What Is a Ruptured Disc in Neck?

The bony vertebral bodies in your spine have a soft tissue between them called discs. These can become ruptured or herniated from injury and sometimes with aging.

Description

• Tear in the disc

  A ruptured disc occurs when the tough protective lining of the disc (annulus fibrosis) tears, and the gel (nucleus pulposus) in the center of the disc squeezes through that tear.

Function

• Flexing

  The disc creates a joint between each of the vertebra, which allows them the movements of flexing, extending and slight rotation. The disc can become torn when any of these movements are done to the extreme, such as in an accident or when picking up something too heavy.

Identification

• Squeeze

  Once a tear occurs, everyday activities can cause pressure that pushes the nucleus through the tear. This is similar to a rip in a tube of toothpaste. When you squeeze the tube, toothpaste will ooze out of the rip.

Pain

• Before the nucleus starts to squeeze through the torn annulus, you will usually experience neck pain only. When the nucleus squeezes through the torn annulus it usually irritates a nerve root, causing pain in your neck and shoulders that radiates down your arm.

Other Effects

• Numbness and tingling

  Depending on which disc is ruptured and how it is pressing on your spinal cord and nerve roots, you can also experience numbness and arm weakness. You may also experience tingling in your arm and hand.

Diagnosing

• Diagnosing

  A ruptured disc is diagnosed by a doctor's examination along with tests such as X-rays, CT-scan and MRI.