A: The cervical disc is an extraordinary structure that enables us to move our necks with tremendous range and versatility, so when one (or more) of them stops working
normally or develops a ‘bulge,’ it can halt us in our tracks.
When the bulge hits a nerve, it can cause terrible shooting pain from the neck into the arms that may be accompanied by numbness, tingling, or even weakness. Some discs protrude directly into the spinal cord itself and can cause imbalance, loss of coordination or fine movement control, and bladder or bowel dysfunction.
Fortunately, the majority of these disc bulges can be treated conservatively through our multidisciplinary spine center utilizing short-term analgesic and anti-inflammatory medications, thermal pads, physical therapy, and other non-invasive remedies to encourage natural healing over time. However, in situations where symptoms persist, or if the spinal cord is significantly impacted by the disc protrusion,
surgery may be necessary.
So the question many patients have is—am I a candidate?
As great as cervical artificial disc replacements are, they are not for everyone. Any traumatic or degenerative condition that results in spinal instability precludes the use of artificial discs. We must remember that the artificial disc’s job is to maintain normal biomechanics and range of motion. If the neighboring anatomy is no longer normal, then simple disc replacement may not be the safest option.
There is a lot of information out there these days, some good, some not so good—I am excited to be here at Hoag to help the OC community make sense of it all!
By Adam S. Kanter, M.D., F.A.A.N.S.
