Typically, the course this malady follows, is neck pain, numbness, and pain to extremities (along the neural pathway). In extreme cases, you can lose control of various limbs and other parts of your body, depending on which cervical disk is bulging and to what extent it compresses nerves exiting the foramen (the hole in your vertabra that allows the nerve to leave the spinal column). Depending on how extreme the bulge is, you may cruise along with only mild pain or none at all, for the rest of your life, or the pain can become more acute. Spinal surgies are always something you really need to think hard about before proceeding. At this time, and depending exactly on what's happening in your neck, the surgeries are rarely 100% effective in permanently relieving all symptoms and, because, cervical vertabrae are so close together and so critical, it's easier to make a mistake than it is in a lumbar spine surgery. The thinking now, generally speaking, is to treat the pain with muscle relaxants (if necessary), pain therapy and physical therapy -- and these can be very successful in making the situation completely controllable. There is a lot of research on the horizon as well, including working and effective synthetic disks, which may eventually develop into a cure. In any case, get at least two opinions before resorting to surgery. Also -- get yourself really knowledgable on this topic -- read everything you can.
There is compression of the disc between the cervical vertebrae 4 and 5, which is leading to bulging out of the disc from all sides.
yes
A bulging disc between the cervical vertebrae C4 and C5 can compress nearby nerves, particularly the cervical nerve roots, leading to severe arm pain. This occurs because the bulging disc can irritate or pinch these nerves, causing pain to radiate along the pathway of the affected nerve. Additionally, inflammation and swelling associated with the disc bulge can exacerbate the pain. This condition can also lead to symptoms like weakness or numbness in the arm, further impacting mobility and function.
Several millimeter disc bulging in the cervical neck refers to a condition where one or more intervertebral discs in the cervical spine protrude slightly beyond their normal boundary. This bulging can potentially compress nearby nerves or the spinal cord, leading to symptoms such as neck pain, numbness, or weakness in the arms. While often a result of age-related degeneration or injury, many individuals may remain asymptomatic. Treatment options may include physical therapy, medication, or in some cases, surgery, depending on the severity of symptoms.
it could be a pinched nerve in your cervical spine(neck}. Due to a bulging or herniated disc.
A more commonly used term for a bulging disc is a herniated disc. This ailment may also be referred to as a slipped disc, ruptured disc, or protruding disc.
Minimal disc bulging means that you are at the beginning stages of a bulging disc. This can cause pain, numbness, and tingling in the neck and back.
The annulus is a part of the spinal structure, specifically the outer fibers. When the annulus is damages, normally through aging (degenerative) or trauma, it allows the cervical disc, a gel-like material to expand. The more damage to the annulus, the more significant the bulge. In the worst cases, the disc "herniates" and may cause pressure on the nerve roots which run through the spine. In the neck (cervical spine), effected nerves run to the upper extremities. Therefore, if a bulging disc impinges on a nerve root in the cervical spine, it usually results in radiating pain, numbness and/or weakness in the arms. Surgery is sometimes necessary to remove the disc or otherwise relieve the pressure on the nerve root.
A dorsal disc bulge is the most dangerous to correct because of the spinal cord. The diffuse dorsal disc bulge causes pain in the side of the back, tingling in the torse, all the way to the lower extremities, and lack of strength in lower extremities.
The only way you could tell is if you go and see a doctor. If the back pain is really severe, then you should definitely pay a visit to a doctor to see if it is bulging disc.
The fifth and sixth cervical vertebrae and the discs that separate and cushion them are a fairly common location for degeneration due to injury or age. If you are in pain the surgeon can fuse the vertebrae together, but that should be a last resort.
Surgery for a cervical disc replacement entails removal of the a portion of the cervical disc and replacing it with an artificial disc. This procedure is typically done in one surgery and is known as fusion surgery.