8 Brick Plaza
Brick, NJ 08723
2. East Windsor
East Windsor Town Center Plaza
319 Route 130 North
East Windsor, NJ 08520
Wick Plaza
561 US Hwy 1 South
Edison, NJ 08817
While anyone can get a herniated disc in the upper spine, it’s more common among older adults. The wear and tear over the years can damage the rubbery discs that rest between each of your vertebral bones. When the tough outer lining of the disc becomes brittle, it can rupture or split, leaking the gel-like substance inside the disc. The gel then squeezes against a nerve, and that’s what causes your pain. Fortunately, Dr. Branko Skovrlj at NU-Spine in Edison, NJ is a neurosurgeon who’s an expert at repairing the damage and easing your pain. Call today to make an appointment.
Cervical disc herniation is a condition that affects the discs in the upper back and neck region of your spine. The discs are small sacs filled with a gel-like substance and encased in a tough but flexible casing. There’s a disc in between each vertebral bone in your spine. These discs act as a barrier between the vertebrae, allowing for painless flexibility and preventing friction as you move your spine.
When the disc is damaged, the gel spills out of the hard casing and into the area surrounding your spine. If the substance aggravates or impinges a spinal nerve, you can feel intense back pain or neck pain. The gel must go somewhere, either outside or inside your spinal column:
Diagnosis is crucial where back pain is concerned. While cervical disc herniation isn’t as common as lumbar disc herniation, there are still many conditions that can cause pain. Determining where your pain originates allows your spine specialist in Edison, NJ to deliver the appropriate treatment for a cervical herniated disc. Dr. Branko Skovrlj at NU-Spine, The Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Institute, treats neck injuries and other spine ailments.
When you first start feeling neck pain or just feel a twinge in your shoulders, you don’t normally associate the pain with a cervical disc herniation. That’s why you have to consult a spine doctor. Your pain may be a sign of something more serious than a muscle strain, such as a severe cervical herniated disc injury. If you have a disc herniation in your neck, you may complain of symptoms that include:
Several frightening conditions — like a cervical spinal cord injury or cervical myelopathy require the best treatment for a herniated cervical disc. That’s when you have to trust a dedicated neurosurgeon like Dr. Skovrlj. When you suffer one of these injuries, you experience additional symptoms, including:
Your body breaks down as you age. The hardest hit areas are usually the places you used over and over again, such as your shoulders and neck. A herniated disc in your cervical spine is often the result of years of wear and tear. There are two types of wear and tear in your neck, and both are common reasons for your neck pain:
Although rare, you may also develop a cervical disc herniation from a trauma. A car accident or a direct hit can cause a disc to bulge or slip, causing pain. Lifting heavy things incorrectly can get you in trouble, too. Seek a local spine specialist in northern New Jersey to get an accurate diagnosis for your pain.
The best neurosurgeons recommend that you seek treatment sooner rather than later. The earlier a herniated disc can be identified, the more likely your doctor can treat it successfully. The longer your condition remains untreated, the greater the impact on your spine. Your surgeon may recommend non-surgical treatment for cervical herniated disc first to see if they’ll have your pain. You may find relief through:
For a severe case of cervical disc herniation, you need cervical herniated disc surgery. Dr. Skovrlj offers the best treatment for a herniated cervical disc. Only about 10 percent of patients need surgery, but the surgical options include:
No matter which procedure your New Jersey doctor recommends, he handles it with practiced hands. Dr. Skovrlj is one of the preeminent neurosurgeons specializing in spinal surgery. Contact NU-Spine today to get the relief you need to get back to your regular routine pain-free.
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References:
1. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Samir Sharrak; Yasir Al Khalili (2020) Cervical Disc Herniation.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK546618/
8 Brick Plaza
Brick, NJ 08723
East Windsor Town Center Plaza
319 Route 130 North
East Windsor, NJ 08520
Wick Plaza
561 US Hwy 1 South
Edison, NJ 08817
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1376 State Route 36
Hazlet, NJ 07730
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