Do you experience persistent neck pain, arm numbness, or hand weakness? These symptoms can arise when the intervertebral discs in your neck deteriorate or herniate, pressing on your nerves. This pressure can cause significant discomfort and limit your daily activities. If conservative treatments like physical therapy, medications, or injections haven’t provided relief, cervical discectomy may be a suitable solution. This procedure alliviate pressure on the nerve roots or spinal cord caused by a herniated disc or bone spurs in the neck, a condition known as nerve root compression.
Our pain management experts in Somerset, Monroe, Ewing, Englewood Cliffs, Jersey City, Hoboken, Bloomfield, Freehold, Clark, and Elizabeth, New Jersey; and Bayridge, Manhattan, The Bronx, Brooklyn, and Hempstead, New York, are committed to helping patients find relief and regain control of their everyday lives.
“Cervical” refers to the seven vertebrae in the neck. The discs are the cartilaginous cushions between each vertebra, and “discectomy” means “to remove.” During a cervical discectomy, the surgeon makes a small incision in the back of the neck to access the cervical spine. Then they remove all or part of the damaged disc or, in some cases, the bone that is compressing the nerves and causing pain.
A herniated disc occurs when the nucleus pulposus (the soft, jelly-like center of the disc) pushes through the annulus fibrosis (the tough outer ring). Bone spurs can develop as a result of calcification in the spine.
Pressure on nerve roots, ligaments, or the spinal cord caused by a herniated disc or bone spur can lead to:
Pressure on the spinal cord in the cervical region can be intense because most of the body’s nerves (including those for the arms, chest, abdomen, and legs) pass through the neck to reach the brain. Cervical discectomy can relieve this pressure, thereby reducing pain.
Your surgeon will provide a specific postoperative recovery plan to help you return to normal activities as quickly as possible. You can expect a brief hospital stay, usually ending the day after surgery. Returning to work typically takes 3 to 6 weeks, depending on your individual recovery and the nature of your job or desired activities. It is crucial to work closely with your spine surgeon, follow their instructions, and adhere to the most appropriate recovery protocol for you to optimize the healing process.
At University Pain and Spine Center, with numerous accessible locations in New York and New Jersey, we offer specialized care for neck pain. Our team will evaluate your condition to determine if a cervical discectomy is a suitable treatment option. We invite you to contact us to schedule an appointment.
