Cervical Disc Herniation

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• A cervical disc is a sac filled with a gel-like material found between your vertebrae. Your vertebrae are the bones in your back that are linked together to form your spine. Your spine surrounds your spinal cord that contains your nerves. Your cervical discs and vertebrae are found in your neck. Your cervical vertebrae and discs help your spine support your head. Cervical disc herniation occurs when the gel-like material bulges out from between your vertebrae. A weak disc, injury, or cracked vertebrae may cause your disc to bulge. The bulging disc may press on your nerves or spinal cord. A herniated cervical disc may be painful and decrease your neck and arm movement.
  
  
• You may feel pain in your neck, arms, and upper back. Your arms and hands may be numb, or they may have a burning or tingling feeling. You may leak urine or stool (bowel movements). You may have trouble with your balance and your legs may feel weak. Your caregiver may do a physical exam, and you may need to rest for a few days. Imaging tests such as a computed tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and a myelogram may be needed. Treatment may include medicines, injections, physical therapy, and surgery. Having your cervical disc herniation treated may decrease your pain. You may be able to move and function in your daily life better. Treatment may also prevent your nerves or spinal cord from being permanently damaged.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

RISKS:

• You may have an allergic response to the medicines used for treatment or surgery. Shots into your spine may bruise your neck, cause an infection, or damage your spinal cord. With surgery, you may bleed more than expected or get an infection. You may have trouble speaking or swallowing after surgery. Surgery may also damage tissues, nerves, or blood vessels in your neck. The covering of you spinal cord may be damaged, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may leak out. Even with treatment, you may still feel pain and have trouble moving your neck, arms, or legs.
  
  
• If your cervical disc herniation is not treated, your symptoms may worsen. Your bulging disc may continue to press on your spinal cord or nerves causing permanent damage. Your arms or legs may become very weak. You may lose all feeling in your arms, and you may not be able to move them. Ask your caregiver about any concerns you may have about your condition, treatment, or care.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

Informed consent

is a legal document that explains the tests, treatments, or procedures that you may need. Informed consent means you understand what will be done and can make decisions about what you want. You give your permission when you sign the consent form. You can have someone sign this form for you if you are not able to sign it. You have the right to understand your medical care in words you know. Before you sign the consent form, understand the risks and benefits of what will be done. Make sure all your questions are answered.

An IV (intravenous)

is a small tube placed in your vein that is used to give you medicine or liquids.

Medicines:

You may be given the following medicines:

• Pain medicine: Pain medicine may help decrease, or take away your pain.
  
  
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine (NSAIDs) may help decrease pain and inflammation (swelling).
  
  
• Muscle relaxers: This medicine helps relax your muscles. It is also given to decrease pain and muscle spasms.
  
  
• Steroid medicine: Steroid medicines help to decrease inflammation.

Treatment options:

• Injection treatments:
  
  
  • Chemonucleolysis: During chemonucleolysis, your caregiver will give you a shot of medicine into your bulging disc. The medicine used for this treatment works by shrinking your bulging disc.
    
    
  • Epidural injection: An epidural injection is medicine given as a shot into the area of your bulging disc. The injection may numb the area and decrease your pain.
    
    
  • Nerve block: A nerve block is a shot of medicine into a nerve near the area of your bulging disc. The injection may help to decrease pain and inflammation.
  
  
• Physical therapy: A physical therapist works with you to make your neck muscles stronger and decrease your pain. A physical therapist may teach you exercises and stretches that help your neck and back. They may also use massage and other treatments to improve your functioning. With physical therapy, your muscles may be better able to support your spine.
  
  
• Support devices: You may need to wear a neck brace, or use a special pillow to support your neck. Support devices help to decrease your neck movement and prevent more damage. Ask your caregiver for more information about support devices.
  
  
• Electric heat therapy: During electric heat therapy, a heating coil in inserted in your neck and into your bulging disc. The heating coil will then seal any breaks in the disc wall that are causing it to bulge out.
  
  
• Spinal cord stimulation: Spinal cord stimulation uses an electric current to "awaken" your spinal cord and decrease your pain.
  
  
• Surgery: You may need surgery to fix your bulging disc if other treatments have failed. Surgery may also be done to decrease pressure on your nerves and spinal cord. Surgery may be done to remove your bulging disc and make your spine stronger. Your caregiver may use a bone graft (bone from another area of your body) to replace your disc. A man-made disc may also be used to replace your disc. Ask your caregiver for more information about the different surgeries for herniated discs.

X-ray:

You may need an x-ray of your neck after treatment for your bulging disc. Caregivers may use the x-ray to see if your treatment is working as it should.

Learn more about Cervical Disc Herniation (Inpatient Care)