Slipped Disc (neck, arm, fingers) - Medtick

Slipped Disc (neck, arm, fingers)

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.

It is when one of the discs gets moved or splits and the fluid inside the disc leaks and bulge out, it can then puts pressure on a nerve causing pain.

  • The pain can develop in the damaged area and also depending what nerve is affected to those parts of the body.
  • One can have numbness and tingling from the neck, along the arms to fingers or it can also press on the sciatic nerve (a nerve which runs down the back of your body to your feet) one can get sciatic pain called sciatica.
  • It is common between the ages of 30-50 year olds with men twice as likely to get this condition compared to women.
It can take from four to six weeks to recover for a slipped disc (sciatica up to 12 weeks), most of the time the body will shrink back the disc hence not pressing on the nerve and easing the pain, but for this too occur one must be actively moving after a few days rest initially.

Cause

  • Age (the more one gets older)
  • Arthritis
  • Bending awkwardly
  • Existing injury to back
  • Heavy lifting or awkward lifting
  • Infection
  • Overweight
  • Sitting a lot
  • Smoking
  • Tumour

Symptoms

(Depending on nerve affected)

Ruptured or dislocated disc

  • General discomfort (muscle weakness), uneasiness or ill feeling (malaise) and/or fatigue (tiredness)?
  • Aching, painful muscles, muscle cramps/spasms/stiffness?
  • Increase thirst, heavy sweating and need to urinate frequently?

C4/C5 ruptured or dislocated disc

  • Upper back and neck stiffness?

C5/C6 ruptured or dislocated disc

  • Constant neck pain, bicep and wrist muscle pain, tingling and numbness of lower arm to thumb and index finger?

C6/C7 ruptured or dislocated disc

  • Constant neck pain, triceps muscle pain and tingling and numbness of the long finger (3rd digit)?

C8/T1 ruptured or dislocated disc

  • Constant pain in neck, pain, tingling and numbing occurs along the whole arm down to outer part of small finger, unable to squeeze or hold objects in ones hands?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

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: Slipped Disc (neck, arm, fingers) 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).

Diet, Exercise and Body Manipulations

  • 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
    • Consider low impact sports i.e. Swimming