Cervical disc herniation

A cervical disc herniation is completely normal to develop and is often harmless. Unfortunately, you may experience symptoms such as pain radiating into the arm, neck pain, dizziness and similar. The causes can vary, but with us you can always count on the correct treatment with help from our experienced specialists.

With several years of experience in spine surgery, our consultant specialists can meet your requirements for reducing your neck pain. With us you also receive a thorough assessment, where you have ample time to ask your questions. We see you as both a person and a patient who should feel in safe hands throughout the entire pathway.

Furthermore, we are professionally updated on the latest knowledge, and we have the newest technological diagnostic and treatment options. This means clarity, security and a meaningful pathway from your first meeting with us.

Always feel free to contact us if you would like to know more about our examination or treatment of cervical disc herniation. We will do our best to answer your questions. With CPH Privathospital, in other words, you are assured high professional quality. 

What is a disc herniation?

A prolapse or disc herniation in the neck is when the edge of your intervertebral disc between two cervical vertebrae is damaged. Precisely, it means that a tear has occurred in the protective fibrous ring that surrounds a soft, gel-like nucleus. 

Your intervertebral disc is important to protect, as it functions as a shock-absorbing cushion between the vertebrae. If the fibrous ring ruptures, some of the nucleus can protrude and irritate a nerve in your neck. 

Disc herniation can occur due to an injury or overload on the neck, but the condition can also develop slowly over several years. Most often these problems occur between the fifth cervical vertebra (C5) and the seventh cervical vertebra (C6). These vertebrae are most exposed to increased traction from connective tissue and ligaments. 

If you are between 30–50 years old, you may be particularly at risk, because disc herniation in the cervical vertebrae often results from age-related changes. However, anyone can develop cervical disc herniation. For example, poor posture and too much sedentary work are often among the causes of developing a cervical disc herniation. Other causes can be a hard fall, hereditary factors or smoking.

Symptoms of cervical disc herniation

The causes of cervical disc herniation therefore depend on various factors. A typical cause, however, is pressure on the nerve roots at the lower part of the neck. This can produce common symptoms such as:

• Intense pain or stiffness in the neck
• Radiating pain in one arm
• Tingling sensations in the shoulder/arm
• Reduced sensation in the arm or reduced muscle strength in the arm
• A constant restlessness when stationary and in lying position

Be aware that both osteoarthritis in the neck and cervical disc herniation occur due to pressure on the nerves. The pain can therefore resemble each other, and you can actually risk having both conditions at the same time. However, they can also occur independently of each other.

In rare cases, you may develop symptoms that make it more difficult for you to walk. Others may experience neurological symptoms such as inability to retain urine. In addition, you may experience sensory disturbances and a sensation of electric shocks in the body. If you experience one or more of these problems, you should immediately contact your doctor, as an operation must be initiated quickly.

Different forms of neck pain can also give you headache and dizziness, as the blood vessels that supply your brain with blood and oxygen pass through the neck and throat. You should therefore always have a thorough examination of your neck pain, so that a professional can make the diagnosis.

We help with safe treatment and operation of cervical disc.

Conservative treatment including physiotherapy can often have a beneficial effect on your symptoms. Here the chiropractor will carry out a thorough examination, where a possible X-ray may be relevant.

At CPH Privathospital we make the diagnosis based on what you tell us about your symptoms. In addition, we examine your neck as well as your sensation, muscle strength and reflexes in the arms. This method will often make it clear whether you have a disc herniation, and which nerve it is irritating. Meet, among others, our skilled consultant in neurosurgery.

We also collaborate with experienced physiotherapists who tell you how you should respond to the symptoms and give you specific exercises. This can help strengthen and stabilise your muscles and connective tissue around the neck. The treatment does not remove the disc herniation, but can help you to move better while the natural healing is in progress.

As a starting point, we try to avoid operation. However, if there is a risk of permanent damage to the nerve, an operation may become necessary and can help you in some cases. For example, if you develop an acute cervical disc herniation with severe neurological deficits? Then there will often be a need for an MRI scan, as this can be a sign that a nerve is being compressed.