Cervical disc protrusion describes a vertebral disc degenerating or protruding outside of its normal parameters in the neck or upper region of the spine. As a result, pressure, irritation or pinching of the affected nerves occur, causing pain, tingling, numbness and weakness in the arms, hands and fingers. To learn about the causes of these debilitating symptoms and the treatment options available to provide you with lasting relief, read the following article.

Common causes of cervical disc protrusion

This condition can stem from a variety of reasons, including:

• Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption
• Excess weight
• Poor dietary habits
• Living a sedentary lifestyle
• Traumatic injury
• Genetic factors
• Age-related degeneration

Cervical disc protrusion conservative treatments

If you are suffering from the symptoms described above and believe that you have a protruding disc in your cervical spine, then your doctor can conduct a thorough physical examination and a round diagnostic tests. Once you receive a proper diagnosis of your condition, your doctor will then recommend an appropriate treatment regimen based on the severity of the protruding disc.

Prior to undergoing surgery for your cervical disc protrusion, your doctor will typically come up with a conservative plan to ease your symptoms without the need for an invasive treatment measure. This may consist of pain medications such as muscle relaxants, epidural steroids and anti-inflammatories. Physical therapy, heat massages, range of motion exercises and chiropractic care may also be used as an option.

Minimally invasive cervical disc protrusion surgery

If your symptoms persist after several weeks or months, surgical intervention may then become necessary, such as the minimally invasive spine surgery offered at USA Spine Care. To learn about the advantages of our outpatient procedures, contact us today. Our streamlined patient experience reduces hospital-associated costs and allows our patients to get back to their lives faster.

USA Spine Care is the leader in minimally invasive spine surgery and has helped more than 75,000 patients find relief from chronic neck or back pain. Our highly skilled surgeons are able to use small muscle-sparing incisions in order to remove the damaged disc associated with cervical disc protrusion or to stabilize the spine. Through a no-cost MRI review,* our dedicated team can evaluate your condition to determine if you are a potential candidate for our outpatient procedures.