What Are the Symptoms of a Cervical Disc Herniation?
A cervical disc herniation, often called a slipped disc in the neck, happens when the soft centre of a neck disc pushes outward. It then presses on a nearby nerve root or on the spinal cord. The most common symptoms are neck pain that spreads into the shoulder or arm, tingling or numbness in the fingers, and weakness in the hand or arm. If the spinal cord itself is pressed, you may notice clumsy hands and changes in the way you walk.
Key points
- Pain travelling from the neck down into the arm is the main sign of a herniated disc in the neck.
- Numbness, tingling or weakness in the hand or fingers often follows a specific nerve pathway.
- Pressure on the spinal cord is a serious complication. Get urgent medical help if you notice clumsy hands, balance problems or changes in bladder or bowel control.
- MRI is usually the best tool for seeing the disc and soft tissue in detail. A standing X-ray can add useful information about how your spine alignment changes under load.
- Most people get better with time and non-surgical care, but some need to be assessed for surgery.
What does a herniated disc in the neck feel like?
The symptoms depend on which disc is affected. They also depend on whether the bulging material presses on a nerve root, the spinal cord, or both. The lower neck discs (around the C5-C6 and C6-C7 levels) are affected most often, because they carry the most movement and load.
The pattern of numbness and weakness often follows a specific nerve pathway, known as a dermatome. Your doctor or physiotherapist can sometimes tell which disc level is involved just by checking which part of your arm is affected.
When should you get urgent help for neck pain?
Most cervical disc herniations settle on their own over weeks to months. But in some cases the disc presses on the spinal cord itself, not just a single nerve root. This is called cervical myelopathy, and it needs prompt medical assessment.
- Clumsy hands, trouble with buttons or writing
- Unsteadiness or changes in the way you walk
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Numbness or weakness that is getting worse quickly
- Weakness in both arms or both legs
- Arm pain that has not improved after 4 to 6 weeks
- Tingling or numbness that is not going away
- Weakness in one arm that is mild but persistent
- Pain that is disturbing your sleep or daily activities
If the spinal cord is being pressed and the problem is left untreated, there is a risk of lasting damage. When both the nerve roots and the spinal cord are involved, this is sometimes called cervical radiculomyelopathy. Early assessment matters, so do not wait if you recognise the warning signs above.
What causes a cervical disc herniation?
A cervical disc herniation happens when the tough outer ring of a spinal disc weakens or tears, and the softer material inside pushes out. Several things make this more likely.
How is a cervical disc herniation diagnosed?
Diagnosis usually starts with a physical examination. Your doctor will check your neck movement, reflexes, strength and feeling in both arms. If the findings point to a disc herniation, a scan is usually the next step.
Where does MRI fit in? MRI is usually the best tool for seeing a cervical disc herniation, because it shows the disc, the nerve roots and the spinal cord in detail. EOS and standing X-ray are excellent for showing bones, joints and alignment under load. But for soft tissue such as discs and nerves, MRI is usually the better choice. The two types of imaging work well together.
In some cases, a CT scan or nerve conduction studies may also be used. Your specialist will advise you on the most suitable scan for your symptoms.
How does standing imaging help with a neck disc problem?
Standing imaging adds information that lying-down scans cannot give. When you lie flat for a normal MRI or CT, your muscles relax and gravity is taken out of the picture. Your spine may look quite different from how it behaves when you are upright and carrying your body weight.
A cervical disc herniation does not exist on its own. Your whole spine works as a connected chain, from the base of your skull to your pelvis and legs. If your neck curve is flattened or your upper back (thoracic spine) is too rounded, the neck discs carry more load than they should. A standing whole-body scan with ScanAlign standing EOS imaging can show these alignment patterns, using about 90% less radiation than a standard X-ray, around ten times less.
This information is especially useful for surgeons planning an operation, because it shows the spine in the position that matters most: upright, loaded, and in a posture ready for movement.
If you would like to understand how your overall spinal alignment may be adding to your neck problem, you can book a standing spine scan at 19 Harley Street, London, or start with a free video consultation from home.
Book a free video consultationWhat happens after a cervical disc herniation is confirmed?
Most cervical disc herniations get better with time and non-surgical care. This usually includes pain relief, physiotherapy and changes to your activities. Your doctor or specialist will advise on the best approach for you.
Surgery may be discussed if symptoms continue, if there is significant weakness, or if there are signs of pressure on the spinal cord. The most common operation is called an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, where the damaged disc is removed and the vertebrae are joined together. Your surgeon may also consider disc replacement. These decisions depend on many factors. Detailed imaging of both the disc (from MRI) and the overall alignment (from standing X-ray) helps the surgical team plan accurately.
If pressure on the spinal cord is confirmed, early cervical myelopathy treatment is important to prevent lasting damage.
Before you start treatment, or change the one you are on, it is worth getting a detailed diagnosis. Knowing whether the cause sits in your pelvis, your legs or your spine changes what will actually help.
Frequently asked questions about cervical disc herniation
Pain that spreads from the neck into the shoulder and arm is the most common symptom. Many people also notice tingling, numbness or weakness in the arm or hand on the affected side.
Yes. Many cervical disc herniations improve over several weeks to months with non-surgical care such as pain relief, physiotherapy and changes to your activities. The body can slowly reabsorb the herniated material.
In everyday use, yes. "Prolapse", "herniation" and "bulge" are often used to mean the same thing, though specialists may use them to describe different stages of how far the disc material has moved.
A herniated disc is one possible cause of a pinched nerve. The bulging disc presses on the nerve root, causing pain, tingling or weakness. Other things can also pinch a nerve, such as bone spurs from cervical spondylosis.
Neck pain with arm weakness that keeps getting worse, clumsy hands, changes in walking, or loss of bladder or bowel control is serious. Contact your doctor, call your local emergency services, or go to the nearest emergency department without delay if you notice these signs.
MRI is usually the preferred scan because it shows the soft disc material, the nerves and the spinal cord clearly. X-ray is better for checking bones, joint spacing and overall alignment, especially when taken standing. The two types of imaging work well together.
An EOS scan shows bones, joints and spinal alignment, not soft tissue like discs. It is valuable for checking how your overall posture and alignment may be adding to disc problems, but MRI is the tool of choice for seeing the disc itself.
An EOS scan uses about 90% less radiation than a standard X-ray, around ten times less. This makes it one of the lowest-dose imaging options available for full-body skeletal assessment.
No. ScanAlign accepts self-referrals. You can start with a free video consultation from home to discuss whether a standing scan is suitable for you.
Surgery may be considered when non-surgical treatment has not improved symptoms after several months, when there is significant or worsening weakness, or when there are signs of pressure on the spinal cord. Your specialist will discuss the options with you.
Want to understand your spinal alignment?
A free video consultation can help you decide whether travelling to London for a standing whole-body scan is the right next step for you.
Book a free video consultationWritten by Abbas Dhami (Specialist Diagnostic Radiographer)
Sources
- NHS. Slipped disc. nhs.uk. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/slipped-disc/
- Iyer S, Kim HJ. Cervical radiculopathy. Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine. 2016;9(3):272-280.
- North American Spine Society. Clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of cervical radiculopathy. NASS Evidence-Based Clinical Guidelines.
This page is general information and not a diagnosis.
ScanAlign is the trading name of CoreMed Solutions Ltd and operates under The Harley Street Hospital's CQC licence.