Most people don’t think about their spine until they start to have problems. A common place to develop spine problems is in your neck, or cervical spine.
Cervical Disk RuptureMost people don’t think about their spine until they start to have problems. A common place to develop spine problems is in your neck, or cervical spine.Your spine is made up of 33 bones called vertebrae. They are stacked on top of each other and provide support and protection for your spinal cord.Your spinal cord is a column of nerve tissue that runs through the hollow portion of the vertebrae. There are a series of nerves, also called nerve roots, leading from the spinal cord to different parts of the body. The space between each vertebra has one nerve root on the left side, and one nerve root on the right side.Most vertebrae are separated by flexible disks of cartilage that act like shock absorbers and allow for mobility of the spine. These disks have a soft core called the nucleus, surrounded by a tough outer layer called the annulus.SymptomsWhen a disk is injured, the soft inside core can bulge. This is known as a bulging disk. The disk can also be injured to the point where the inside core breaks through the tough outer layer. This is known as a ruptured or herniated disk. The part of the disk that bulges or herniates out can put pressure on a nerve root or on the spinal cord, causing symptoms such as pain or numbness in different parts of the body.A ruptured cervical disk may cause pain, numbness, tingling, or even weakness in one of your arms. Your ability to fully move your neck may also be affected. Sometimes a herniated cervical disk may cause no symptoms at all.DiagnosisTo diagnose your problem, your healthcare provider may ask you to move your neck, arms, and shoulders in specific ways while various tests are done.X-rays are usually the first diagnostic test used to look at the spine. You may also have a C-T –scan, or an MRI.Your healthcare provider may also put electrodes on your body to look at the electrical activity in a nerve.TreatmentMost neck or back pain gets better over time with simple treatments. These may include muscle relaxers, and anti-inflammatory medications called NSAIDs. Cold compresses or heat packs can help calm symptoms.Physical therapy may be prescribed. Other treatments include traction, ultrasound, or electrical muscle stimulation.Sometimes injections with corticosteroids are used. If these treatments don’t work, surgery may be an option.Things to RememberMost ruptured disks are treated effectively without surgery.Most back or neck pain will go away with simple treatments.The type of surgery that may be needed depends on the size and location of the ruptured disk.What We Have LearnedYour spinal cord passes through a hollow canal in the bones of your spine. True or False?The answer is True. Your spinal cord passes through the bones that make up your spine, called vertebrae.Your spinal cord is made of bundles of ligaments. True or False?The answer is False. It is made of nerve tissue that leads to pairs of nerves, also called nerve roots. Nerve roots send messages to different parts of the body.X-rays are usually the first diagnostic test used to look at the spine. True or false?The answer is True. Your provider may also recommend a CT scan or MRI to look at your spine.
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