What Is a Neck Hernia? How Is It Treated?

What Is a Neck Hernia (Cervical Disc Hernia)?

Between our cervical vertebrae are discs that absorb shocks and allow the neck to move comfortably. A cervical hernia is the dislocation of these discs with wear over time (degeneration) or as a result of a sudden trauma and overflow into the spinal canal.

The picture changes when this overflowing disk material presses on the nerve roots that go to the arms or directly to the spinal cord; the problem goes from being just a neck pain, it turns into a neurological disorder.

Symptoms of a Neck Hernia: “My Arm Is Numb”

Our patients often come in saying “My neck hurts”, but on detailed questioning it turns out that the main problem is in the arms. A neck hernia gives its most typical signals in the arms rather than in the neck:

• Pain that hits the arm: Pains that start from the shoulder and descend along the arm, sometimes described as electric shock.
• Numbness and Tingling: Loss of sensation or tingling sensation in the fingertips.
• Power Loss: Do not drop the glass in your hand, strain when holding the pen, or have difficulty raising the handle.
• Pain in the Back: The spread of pain between the shoulder blades or to the front of the chest.

Caution: If only your neck hurts, it can be mechanical pain. But if the pain descends into your arm and there is numbness in your fingers, the chances of a nerve root pressure (hernia) are very high.

Diagnosis Process

After a detailed neurological examination, Magnetic Resonance (MRI) imaging is essential to confirm the diagnosis. With MRI, we can clearly see at what level the hernia is (such as C5-C6, C6-C7), how much pressure it exerts on the nerve and the structure of the disc.

Treatment of Neck Hernia: Which Way to Follow?

A large proportion of patients diagnosed with a neck hernia (more than 90%) can recover by non-surgical methods.

Non-Surgical Treatments

Our priority is always the conservative approach:

• Resting the neck with drug therapy and short-term use of a lanyard.
• Physical therapy and manual therapy applications.
• Special exercises and posture (posture) adjustments that strengthen the neck muscles.

Surgical Treatment (Microsurgery)

If the patient has a loss of skill in the hands (such as the inability to button), severe weakness in the arms, or if severe pain does not pass despite the treatments applied, surgical intervention is necessary.

In operations for neck hernia Microsurgery method (Anterior Cervical Microdiscectomy) is used. It is entered through a very small incision from the front of the neck, which is made through natural skin folds. Under the microscope, the herniated disc, which presses on the nerve, is cleaned. At the distance of the emptying disc, special cages (cages) or movable prostheses are installed that maintain the height of the spine.

• With this method, the risk of spinal cord injury is minimized.
• The patient stands up a few hours after the operation, the next day he is discharged.
• Since the scar remains in the neck fold, it is practically invisible aesthetically.

Conclusion and Recommendation

Your hands and arms are the most important connection you have with life. A neck hernia can lead to permanent nerve damage and loss of strength when left untreated. Instead of waiting for it to “pass,” taking symptoms such as numbness and loss of strength seriously and contacting a spinal surgeon is the safest way to maintain your health.