Cervical Disc Herniation
Cervical disc herniation is a common condition in those aged 40 years or more. The most common causes are from the deterioration or rupture of the herniated disc wall. It could be from an overworking or misusing posture from sitting in front of a computer screen, playing on a mobile phone, or reading in the same position for an extended period.
Common symptoms
- Pain - The symptom of pain from this condition is characterized by having pain in the area of nerve compression. An example is a cervical disc between cervical bone 5 and 6 that encountered a nerve compression problem. Patients will have pain from the neck to the thumb and index finger from the same side.
- Numbness - If the area has been encountering nerve compression for an extended period, this may cause muscle atrophy and muscular weakness.
Treatment
- Non-surgical treatment - It is found that over 90% of the patients could recover without the need for surgical procedures. The process starts with behavior modification and working on the neck strength exercise to reduce cervical disc usage. The treatment options also include taking medicine and physical therapy.
- Surgery - If the symptoms have not improved, the surgical procedure may be considered. The objective of surgery is to reduce the pain from nerve compression. It will also help prevent damages in the nerves and spinal cord, which may lead to a disability if left untreated.
At present, there are several surgical options for the treatment of cervical disc herniation, such as the Total Cervical Disc Replacement (TDR) or the Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF). The selection of the most appropriate surgical procedures for the patient is determined by the area and each patient's pathological characteristics.
