Cervical Disc Herniation

If you have a cervical disc herniation, it means you have a condition where the disc(s) in the neck (cervical spine) start to break down and lose their cushioning ability. Breaks in a protective membrane called the annulus has allowed the more fluid portion of the disc to herniate through the crack compressing a cervical nerve or the cervical spinal cord itself. This can lead to pain, numbness, weakness, and limited neck mobility.

Our approach depends upon the duration and severity of your symptoms. The initial treatment is typically non-surgical, including:

• Rest and anti-inflammatory medications to reduce pain and inflammation
• Physical therapy to improve strength, flexibility, and posture
• Lifestyle modifications like improved ergonomics and weight management, and if necessary, smoking cessation

Tailoring a treatment plan

Many patients find relief with these treatments alone. However, if non-surgical treatment fails, surgery may be recommended. Again, the procedure depends on the uniqueness of your clinical presentation and the imaging findings. There are basically three approaches:

Diagnosing a spine condition will depend on your symptoms. Your care team may do one or more of the following:

• Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF): The damaged disc is removed and the vertebrae are fused together with a bone graft or implant. If the disc is large or multiple disc herniations are present, the removal of a central portion of the intervening vertebrae may be needed. This procedure is called a corpectomy
• Artificial disc replacement: The damaged disc is removed and replaced with an artificial disc to maintain mobility. This procedure has several advantages, such as, in many cases, the patient being able to resume normal activities within a day or so. We have experience performing artificial cervical discs (called cervical arthroplasty) since the original FDA trial in the early 2000s.
• Posterior Foraminotomy: The incision is small and made in the back of your neck allowing a very small opening in the bone which allows access to the disc material. This procedure is used when there is no compression of the spinal cord and has the advantage of not requiring a fusion.

Whatever the approach, surgery aims to relieve pressure on nerves and stabilize the spine. Most patients experience immediate significant pain relief and improved function after surgery.