What are the symptoms of a bulging disc in your neck?

A bulging disc in your neck may be relatively painless. Or it can cause severe pain in your neck, as well as your shoulders, chest, and arms. It may also cause numbness or weakness in your arms or fingers. Sometimes, this pain and numbness may even cause you to think that you're having a heart attack.

What does a bulging disc in the neck feel like?

If you have a herniated cervical disc, you may feel pain that radiates down your arm and possibly into your hand. You may also feel pain on or near your shoulder blade, and neck pain when turning your head or bending your neck. Sometimes you may have muscle spasms (meaning the muscles tighten uncontrollably).

What is the best treatment for a bulging disc in the neck?

Most cases of cervical herniated disc pain can be successfully managed with nonsurgical treatments, such as over-the-counter pain medications, physical therapy to strengthen and stretch the neck, ice or heat packs, and/or activity modifications to avoid painful movements until the pain has subsided.

What are symptoms of disc problems in neck?

The most common and obvious symptoms of cervical degenerative disc disease are neck pain and a stiff neck. When one of these conditions presses on one or more of the many nerves running through the spinal cord, you also can develop pain, numbness, or weakness radiating down your shoulder, arm, and hand.

What causes disc bulge in neck?

A bulging disc in the neck typically occurs when a spinal disc gets loosened from its place and starts to encroach upon the spinal cord. Usually, this encroachment causes no pain and cannot even be felt by the person.

What Are The Symptoms Of A Herniated Cervical Disc?

How should I sleep with a bulging disc in my neck?

Cervical Herniated Disc (Neck)

With this injury, the key to a good night's sleep is in the thickness of your pillow. Side Sleepers – Choose a slightly thicker pillow to keep your spine straight as you lay on your side. Your head should be kept level with the rest of your spine for the best relief.

How serious is a bulging disc?

A bulging disk can push against the spinal cord and nerve roots, leading to severe pain and problems with mobility. Treatment may include a combination of medication, physical therapy, and self-care. In severe cases, a person may need surgery.

What happens if a bulging disc goes untreated?

A severe case of a bulging disc can cut off nerve impulses, even causing permanent nerve damage. Additionally, you may experience sharp paints, incontinence, bowel movement irregularity, or even partial paralysis as the issue worsens.

What can you not do with a bulging disc in your neck?

If a disc is pressing on the nerve in your neck and producing symptoms of neck pain with arm pain, numbness, tingling and weakness then the most important thing to do is avoid all high impact and high velocity activities involving the neck, such as jogging, basketball, football, jumping, high-impact aerobics.

Can a bulging disc get worse?

Do disc bulges get worse over time? Unfortunately if disc bulges are left untreated, and if the abnormal spinal stresses that caused them continue, they will often worsen over time. For the disc bulge or herniated disc to have any possibility of recovery, the instigating stress must be minimized.

Is a bulging disc in neck serious?

One of the most serious conditions involving your neck bones is a bulging disc.

Can a chiropractor fix a bulging disc in neck?

Yes! Chiropractic care is the preferred treatment method for many patients suffering from a bulging disc. It is non-invasive and does not require drugs or injections of any kind. Chiropractic can help provide you with improved mobility, decreased pain, and overall better quality of life.

Is heat good for bulging disc in neck?

Generally, the recommendation is to use ice for the first 24 to 48 hours after an injury to reduce swelling, followed by heat to loosen muscles and improve stiffness.

Can bulging disc in neck cause throat pain?

The anterior mechanical compression caused by an anteriorly herniated disc causes serious complications pertained to esophagus or other neighboring structures; obviously mechanical compression may lead to progressive dysphagia starting from discomfort in the throat to serious blockage of the passage allowing only ...

Can you get headaches from bulging disc in neck?

A herniated disc in your neck (your cervical spine) may cause headaches, especially in the back of your head. Herniated discs can also cause tingling or numbness in one arm or burning pain in your neck and shoulder. This pain may shoot down one of your arms.

Can a bulging disc in your neck cause dizziness?

Advanced osteoarthritis in the area may lead to cervical spondylosis. This causes the vertebrae in the neck to wear down, which can put excess pressure on the nerves, arteries, or spinal cord itself. This could send inappropriate signals to the brain or block the flow of blood, causing vertigo.

Is surgery necessary for bulging disc in neck?

If you or a loved one is experiencing neck pain and/or arm pain, numbness, or weakness, surgical treatment such as cervical herniated disc surgery may be appropriate for your condition.

Can bulging disc cause headaches?

In the end, it may come down to herniated disc pain as a stressor and a trigger of migraine headaches. Chronic migraine patients who have the following conditions are more likely to suffer headaches due to bulging discs: Visual auras. Recurring episodes that become manifest more than twice a month.

What is the best exercise for bulging disc?

Sit in a chair with one foot on the floor and the other extended out straight, with the heel on the floor. Straighten the back and lean forward over the extended leg until there is a stretch along the back of the upper thigh. Hold this position for 15–30 seconds. Switch legs and repeat several times.

What makes a bulging disc worse?

The pain from a herniated disc usually is worse when you are active and gets better when you are resting. Coughing, sneezing, sitting, driving, and bending forward may make the pain worse. The pain gets worse when you make these movements because there is more pressure on the nerve.

Do cortisone shots work for bulging discs?

Corticosteroid injections can reduce inflammation and can be effective when delivered directly into the painful area. Unfortunately, the injection does not make a herniated disc smaller; it only works on the spinal nerves by flushing away the proteins that cause swelling.

What type of doctor treats herniated disc in neck?

Herniated discs are quite common and do not always need treatment. Most of the time they can be healed by rest; however, if symptoms persist, you may need to see an orthopedic surgeon near you specializing in spine surgery.

When should I be worried about a bulging disc?

Protruding discs that have worsened to the point of herniation or rupture may cause severe symptoms that require immediate medical care. Contact a medical provider if you experience pain or numbness that affects your ability to function or walk, or changes in your bowel and bladder function.

How do they fix bulging discs?

Treatment often includes physical therapy, which will focus on exercises to strengthen your back. In some cases, spinal injections of steroids may be recommended to relieve pain. This may be followed by physical therapy that aims to strengthen her core muscles. In other cases, a bulging disc may require surgery.

Can bulging discs return to normal?

Most (80-90%) cases involving bulging or herniated discs will heal within 2-4 months. This of course depends on the severity of the injury, as well as your age and overall health. An important difference is that a herniated disc is a permanent injury that usually results in chronic, recurring pain.