Bulging Cervical Disc Symptoms

The bones in the human spine are divided into three areas--cervical, thoracic and lumbar. The cervical portion consists of the top seven bones that are connected to the head. These small bones are vulnerable to injury because of their position and lack of protection from trauma, such as whiplash. A bulging cervical disc can be quite painful if it ruptures or impinges a nerve. Otherwise, a bulging disc is common as we age and does not require treatment.

Symptoms

• Numbness in the arms and legs is a common symptom of a bulging cervical disc. This is indicative of a disc putting pressure on a spinal nerve. Pain radiating in the arms is also a symptom as is pain in the cervical area of the neck.

Function

• The cervical disc absorbs shock to protect the spine. Aging can cause normal wear and tear that could lead to bulging, but usually a trauma will cause the kind of major problem that would require advanced treatments. When stress is placed on the disc, the nucleus pulposus (which is the disc's center) comes out and places pressure on the surrounding area.

Diagnosis

• MRIs, X-rays, computed tomography, myelogram, electromyography and nerve conduction velocity are the common tests used to diagnosis bulging discs. MRIs use magnetic fields to see the spine's soft tissues. Computed tomography makes a 2-D image of the spine using a computer and an X-ray beam. A myleogram can reveal pinched nerves through the use of dye being injected into a the spinal canal that shows up on an X-ray. An EMG and nerve conduction velocity test will assess muscle and nerve response to electrical stimulation, which can reveal nerve damage or weakness in muscles.

Non-surgical Treatments

• There are many treatments that are tried before surgery is explored, including plain old bed rest. Success has been achieved with the application of hot and ice packs, massage, stretching, cervical traction and postural training. Physical therapists and their assistants will assess an individual's situation and make the necessary recommendations for which of these treatments, and the frequency of such, should be used per individual case.

Surgery

• There are several types of surgeries used to correct a bulging disc. Anterior cervical discectomy involves a small incision to be made in the anterior portion of the neck (the front) and then the disc is taken out. A percutaneous discectomy is a similar procedure, but the incision is made in the rear of the neck. Sometimes an artificial disc is used to replace the taken out disc in an artificial disc replacement. The least invasive type of surgery is a a microendoscopic discectomy in which a tiny incision is made a microscope or endoscope is used to take out the disc.