What is a Cervical Herniated Disc?

A spinal disc herniation is a medical condition affecting the spine in this case the neck in particular. Intervertebral discs are positioned between the vertebrae in the spine. The outside of a disc is made from cartilage, and in the center is a jelly like solution. These discs serve many purposes, including allowing movement of the spine, creating space between the vertebrae, and acting as shock absorbers. The gelatinous middle allows the disc to compress and expand based on impact and movement.

What causes a Herniated Disc?

A healthy spine provides full range of motion and activities of the body. Trauma to the spine can cause the discs toherniate, bulge,becomedisplaced (slipped disc), or evenrupture. However, trauma or direct injury to the area is not the only cause. As we get older, the discs can begin to weaken and dehydrate. These conditions can put pressure on the nerves around the spine and cause radiating pain, numbness, tingling sensation, andweakness to the lower back, buttocks, legs and feet. This condition is known as sciatica.

What are Cervical Herniated Disc symptoms?

Common symptoms of a cervical disc herniation include:

• Arm pain possibly radiating
• down to the fingers
• Neck pain
• Shoulder pain
• Trouble turning your neck
• numbness or tingling or a
• burning sensation in the
• shoulders, neck or arm
• Arm weakness
• Stiff neck

How to Diagnosis Disc Herniation

First, the doctor will ask you about your medical history for an example if you have been in an accident or had an injury of some sort. Then a physical examination will take place to determine what is best for you. The doctor may refer you to get a diagnostic study performed such as an x-ray, MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) or a CT (Computed tomography) exam. The diagnostic study will reveal what kind of condition you may have so we can better assess and treat you.

What do I do next?

Next you could come on down and we can give you a physical exam and determine what is best for you. At Manhattan Wellness Group. We want to give you a better way of healing without surgery.

Pain management - pain managementis used to ease suffering for those suffering with chronic pain and how to manage an everyday lifestyle. For pain management we use different types of injections such as facet blocking injections, nerve blocking injections, radio frequency ablations and epidural injections.

Chiropractic treatments - a chiropractor focuses on treating the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. During an exam, the chiropractor can do an adjustment which is also called spinal manipulation. In this treatment they are twisting, pushing or pulling the joints and repositioning discs. Other treatments can be extreme Joint Manipulation, activator adjustment, Traction decompression, Targeted Smart Electric Stimulation (Stim) with Ultrasound Combo, Sacro-Occipital Technique (SOT) and exercise.

Physical Therapy - physical therapy is the treatment of injuries and diseases by a physical nature such as massage, stretches and more helping you get back to your normal lifestyle. At Manhattan Wellness Group we target your source of pain and instruct you on how to avoid further injuries. We use different forms of physical therapy such as kinesio, kettle bell exercise, ultrasound therapy, stretching and neuromuscular reeducation.

Acupuncture treatments - Acupuncture is a study that originated in china over 2,000 years ago. The meaning behind it is there are channels of energy that run in common patterns throughout the body. Acupuncture can treat a number of ailments and change your lifestyle for the better through its healing process by inserting tiny needs in the body by hand or electro stimulation.

Medical massage - a medical massage improves health in many ways such as better circulation, relaxation, improved range of motion and increase endorphin levels. For herniated discs, massages are generally light to touch so there is no shifting when applying friction.