Cervical Nerve Disease - Medtick

Cervical Nerve Disease

What is it?

The spine

  • The spine has 24 separate bones called the vertebrae and sit on top of each other.
  • The spinal cord passes in the middle of the vertebrae and contains a lot of nerves that connects from parts of the body to your brain.
  • Between each vertebrae there are a protective pads called discs which contain a fluid like substance, they help to cushion the vertebrae when one moves around.

Types of conditions

Cervical degenerative disc disease
A common cause of neck pain and radiating arm pain.

  • It develops when one or more of the cushioning discs in the cervical spine starts to break down due to wear and tear.
  • In the cervical area of the spine there are six gel-like cervical discs.
  • The fluid like substance  on the discs becomes less and less as we get older and therefore provides less cushioning and become more prone to cracks and tears.
  • Please click title

Cervical herniated disc

  • This condition occurs when the inner part of the disc leaks through the protective outer layers and irritates the nerve root.

Cervical foraminal stenosis

  • If the small hole where the nerve root exits the vertebrae—called the forame —becomes too narrow, then the nerve root can become pinched.
  • A herniated disc or the overgrowth of bone spurs (cervical osteoarthritis) are a couple ways that a foramen might become narrowed.

Spinal tumors

www.spine-health.com


Diagnosis Tests

Cause

  • Age (the more one gets older)
  • Cervical discs loose hydration
  • Arthritis
  • Bending awkwardly
  • Existing injury to back/neck
  • Heavy lifting or awkward lifting
  • Infection
  • Neck conditions/injury i.e.

Symptoms

  • Headache which is on and off or a constant headache longer than 24 hours, due to stiffness in neck and shoulders?
  • General discomfort (muscle weakness), uneasiness or ill feeling (malaise) and/or fatigue (tiredness)?
  • Aching, painful muscles, muscle cramps/spasms/stiffness?
  • Pain of a stiff neck perhaps lasting a few hours or days (Upper back and neck stiffness)?
  • Pain gets worse with movement?
  • Constant pain and/or sharp or electric shock-like in neck, shoulder pain, tingling and numbing occurs along the whole arm down?
  • Increase thirst, heavy sweating and need to urinate frequently?
  • C6 nerve damage: Constant neck pain, bicep and wrist muscle pain, tingling and numbness of lower arm to thumb and index finger?
  • C7 nerve damage: Constant neck pain, triceps muscle and/or wrist pain and/or  tingling in middle of hand and/or numbness of the long finger (3rd digit)?
  • C8/T1 nerve damage: Constant pain in neck, pain, tingling and numbing occurs along the whole arm down to the pinky side of the hand (outer part)and wrist, as well as into the ring and pinky fingers (outer part of small finger, unable to squeeze or hold objects in one’s hands)?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Do not wait, phone for an ambulance if have or develop:


General tips

  • Moving your head forward ears and shoulders and in all directions for a few minutes will help to take the pressure off any compressed nerves and reduce your pins and needles.
  • Consider gentle exercise
  • Swimming

This condition may show similar symptoms to:

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Cervical Nerve Disease in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).

  • NHS

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  • Medscape

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  • Pharmaceutical Journal

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  • Medical News Today

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  • WebMD

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  • Cleveland Clinic

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  • Mayo Clinic

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  • Drugs.com

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  • National Organisation of Rare Diseases

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  • Verywell Health

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  • Fit for Travel

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  • DR Axe

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