge (disc protrusion) occurs when the ring of cartilage partly cracks open, but the outer layer is intact. The cartilage ring is then weakened so that the disc bulges, which can press on, or irritate, a nerve root.
The biggest risk factors for neck disc prolapse are smoking and family history, but anyone can get a prolapse in the neck. It can occur acutely, or gradually over time. It can be related to injury or trauma, but most commonly it occurs without any known trigger.
Symptoms of a cervical prolapse:
- Neck pain
- Radiating pain in the arm/fingers on one side, rarely in both arms at the same time
- Both neck pain and radiating pain can get worse with particular head movements
- Numbness/tingling in a certain area of the arm
- Reduced strength for certain movements of the arm, wrist or fingers
- Acute onset of pain, or gradual onset over time
A thorough history and clinical examination are important when you come to us at Behandlerverket. The examination is important to find out in which disc the prolapse is and whether it affects muscle strength or sensation. The examination is often sufficient, but if further imaging is needed, chiropractors and manual therapists can refer for it. They can also refer to medical specialists if a surgical assessment is needed.
Most neck prolapses and disc bulges do not need to be imaged or examined by a surgeon with a view to surgery. You can be quite troubled by pain for the first couple of months, but then they most often get better by themselves. A thorough examination and an adapted treatment plan are a necessary measure. Manual treatment such as traction and exercises adapted to your symptoms often have a pain-relieving effect. Either way, it is important to keep moving. After all, our concept is based on easy access to treatment and exercise.