Treatment with rest, pain medication, spinal injections, and physical therapy is the first step to recovery. Most people improve in 6 weeks and return to normal activity. If symptoms continue, surgery may be recommended.
Most patients, up to 90%, get better without the need for surgery within a time frame of six to twelve weeks after the herniated cervical disc symptoms (neck pain with arm pain, numbness, tingling and weakness) have developed.
Using cervical or lumbar traction machines can aid in helping to open the joints of the spine up to take pressure off of the disc and allow for the bulge and herniation to absorb back to where it needs to be. Chiropractic treatment for bulging or herniated discs is safe, effective, and long lasting.
A bulging disc isn't an uncommon condition, and it's usually one of the primary sources of neck and arm pain. The good news is that not all cases of the cervical bulging disc are a serious concern. This disorder occurs when the nucleus inside the intervertebral disc shifts and pushes out of its outer layer.
When a Cervical Herniated Disc Is Serious. 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.
C5-C6 disc bulging can be a painful and debilitating condition affecting the quality of life. Traditional medical treatment may involve medication, physical therapy, and surgery.
To protect the neck, you'll want to avoid any exercises that may shock the cervical spine, such as weightlifting. Avoid other exercise or activities that require you to bend forward or use your arms or shoulders in front of your body, which could potentially irritate the bulging disc.
For a herniated disk in your neck, you'll typically feel the most pain in your shoulder and arm. This pain might shoot into your arm or leg when you cough, sneeze or move into certain positions. Pain is often described as sharp or burning. Numbness or tingling.
Someone seeking traditional medical treatment for C5-C6 disc bulging is often looking to remedy the pain and discomfort disrupting their daily life. This treatment will likely involve being prescribed medication such as steroids for inflammation, injections, physical therapy, disc surgery, or spinal-fusion surgery.
Poor posture is one of the main causes of C5-C6 disc herniation. Taking measures to improve work and sleep head positioning can also help prevent complications in the neck spine.
If you don't want to re-herniate a disc, you should always position your body so that your legs take the brunt of the strain. Don't hunch your back when sitting for extended periods, while standing, or while walking. Such poor posture places additional pressure on your discs. Try not to sleep on your stomach.
A herniated disk is also known as a slipped, ruptured or bulging disk. It's one of the most common causes of neck, back and leg pain. Most of the time, herniated disks heal on their own or with simple home-care measures.
While there is no fixed timeline for recovery, it generally takes time and patience to fully heal from a herniated disc. The process of healing involves the body's natural ability to repair the damaged disc and alleviate symptoms.
Numerous studies have demonstrated that acupuncture is beneficial to patients with neck pain, including disc herniations.
If the repeated forward bending stress continues, or the improper body mechanics continue, very often the inner disc material will continue to push backwards, causing the disc bulge to worsen, to herniate, progressing into the spinal canal and towards the spinal cord.
While direct manual pressure to the spine is contraindicated, massaging the surrounding muscular tissues can ease the symptoms of a herniated or bulging disc. In addition to relieving the discomfort, massage can also increase the chances of the disc healing on its own without invasive measures.
The pressure that a bulging disc applies to your nerves can cause your nerves to misfire, especially if the area develops a pinched nerve. You can experience tingling, numbness, acute and chronic pain, and even nerve damage if your condition is left untreated.
In worst-case scenarios, patients can lose feeling in their nerves permanently. This normally leads to what is referred to as saddle anesthesia. It can also lead to loss of control over bowel movements and bladder. In cases where a herniated disc has been untreated for too long, this type of damage can be permanent.
It is a good idea to lie on your back as much as possible since doing so will keep your spine and neck aligned, reduce pressure points, and distribute your weight more evenly. To provide some extra support under your knees, you may place a pillow under them.
In fact, about half of the people with a bulging disc never experience any symptoms or pain. Some patients only learn they have a bulging disc after imaging tests for another medical issue. However, most people immediately feel pain if a bulging disc presses on a nerve.
If the bulging disc is in your neck you might feel stiffness in your neck, but your pain can be felt anywhere from your neck to your shoulders or arms, that is because the herniation could be touching your nerve, affecting different areas in the body.
If you still have pain or numbness after four to six weeks, or if your problem gets worse, talk with your doctor. Sometimes it takes surgery to relieve pain. If you have trouble going to the bathroom or have weight loss, pain at night, or more pain or weakness than usual in backbone, tell your doctor right away.