Cervical Disc Disease
People may come in with shoulder pain when they really have a neck problem - Eric Ricchetti MD
image by: Illinois Spinal Care
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When Good Discs Go Bad
Before the morning I was jolted awake with one of its more mysterious symptoms, I had never even heard of degenerative disc disease, though I was certainly aware of the intense tingly, buzzing sensation that was shooting down my arms and into my hands. Shaking out my arms and hands didn’t help; it still felt as though I’d pressed my fingers against electrical outlets and shocks radiated up and down my upper limbs. Though they ebbed and flowed throughout the day, the seriously uncomfortable vibrations returned in force as I drove to an appointment that afternoon — and that’s when I began to fear that something was seriously wrong. When the symptoms didn’t go away after a few days, I went to…
Resources
Keep Your Head Up: 'Text Neck' Takes A Toll On The Spine
While it is nearly impossible to avoid technology, Hansraj says in the study that people should make an effort to look at their phones with a "neutral spine," sending their eyes downward, not their heads.
Cervical disc degeneration and neck pain
Cervical intervertebral disc has long been considered a common source of neck pain. However, the pain caused by the disc itself has not been clearly defined so far, and its diagnosis and treatment has always been controversial.
Cervical Discogenic Syndrome
Chronic neck pain is a considerable public health burden that accounts for one of the top five chronic pain conditions. The pain can range from cervical intervertebral discs, facet joints to atlantoaxial joints. Cervical discogenic pain syndrome (CDPS) is a common source of neck pain with a reported prevalence between 16% to 41%.
Explaining Spinal Disorders: Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease
As we age, our vertebral discs, which serve as spine’s shock absorbers, gradually dry out, affecting their strength and resiliency. This can lead to degenerative disc disease (DDD). DDD of the cervical spine is a relatively common condition for aging adults. However, many people who have cervical degenerative disc disease don’t even know it. They may only become aware of the condition when being examined for another health problem, or during a routine checkup.
When Surgery Can Relieve Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease Symptoms
Improvements in technology and the selection process for surgical candidates have led to the relatively high success rates for cervical spine surgeries. Compared to a few decades ago, doctors have better data regarding what surgery for cervical degenerative disc disease symptoms can and cannot accomplish, and which types of patients are most likely to experience a satisfactory outcome.
Whistleblower case contends surgical device maker misled FDA — and patients paid the price
“They were labeled, ‘not for cervical spine use,’ and yet in everything about them, including emails from their marketing folks, it makes clear that they were meant to be and were used in the cervical spine,” said Dr. Vikas Saini, president of the Lown Institute, a Boston health care think tank, who has followed the case.
When Good Discs Go Bad
After a certain age, degenerating discs are a pretty common problem — though a sometimes perplexing one...
CervicalDisc.com
Degenerative disc disease is technically not a disease, but rather a degeneration of the discs located in the cervical spine. It occurs when the cushioning discs in the cervical spine begin to break down over time. Subsequently, it’s a common cause of neck pain for adults and the elderly, though it’s also possible to cause some individuals discomfort early on. Aside from age, other risk factors include injury and a genetic predisposition to more rapid wear.
Spine Universe
Cervical disk herniations are more characteristic in the young (less than 40 years old), while cervical spondylosis and stenosis are typically found in older patients.
Spine-Health
Symptoms of cervical degenerative disc disease can vary widely from person to person. When cervical degenerative disc disease becomes symptomatic, the pain might develop slowly over time or appear suddenly. The symptoms can range from mildly annoying neck discomfort to debilitating pain, numbness, and/or weakness that radiates into the arm and hand.
StatPearls
Similar to the lumbar spine, cervical disc degeneration is a naturally occurring age-related phenomenon. The prevalence of cervical DDD increases with age regardless of the patient's symptomatology (or lack thereof).
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