Herniated Discs happen when a disc slips and breaks open, causing the fluid in the disc to leak into the spinal canal. Patients have have a cervical (neck) herniated disc can have symptoms of radiating pain from their shoulders, arms, head, or neck. Sometimes if the herniated disc is severe, it can also cause facial numbness. Pain that is constant and radiating needs to be treated.
Florida Surgery Consultants specializes in treating patients that have chronic neck pain issues. We understand that having constant radiating pain is debilitating and effects your daily lives. Living with the symptoms of chronic neck pain should not happen. If you have neck pain or been diagnosed with a herniated disc let our Board Certified Neurosurgeon team explain your treatment options. Our top rated Spine Surgery team is here to help answer all your questions you may have in your consultation. Contact us now to schedule an appointment.
Why Cervical Herniated Discs Occur
There are several factors that can cause a Cervical Herniated Disc. Some factors can be Degenerative Disc Disease which is simply the normal part of aging or Whiplash from a car accident. Since the cervical spine is responsible for supporting the neck and head normal wear and tear can happen. A great example would be rubber, once the rubber has moved and stretched for a long period of time, eventually it tears. The same is for your discs in your neck. Injuries such as a car accident can aggravate your discs and cause the gel like fluid in your disc to leak into the spinal canal. When the disc in your neck leaks into the spinal canal, this is a cervical herniated disc.
Cervical Herniated Disc Treatment
Conservative therapy such as chiropractic care, physical therapy, pain medication, anti-inflammatory medication should be attempted before you should consider surgery. If there is no pain relief from conservative treatments, a cervical epidural steroid injection done by our Board Certified Neurosurgeons may help.
If there is no relief from the Epidural Steroid Injection, minimally invasive surgical procedures such as a Percutaneous Laser Disc Decompression or Microdiscectomy can be an option. These surgeries are minimally invasive due to the small 1-inch incision and quick recovery times after the procedure.
Alternatively, if the herniated disc requires a more complex surgery such as an Artificial Disc Replacement or ACDF our Board Certified Neurosurgeons can also perform these complex procedures. Even though the procedures are considered complex, the incisions are still small compared to open spine surgery and the recovery times are quicker. The procedures are done in our outpatient surgery center and patients are able to go home the same day as the surgery.