Many Accidents Can Cause Herniated Discs at C4/C5 or C5/C6. Here’s What You Need to Know
Spinal discs are cushions between the vertebrae that absorb shock and help the spine move and bend. Over time, discs naturally degenerate, but they can also be damaged in an accident.
Herniated discs are one of the most common injuries from car accidents, pedestrian accidents, or slip and fall accidents. Disc herniation happens when the disc’s soft center, or nucleus pulposus, pushes through the harder outer layer, or annulus fibrosus.
For some people, a herniated disc causes no symptoms at all. For others, the symptoms can be debilitating because the herniated material compresses nerve roots or even the spinal cord.
Herniated discs are particularly common in the cervical spine (the neck). The cervical spine has seven vertebrae (C1 to C7) and eight pairs of cervical nerves (C1 to C8). Disc herniation is most common between the C5-C6 and C6-C7 vertebrae, which causes symptoms at C6 and C7.
Here’s what you should know about the symptoms of cervical disc herniation.
Symptoms of a Herniated Disc at C5-C6
A herniated disc at C5-C6 causes symptoms at the C6 nerve. The most common symptoms are:
- Pain in the neck, shoulder, or shoulder blade
- Tingling, burning, numbness, or prickling sensation (paresthesia) of the outer forearm, outer hand, and/or thumb and pointer finger
- Pain, weakness, or limited range of motion affecting the wrist and elbow
Some people also experience weakness while lifting their arms straight up at their sides or rotating their forearms.
Symptoms of a Herniated Disc at C6-C7
A herniated disc at C6-C7 causes symptoms at the C7 nerve, including:
- Neck and shoulder pain
- Paresthesia of the back of the forearm and the middle finger
- Affected flexion of the wrist or extension of the elbow
Problems at the C7 nerve root can be tested with the triceps reflex, which involves tapping the triceps tendon above the elbow. Performing this test on a healthy C7 nerve should cause the triceps muscle to flex and the elbow to extend. The tricep reflex may be weaker if the C7 nerve is damaged.
Symptoms of Narrowing C5-C6 Disc Space
Regular age-related changes to the spine can also cause discs to become thinner, stiffer, and less able to cushion the vertebrae. As the discs thin, the vertebrae become closer together. Narrower disc space may allow vertebrae to rub against each other and develop bone spurs. These spurs can compress nerve roots or the spinal cord.
Disc degeneration may or may not cause symptoms until the nerves or spinal cord are compressed. The main symptom of narrowing disc space is neck stiffness, but pain and numbness or weakness of the arms and hands are also common.
Symptoms of Spinal Cord Compression at C5-C6
A bulging disc in the neck at C5-C6 can extend into the spinal canal, putting pressure on part of your spinal cord. This is called cervical myelopathy.
Common symptoms of myelopathy at C5-C6 include:
- Neck stiffness and pain
- Tingling or numbness in the arms and hands
- Weakness of the arms and hands
- Trouble with fine motor skills
- Balance issues
Cervical myelopathy may worsen over time, especially with natural age-related degeneration. In severe cases, surgery to decompress the spinal cord may be needed. Common procedures include diskectomy (removal of a damaged portion of the disc) and removal of a portion of the vertebra.
Long-Term Effects of a Herniated Disc in the Neck
For most people, the weakness, pain, and restricted movement from cervical disc herniation resolve within six weeks. In about one-third of people, symptoms continue even with treatment. When symptoms persist beyond this point, they usually do not improve without surgery.
Long-term symptoms of a herniated disc in the neck can include chronic pain, reduced range of motion, muscle weakness or atrophy, and nerve damage. The herniated disc may contribute to other degenerative conditions like bone spurs and spinal stenosis.
If conservative treatments don’t help and you are still experiencing pain after 12 weeks, your doctor may explore surgical solutions like discectomy or disc replacement. An example of a commonly performed procedure is an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. This surgery involves removing the herniated disc material and fusing the vertebrae together for stability.
Contact the Lousville Truck Accident Law Firm of HJV Car Accident Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today
For more information, don’t hesitate to contact HJV Car Accident Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation with a medical malpractice lawyer in Louisville today. We have two convenient locations in Louisville and Fort Mitchell, Kentucky.
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Louisville, KY, 40202
(502) 540-5700
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Fort Mitchell, KY, 41017
(859) 578-4444