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Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease

What Is Cervical Disc Degeneration Disease?

Cervical disc degeneration is one of the main causes of neck pain and radiating arm pain. It’s a condition characterized by symptoms that affect your normal, daily life, such as:

  • Stiffening of your neck
  • Chronic upper back pain
  • Persistent neck discomfort

Why Does Cervical Spine Degeneration Happen?

Your neck’s flexibility allows you to turn your head in almost all directions. The neck is made up of:

  • Seven bones called vertebrae that provide stability, flexibility and protection for your spinal cord.
  • Discs between the vertebrae that are filled with a cushioning gel-like substance. Discs act as shock absorbers.

This complex structure makes it possible for your spine and neck to bend and twist. With age, these natural shock absorbers tend to become more brittle and may even leak. In medical terms, this is known as cervical degeneration. Once the cushion between the vertebrae narrows, your nerve roots my be pinched, which can evolve into cervical degenerative disc disease.

What Are Symptoms of Cervical Degeneration Disease?

In addition to extensive diagnostic tests, your spine specialist considers your symptoms, how long you’ve had them and when they’re most frequent. The most common symptoms of degenerative disc disease in the cervical spine include:

  • Pain that ranges from mildly annoying neck discomfort to debilitating neck pain that prevents you from continuing your daily activities
  • Pain and stiffness in your back that’s aggravated by movement and relieved with rest
  • Sharp or electric shock-like feelings, indicative of nerve pain, that radiate down the shoulder into your arms, hands or fingers
  • Neurological symptoms in your arms, fingers or hands, such as numbness, pins-and-needles tingling or weakness that radiates into the arm and hand

Other less common symptoms include:

  • Difficulty moving your arms and legs
  • Trouble with coordination and balance
  • Loss of bowel and/or bladder control

Other Than Age, What Are the Risk Factors?

Age is the leading cause of cervical degeneration. It’s natural for the discs in the cervical spine to break down due to wear and tear. Those who work in jobs that require extensive lifting and continual arm movement often experience degeneration at an earlier age than those who don’t. Athletes, such as pitchers, quarterbacks and tennis players, accelerate the wear and tear.

Other risk factors lead to disc degeneration developing sooner and becoming symptomatic. These additional risk factors include:

  • Obesity and being overweight
  • Genetics
  • Smoking, which causes cell damage

What’s the Diagnosis?

Seek a professional diagnosis of cervical degeneration. Symptoms of cervical degenerative disc disease vary from one person to another. They also mimic other conditions that require a much different approach to treatment. Conditions that share symptoms with cervical disc generation include:

  • Osteoarthritis
  • Herniated disc
  • Slipped or bulging disc
  • Compressed nerve
  • Spinal narrowing
  • Neck Injury
  • Spinal cord injury
  • Compression injury
  • Hunchback

What’s the Best Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease Treatment?

At Nu-Spine, options to treat degenerative disc in the neck include:

  • Physical therapy. A spinal therapist at the practice uses different techniques to reduce your pain and stiffness, while increasing your range of motion.
  • Ice and/or heat therapy. An ongoing technique for pain relief, this treatment is part of massage therapy for relieving cervical pain.
  • Over-the-counter pain medications. These medications accompany other treatment options and are a short-term solution for pain management. Occasionally, your doctor may prescribe stronger pain medications, which are time-limited to prevent further complications.
  • Lifestyle modifications. Your doctor recommends modification of your work or exercise routines to promote your neck’s well-being.
  • Manual spine adjustment. Manipulation of the spine can in some cases improve the range of motion and reduce pain.
Start Your Path to Relief: Contact Us Today!
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1. Paramus
37 W Century Road Suite 105A
Paramus, NJ 07652

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3. Woodbridge
573 Amboy Ave.
Woodbridge Township,
NJ 07095

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5. Toms River
1901 Hooper Ave. #B
Toms River, NJ 08753

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631 Grand Street, Suite 2-100
Jersey City, NJ 07304

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101 Crawfords Corner Rd.
Suite 1116-B
Holmdel, NJ 07733

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1000 West Main Street
Suite 201
Freehold, NJ 07728

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