| Pain in the arm, shoulder or neck is often a clear | | | | extent of the damage. A Myelogram may also be |
| indication of a herniated cervical disc. In specific | | | | requested if the case is severe. |
| these symptoms may involve any of the | | | | If the doctor proves that you have a herniated |
| following: dull or severe pain between your neck | | | | cervical disc, surgery will not be the first |
| and shoulder blades; pain that shoots down your | | | | treatment option. Your doctor or physician should |
| arm towards your fingers; and a tingling sensation | | | | immediately recommend cold and heat therapy to |
| in the shoulder or arm. Turning the neck certain | | | | combat the inflammation in combination with anti |
| ways and angles can also induce the pain. | | | | inflammatory medications. Physical therapy would |
| A herniated cervical disc is a result of the | | | | also be advisable, under the strict guidance of a |
| breaking open of the outer layer of the disc | | | | physical therapist. Some physical therapy methods |
| (annulus), which then allows the inner jelly like | | | | include stretching, gentle massage, neck traction, |
| substance to protrude resulting in the herniated | | | | and ice/heat therapy. |
| cervical disc. A herniated cervical disc does not | | | | The majority of sufferers of a herniated cervical |
| always have instant symptoms- it may take time | | | | disc will notice a considerable improvement in their |
| for the pain to be felt, and often the problem is | | | | symptoms within 4 to 6 weeks. For this reason, |
| diagnosed by X-ray when patients have a | | | | conventional treatments usually work, and surgery |
| different problem. When the pain of a herniated | | | | is not likely to be appropriate nor required, so the |
| cervical disc takes hold, patients will want to see a | | | | news is generally good. |
| doctor as soon as possible. | | | | However, it is wise to be prepared for surgery in |
| There are various aspects and information your | | | | the event that your herniated cervical disc is a |
| doctor or physician will request to aid diagnosing a | | | | severe case, wherein there may be some |
| herniated cervical disc, these include: a physical | | | | compression placed upon the spinal cord. If |
| examination, neurological examination, medical | | | | surgery is recommended as the best treatment |
| history review, evaluation of your symptoms and | | | | option for your herniated cervical disc, try to |
| breakdown of previous treatments you may | | | | understand why it is being recommended and |
| have tried. The doctor will also most likely request | | | | possibly seek a second opinion. Surgery on the |
| an X-ray to see if such conditions as osteoarthritis | | | | spine is serious, and need only be performed if all |
| are a related cause. Further to this the doctor | | | | other treatments for a herniated cervical disc |
| may also ask for a CT or MRI scan to locate the | | | | have been exhausted. |
| herniated cervical disc and to further isolate the | | | | |