Neck Pain Treatment For Slip Discs

Neck Pain From A Slip Disc Causes & Best Treatments

Neck pain from a slipped disc is more common than most believe. A slipped disc or slip-disc is a term that describes protrusions, bulges, or herniation of the spinal disc that results in impingement of the cord or nerves. Typically, a slipped disc is more common in the lower back. The neck is the second most common spine area impacted by slipped discs. In the initial stages, a slipped disc in the neck cause neck stiffness or pain. As it progresses, other symptoms include shooting pains down the arms which may accompany numbness or tingling may surface. This article provides in-depth information on neck pain from a slipped disc and what you can do to recover fully.

The term slipped disc or slip-disc are generic terms often used to describe eight types of spinal disc issues. We have listed each one of the eight spinal disc issues below with links to pages should you need more info:

What Caused Your Neck Pain?

Whether you are a student, a child, a working adult, or a retiree, neck pain and slipped disc are complicated conditions best to avoid entirely. However, don't worry too much if you are neck pain and slip disc patient because we can repair it without surgery.

Most of us experience neck pain at some point in our lives or, in fact, maybe even experiencing it right now. Symptoms of discomfort, rigidity, and muscle tightness often are present with neck pain. The most common cause of neck pain and slip disc, which we see daily, would be strained neck muscles and, in particular, the levator scapulae muscle. It is located in the posterior aspect of our head and goes down to your scapula on either side.

The Levator scapula is a vital muscle for neck and shoulder movements. Innervated by the C3 and C4 nerves, the levator scapulae, you can easily strain muscles due to sleeping in an awkward position, traumatic falls, overuse of neck muscles, and bad posture. This is a crucial muscle we often neglect and should take better care of.

What Are The Top 3 Causes Of Neck Pain?

Neck pain is an everyday issue impacting productivity and well-being. The top three causes of neck pain include:

Premature degeneration
Bulging and herniated discs
spinal cord or spinal nerve impingement

Premature degeneration of joints and soft tissue

Our modern lifestyle is the leading factor in the development of neck pain. Tech neck or text neck is an everyday problem because we spend too much time on computers, pads, and mobile devices. Any activity that requires your neck to be in a forward-leaning or bent position causes the neck's soft tissue (muscles & ligaments), joints, and spinal discs to wear out prematurely. The danger and premature degenerative changes of joints and soft tissue are the leading factors for Spondylosis, spondylolisthesis, and slipped discs.

Slip disc in the neck: bulging & herniated discs

Spinal discs are soft but sturdy structures connecting the spine's bones, enabling movement and weight-bearing. The spinal disc is resilient but succumbs to the daily stresses of poor posture, especially if it is a spinal disc in the neck. Activities and lifestyles that classify as tech neck or text neck are the leading factors in developing a slipped disc in the neck. Bulging and herniated discs are serious issues that compress the spinal cord and spinal nerves. A slipped disc in the neck, such as bulging or herniation, is relatively common.

Slip-Disc In The Neck

Slip disc in the neck impacts all ages. Symptoms of slip disc in the neck may include stiffness, discomfort, or pain in the neck, top of the shoulders, or upper back. Some may present numbness, pain, and tingling that runs down the shoulders to the arms, wrist,s, hands, or fingers. Numbness and tingling are concerning symptoms of a slip disc as they signify nerve compression and degeneration. If you have numbness or tingling down the arms, hands, or fingers, you should rule out a slipped disc such as herniation or bulging before it leads to weakness and paralysis.

To help you identify a slipped disc in the neck, we have provided a list of symptoms below:

Neck pain, stiffness & discomfort
Pain and discomfort in the neck, upper back, or down the arms when looking up or extending the head and neck
Burning, tingling, or numbness in the neck or upper back
Neck pain, upper back pain, or pain down the arms when coughing or sneezing
Difficulty lifting the head and neck when laying down
Headaches & migraines
Ringing in the ears or tinnitus
Dizziness & vertigo
Heartburn & indigestion
Numbness & tingling in fingertips
Weakness in shoulder, arms, wrists, hands, or fingers
Difficulty writing or singing your name
Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the legs

Neck Pain & Slip Disc In The Neck Are Treatable Without Injections & Surgery

Having neck pain is not good. But neck pain caused by a slipped disc is even worse! Slip discs in the neck are more serious than those in the lower back. Slipped disc in the neck can cause numbness, tingling, pain, and weakness in the arms and even legs. It can even lead to paralysis or organ failure (when the cord is compressed severely).

The good news we can share is that slipped discs are treatable without surgery or injections before it reaches the sequestration stage. To recover from a slipped disc in the neck, you will need focused treatments that combine chiropractic and physiotherapy. Treatments that are enriched which specialized therapeutic devices such as spinal decompression therapy, high-intensity laser therapy, and shockwave therapy.

Neck pain that presents with numbness or tingling sensations is a concerning issue needing immediate attention. Common causes of neck pain and numbness or tingling sensations are spondylolysis and slip discs (bulging, herniated, or extruded discs). Spondylosis is a general term descriptive of degenerative changes in joints combined with bulging or herniated discs. In short cervical spondylosis is a situation where the joints and the disc is damaged simultaneously. The combined impact of the spinal disc and spinal joints will produce a higher degree of pain. Let's briefly look at how a slip-disc causes pain.

The Spinal Disc: Common Source of Neck & Upper Back Pain

Spinal discs are between every segment except between the first and second segments in the neck (C1-C2). The spinal disc allows motion, connects spinal segments, and acts as a shock absorber. However, when the stress placed on the spinal disc exceeds its mechanical threshold, the discal integrity is compromised. In other words, spinal discs get damaged.

A damaged spinal disc is a weak disc in which the fibers bulge, protrude, or prolapse (slipped disc or slip-disc). When a disc's fibers protrude or slip excessively, it compresses or irritates the nerve.

Compression of spinal nerves or spinal cord can cause various symptoms, including neck pain, upper back pain, burning sensation in the upper back, and pain in the shoulders, arms, and wrists. Additionally, it may cause numbness, tingling, and even weakness in the affected limbs.

Severe compression of the cord can also lead to paralysis or worse. So, don't neglect your neck pain. If you have neck or upper back pain, visit one of our centers for targeted care. We are the only non-surgical center in Malaysia with proven slipped disc treatment options.

Spinal Joints: Another Source of Neck and Upper Back Pain

Slipped disc and spinal joint malfunctions are the leading causes of neck and upper back pain. Now, let's look at the spinal joint to understand how it becomes a source of neck or upper back pain. The joints in your neck are called facets. A joint issue in the neck is often referred to as facet syndrome or cervical facet syndrome.

Excessive stress or damaged joint tissues can lead to swelling of the spinal joints in your neck. A common cause of joint-related neck pain is the inflammatory process brought on by daily stresses. Once your neck joint is under stress, it will impact the muscles, ligaments, and other sensitive tissues surrounding the neck.

Spinal joints, like other joints in the body, are encapsulated. In other words, they are tightly sealed and nicely lubricated. Continued daily stresses will cause a decrease in the inward flow of the amounts of fluids excessively.

Impact of Inflammatory Processes (Excessive Fluid Buildup)

Healing goes through phases. The healing process of injured muscles, joints, or spinal discs are similar. For you to recover from an injury or damage such as torn muscles, ligaments, or slipped discs in the neck, your body has to go through the 3 stages of healing described below:

Inflammatory phase: The first stage of healing is the inflammatory phase. The inflammatory phase may last 24 to 72 hours. As much as we dislike inflammation, it is needed because without it; we will not have the cellular response to release specialized chemicals for healing.
The proliferation phase (repair phase): The repair phase, also known as the fibroblastic or proliferation phase, is the stage that follows the inflammatory stage. Most slipped disc patients' problems are a continuous inflammatory phase, preventing the repair stage from kicking off. The repair stage may last from four days to 8 weeks.
The remodeling phase: The remodeling phase follows the repair stages or phase of healing. It initiates two to three weeks to months or years after the repair is complete. In the remodeling phase, the tissues injured will improve in quality and strength.

The Type Of Care You Get For Neck Pain & Slip Disc Matters?

Slip disc patients often report continued pain four months to years after developing their slipped disc. Recovering from a slipped disc requires specialized treatment and skill sets that isolate the damaged tissue by targeting it to maximize healing in the three phases mentioned above. In short, there are no silver bullets or quick fixes regarding spinal disc damage, such as bulging or disc herniation.

Your body will need to go through the three phases of healing. Your aim should be to maximize your body's healing capacity and ability in each stage as much as possible.

To do so, you will need focused treatments to enhance your body's capacity for healing in each phase. The most critical phase is the inflammatory phase which happens to be the first stage of healing. The problem with the inflammatory or swelling stage of a healing process is that it often goes on for too long.

Advanced therapeutic devices such as high-intensity laser therapy are essential for slipped disc patients as it minimizes the inflammatory processes, so it does not continue in progress beyond the 72-hour mark.

A lengthy inflammatory phase prevents the repair stage from ever launching. Therefore, the center that provides you treatment, the technologies they have available in their facility, and their skill sets are imperative for your fast and lasting recovery.

The Best Neck & Upper back Treatment

Neck pain resulting from slip-disc or spinal joint disorders is best treated through targeted care. Our methods of neck pain and slip-disc treatment are through NSD Therapy protocols. NSD Therapy is not a single but rather an integrative approach that incorporates the best techniques of research-based clinical chiropractic, best practices of physiotherapy, and advanced technology. Our to-go-to therapeutic device is the RxDecom. The RxDecom is the most sophisticated spinal therapy device in the world. It can repair and fix damaged spinal discs and even spinal joints when coupled with other therapeutic measures employed through NSD Therapy®.

CSC offers the best physiotherapy and chiropractic treatment to fix a slipped disc without surgery. The combined efforts of chiropractors and physiotherapists of CSC are further enriched with breakthrough spine technology. Best of all, their care will help you recover with lasting relief. Visit a Chiropractic Specialty Center® (CSC) today and start your recovery from neck pain and slip-disc today.