Stiff neck pain, numbness in the arms, and difficulty breathing can be warning signs of cervical disc herniation. Patients need to see a doctor early to avoid serious complications.
The cervical spine area is often moved and subjected to great pressure, making the disc vulnerable to damage and herniation. Cervical disc herniation is a condition in which one or more discs between the cervical vertebrae are damaged, slip out of their original position, and press on the spinal cord and nerves in the spinal canal, causing pain and confusion. local sensory disturbances.
Dr. Le Anh Khanh, Spine specialist, Tam Anh General Clinic District 7, said that once a herniated disc cannot be completely cured, it is very difficult to return to its original state, even during surgical intervention. However, if treated promptly and properly, recovery is up to 80-90%. Patients should pay attention to unusual signs, warning of cervical disc herniation.
Widespread neck pain: Initially, the pain starts in one or two cervical vertebrae, then spreads to the shoulder blades, arms or to the back of the head and eye sockets. The pain increases with heavy work and becomes more and more severe.
Neck pain, spreading to the shoulder blades, can be a warning sign of cervical disc herniation. Image: Phi Hong
Numbness in hands and feet: If the hernia compresses the spinal cord, the patient will feel numbness from the neck to the whole body and then spread to the limbs. In case the nerve compression occurs, the patient only has numbness in the arm, hand and fingers. As the condition progresses, the patient may experience pain, numbness in one or both arms, and loss of dexterity in the hand.
Limit neck and arm movements: The patient cannot put their hands behind their back or raise their arms high, has pain and difficulty bending, tilting or turning their neck, and may have torticollis. In addition, the patient may have difficulty walking and feel tightness in the calves.
Muscle weakness: This condition occurs when a disc mass presses on the spinal cord. The patient walks unsteadily and has a wobbly gait; having difficulty performing delicate hand movements such as using chopsticks, buttoning shirts, gradually worsening handwriting… As muscle weakness progresses, the patient will see muscle fibers in the thighs and calves. Vibrates every time you exercise too much.
Other signs: When suffering from cervical disc herniation, some patients may experience pain on one side of the chest, constipation, difficulty urinating, difficulty breathing…
Doctor Khanh explains spinal health conditions to patients. Illustration photo: Tam Anh General Clinic District 7
Mild cases can be treated conservatively with medication, physical therapy… However, after about 6-8 weeks medical treatment is ineffective or the disease symptoms seriously affect fertility. The patient’s daily activities, the doctor will consider surgery.
Dr. Khanh said that cervical disc herniation treatment currently has a high success rate thanks to the development of medicine and technology such as the Zeiss microsurgical system that helps magnify the area requiring surgery dozens of times. or the C-Arm continuous X-ray machine ensures operations are performed accurately, the Mixonix ultrasonic cutting drill allows cutting bone structures with high-frequency ultrasound waves, without causing bleeding and soft tissue damage… At Tam General Hospital Mr. Ho Chi Minh City, usually, spine surgery patients can be discharged from the hospital after only a few days of treatment.