Neck – Acute Cervical Disc Disease

(“Slipped Disc”)

Commonly known as a slipped disc, this condition actually occurs when one of the discs that lie between the vertebrae in the neck breaks down, and fragments impinge on the nerve in the area.

Symptoms:

Ø Neck and arm pain, though the arm pain is almost always on only one side.

Ø Degree of pain depends on the extent of the nerve impingement.  Pain may be mild, moderate, or severe.

Ø Arm movement is affected.  Arm reflexes slow down, and sensation in the arm may also be compromised.  Pins and needles sensation in the affected arm.

Causes:

Ø  A degenerative condition, slipped discs develop in older people as their discs dry up and get more brittle.  This makes them more susceptible to the wear and tear associated with sports, as well as daily activity.

Ø  Although fragmentation takes place over several years, a sudden incident may cause a fragment to dislodge, pinch a nerve, and cause pain.

Concerns:

Ø  If the fragment of disc compresses the root of the nerve long enough, permanent arm weakness may result.

What you can do:

Ø  Use a heating pad to reduce muscle spasm.

Ø  Seek medical attention

Medication:

Ø  For relief of minor to moderate pain take acetaminophen as directed on the label, or, for the relief of pain and inflammation, ibuprofen or aspirin if tolerated.

What the doctor can do:

Ø  Perform a physical examination to confirm disc degeneration and associated nerve impingement, testing arm reflexes, arm muscle strength, and skin sensation in the arm.

Ø  Order x – rays to further confirm the diagnosis, and rule out other problems such as an infection or tumor.

Ø  Treatment for cervical disc disease is usually nonsurgical:

A soft collar to splint neck

A heating pad

Anti – inflammatory pain medicines and muscle relaxants

Cervical traction, which separates the vertebrae, thus relieving the pressure of the disc fragments on the nerve. Traction is done twice a day for two weeks.

Epidural injections to directly relieve pressure on the nerve.

Ø  Physical therapy modalities designed to relieve muscle spasms and pain.

Ø  If after six weeks aggressive nonsurgical treatment is unsuccessful (a rare occurrence), then surgery may be done:

Remove the disc fragment surgically, followed by hospitalization for two or three days.

After surgery, the patient wears a soft collar for up to three months.

Reprinted with permission from The Sports Medicine Bible (Harper Collins), by Dr. Lyle J. Micheli, former President of the American College of Sports Medicine.