Degenerative Neck Disc Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

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Find out if you're a candidate for a minimally invasive alternative to open neck or back surgery

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Degenerative Neck Disc Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

Disc degeneration is a natural side effect of aging in which the intervertebral discs lose volume, protein, and water content. The wear and tear of normal life causes a degenerative neck disc to become thinner and more prone to bulging and herniating. Disc degeneration can be hastened by trauma to the body such as from a car accident, but usually it just comes with age.

Symptoms

A degenerative disc in the cervical region of the spine will cause stiffness and pain in the neck, but it can also result in headaches, pain, tingling, numbness, and other symptoms in the shoulders, down the arms, and into the hands and fingers.

Treatments

Although disc degeneration can’t be stopped completely, there are many treatments that can help reduce the effects of a degenerative disc. These include:

Chiropractic treatment - By decompressing the spine, a chiropractor can increase the space between vertebrae, creating a wider opening for nerve roots to pass through and allowing the spine to bend more. This treatment would need to be repeated regularly to maintain the effects.
Anti-inflammatory steroid injections - When a degenerative neck disc causes pain, it’s most likely because a nerve root nearby has been irritated and inflamed by pressure from the disc itself or from impinging bone. By injecting a steroid, your doctor can reduce inflammation, thereby minimizing symptoms.
Pain medicines - Many people find that their symptoms can be managed by taking pain medication. For mild pain, over-the-counter brands are sufficient, but for more severe symptoms, prescription pain medicines may be necessary.

Degenerative Neck Disc Surgery

These are just three possible treatments. If these and other conservative treatment options fail, then your doctor may recommend surgery. Open-neck surgical treatment usually includes a lengthy hospital stay, a long recovery, and permanent scarring. Endoscopic laser surgery from Laser Spine Institute (LSI), however, is done on an outpatient basis with minimal risk of scarring. Most patients can walk out of the surgery center themselves the same day and are returned to normal activity within just a few weeks.

If this sounds like something you’d like to learn about, then contact LSI for more information. We’ll be happy to answer all your questions and provide you with a free review or your CT scan or MRI to determine if you’re a candidate.

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