The degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine usually involves the most mobile segment that is the C5-C6 followed by C6-C7 and C4-C5 disc levels. The degeneration causes decreased water content of the disc or desiccation which leads to tears in the outer ring or the annulus fibrosus.
Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) surgery involves removing the C5-C6 intervertebral disc to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or C6 nerve root. The disc is replaced by an implant or bone graft, allowing biological fusion of the adjacent C5 and C6 vertebrae.
The more the cervical spine degenerates, the more likely the spinal canal will narrow and put the spinal cord at risk. If the spinal cord becomes compressed, then myelopathy could result and include symptoms such as: Difficulty moving arms and/or legs. Trouble with coordination and/or balance.
Physical therapy: Participating in strengthening and stretching exercises with a trained healthcare provider. Medications: Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), muscle relaxers or steroids. Steroid injections: Injecting medicine near your spinal nerves, disk or joints to reduce inflammation and pain.
People with degenerative disk disease should avoid slouching and a sedentary lifestyle. They should also refrain from exercise or activities that are high impact or involve heavy lifting. Many people experience lower back pain due to degenerative disk disease.
While there is no way to totally correct degenerative disc disease, for the vast majority of people suffering low back pain, sciatica, neck pain, or arm pain and tingling due to this condition, they can successfully manage their pain and regain their lives – while avoiding surgery.
Degenerative Disc Disease doesn't improve over time and, unfortunately, there is no cure. If you're experiencing symptoms, don't ignore them. There's no need to suffer, especially when there are many pain management treatments and minimally invasive procedures that can exponentially increase your quality of life.
Treatment Of Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease
Mehan says, it can be managed with physical therapy. Ice or heat may also be used. And your doctor may recommend over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs – or prescription medications – to treat your pain.
A herniated disc in the c5-c6 level of the spine can cause weakness in the biceps muscles of the arms and wrist extensor muscles as well as numbness and tingling along with pain that radiates to the thumb and fingertips. c5-c6 is one of the most common levels for a cervical disc herniation to occur.
From the lateral cord, C5, C6, and C7 supply the pectoralis major and minor muscles, via the lateral and medial pectoral nerves, as well as the coracobrachialis, brachialis and biceps brachii, via the musculocutaneous nerve. The musculocutaneous nerve provides sensation to the skin of the lateral forearm.
The C5-C6 spinal disc and spinal joints (facet joints) are the most mobile neck joints, and all that mobility can cause them to wear out prematurely. C5-C6 slipped discs, facet syndrome, degeneration, and information is avoidable, treatable, and to a certain extent reversible without steroid injections or surgery.
The recovery time for C5-C6-C7 neck treatments is about 4 to 6 weeks. Full recovery may take months. You can shorten your recovery by maintaining a proper lifestyle and cooperating with your doctor.
It develops when one or more of the cushioning discs in the cervical spine starts to break down due to wear and tear. There may be a genetic component that predisposes some people to more rapid wear. Injury may also accelerate and sometimes cause the development of the degenerative changes.
Degenerative disc disease is relatively common in aging adults, and, as a reassurance, it seldom requires surgery. When medical attention is needed, the majority of patients respond well to non-surgical forms of treatment, and recovery occurs in about six weeks.
Disc degeneration cannot be stopped or reversed. Most people, however, can be treated for “discogenic” pain ─ the pain caused by disc changes ─ without surgery or disc replacement.
Complications of degenerative disc disease. Degenerative disc disease requires prompt evaluation and treatment to reduce the risk of complications. Among the complications that may arise are bone spurs, spinal canal compression, pain, herniated discs, and bladder problems.
Massage therapy is a great way to reduce muscle tension and alleviate pain and other symptoms caused by DDD. Using therapeutic massage, practitioners can apply carefully targeted pain and tension relief where patients need it the most.
The degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine usually involves the most mobile segment that is the C5-C6 followed by C6-C7 and C4-C5 disc levels. The degeneration causes decreased water content of the disc or desiccation which leads to tears in the outer ring or the annulus fibrosus.
he main reason to perform more tests is if the symptoms are getting worse despite treatment, if the pain is severe or if you have signs of nerve damage — particularly nerve damage that is getting worse. The signs of worsening nerve damage would be increasing tingling or numbness, weakness and sometimes increasing pain.
Sitting upright in an ergonomic chair that provides low back support for the natural curve in the lumbar region can prevent irritating discs. Hanging a small mirror near their desk can allow patients to check posture and remind them to straighten up.
Physical therapy that includes stretching, strength training, and stability exercises can lead to a significant reduction in pain. In many cases, success can be achieved with a combination of physical therapy and corticosteroid injections to treat pain and stiffness.