A bulging disc in the neck can have no symptoms at all, or it can be the source of many problems. A bulging disc may cause pain to be felt locally in the neck, as well as pain, numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, and muscle spasms to be felt throughout the upper extremities.

Bulging discs are far more common than you might think, and they generally occur as a result of the toll that age takes on the body. There are many treatments for bulging discs, but it’s up to you to visit your doctor and find out if a bulging disc in your neck is culprit of your symptoms.

The Anatomy of the Cervical Spine

The cervical spine is the part of the spine that makes up the neck. There are seven small bones called vertebrae that make up the cervical spine. The highest vertebra (C1) is referred to as the atlas, and the vertebra immediately below the atlas is referred to as the axis (C2). The combination of the atlas and the axis is what allows the head to move up, down, and side to side. The five remaining vertebrae in the cervical spine are numbered C3 through C7, respectively.

Except for the area between the atlas and axis, in between each of the vertebrae in the neck lies a disc that helps to cushion the vertebrae, facilitate movement, and prevent one vertebra from rubbing against another. The discs are composed of a jelly-like inner substance called the nucleus pulposus, which is surrounded by a thick, tough outer wall called the annulus fibrosus. As we age, the once shock-absorbing, flexible discs wear down, dehydrate, and lose their elasticity. The discs gradually become weaker, but are still expected support the many movements of the neck, as well as the same weight they have always supported. The combination of the natural disc degeneration, supporting the weight of the head, and the constant twisting and turning may cause a weakened section of a disc to bulge.

Also in the spine is, of course, the spinal cord and the many nerve roots that branch off the spinal cord. The spinal cord, along with the brain, make up the central nervous system. The central nervous system is responsible for providing sensation and movement signals to the body, and when the nervous system is encroached upon and irritated, it will let the body know by generating pain signals. Therefore, when a bulging disc in the neck extends into the spinal cord or a nerve root, pain and discomfort, sometimes debilitating, can be felt at the site of the irritation.

Bulging Disc Symptoms Radiating Away From the Neck

The neck isn’t the only place where a person may experience symptoms from a bulging disc in the cervical spine. A bulging disc in the upper spine can actually cause chronic headaches, as well as send symptoms of pain, numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, and muscle spasms radiating into the shoulders, arms, hands, and even occasionally into the fingers. The reason for this phenomenon is the peripheral nervous system. The peripheral nervous system consists of nerves stemming from the spinal cord and traveling virtually everywhere throughout the body. The central nervous system and peripheral nervous system work together to provide sensation and motion to everywhere the peripheral nerves travel. And, similar to the spinal cord itself, when a nerve root is impinged or irritated, it can send symptoms of pain, numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, and muscle spasms along the path of its subsidiary nerves. Nerve roots in the neck serve the upper body, so a bulging disc that pinches a nerve root in the neck can lead to symptoms in the shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers.

Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures for bulging discs and several other spinal conditions.

Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures for bulging discs and other spinal conditions. http://www.laserspineinstitute.com/back_problems/bulging_disc/

Author Bio: Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures for bulging discs and several other spinal conditions.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: Bulging disc