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Herniated disc in neck The symptoms, how it is found, and treatment from physical therapy to injections
A herniated disc in neck happens when the soft centre of a disc between two neck vertebrae pushes out and presses on a nearby nerve. It typically causes neck pain with pain, tingling, numbness or weakness running into the shoulder, arm or hand, and is often worse when you look up or turn toward the painful side. Most people improve within 6 to 12 weeks without surgery. Pinched nerve treatment usually starts with physical therapy, traction and posture changes, with a cervical epidural injection when arm pain is severe. Weakness that is getting worse, or trouble with walking or hand use, needs prompt care. Spinal traction and decompression are offered at both our Brooklyn and Staten Island offices.
Discs are the cushions between the bones of the spine. With age, strain or an injury, the tough outer ring of a disc can weaken, and part of the soft centre can bulge out. In the neck, that bulge often lands right where a nerve root leaves the spine, which is why the worst symptoms are frequently in the arm rather than the neck. The video shows the disc and the kind of exercise that helps.
Symptoms of a herniated disc in neck
- Neck pain, often with pain between the shoulder blades
- Pain that runs into the shoulder, arm or hand, sometimes sharper than the neck pain
- Tingling or numbness in particular fingers; see numbness and tingling in hands
- Weakness in the arm or grip
- Pain worse when you look up, turn your head or cough, and easier with the hand resting on top of your head
Get emergency care for weakness in both arms or legs, trouble walking or with balance, clumsy hands, or loss of bladder or bowel control, which can mean pressure on the spinal cord.
How it is diagnosed
A physician asks where the pain and tingling go and tests strength, reflexes and sensation in the arms, which usually points to the nerve root involved. An MRI shows the disc and nerve when symptoms are severe or not improving. An EMG/NCV test shows how much the nerve is affected and rules out a nerve trapped at the elbow or wrist instead. Our neck pain page lists the other conditions we evaluate.
Pinched nerve treatment for a herniated disc in neck
- Activity changes: keep moving, but limit long periods looking down or overhead work for a few weeks
- Physical therapy: posture work, deep neck and shoulder blade strengthening and nerve gliding, offered at our Brooklyn and Staten Island offices; see physical therapy for neck pain
- Traction: cervical traction gently opens the space around the nerve and eases arm pain for many people
- Medicine: short courses of anti-inflammatories as your doctor advises
- A cervical epidural: when arm pain is severe or not settling, an epidural steroid injection places anti-inflammatory medicine near the irritated nerve so you can keep working in therapy; see cervical epidural steroid injection and do epidural injections work?
Pain procedures are performed at all three offices, and your physician explains where and when yours will be scheduled.
When surgery is worth a look
Surgery is usually considered only when arm weakness is significant or getting worse, when there are signs of pressure on the spinal cord, or when severe arm pain has not improved after several months of good non-surgical care. Even then, a surgical opinion is a conversation, not a commitment. For neck pain that keeps returning for other reasons, see chronic neck pain treatment.
Related care at Precision Care Medical & Sports Performance
Pinched nerve treatment near you
Looking for a pinched nerve doctor near me? Precision Care Medical & Sports Performance treats herniated discs at all three offices, where our pain physicians, Ashley Marcus, MD in Brooklyn, Jake Stephen, DO on Staten Island and Yuri Gordin, MD in Manhattan examine the neck and arm and explain the options. For a pinched nerve in Brooklyn, our Brooklyn pain management office on Shell Rd is close to Marine Park, Manhattan Beach and Midwood.
On Staten Island, our Staten Island pain management office on Richmond Rd is near Great Kills, Todt Hill and New Dorp. In Manhattan, the Precision Care Spine & Pain Center in Midtown Manhattan is steps from Turtle Bay and the UN Plaza, an easy subway ride from the Financial District and the Upper East Side, and convenient for patients from Washington Heights and Spanish Harlem. Physical therapy and traction are offered in Brooklyn and Staten Island only. Request an appointment or call the office closest to you.
150 E 55th St, Suite 401, New York, NY 10022
(212) 840-0135
Questions patients ask
What are the symptoms of a herniated disc in the neck?
Neck pain with pain, tingling, numbness or weakness running into the shoulder, arm or hand. Symptoms are often worse when looking up or turning toward the painful side.
How long does a herniated disc in the neck take to heal?
Most people improve within 6 to 12 weeks with non-surgical care. Arm pain often eases first, while numbness and strength can take longer to return.
Can physical therapy help a herniated disc in the neck?
Yes. Posture work, deep neck and shoulder blade strengthening, nerve gliding and traction help most people, and they lower the chance of the pain coming back.
When is an injection used for a herniated disc in the neck?
A cervical epidural steroid injection may be used when arm pain is severe or not settling with therapy. It calms the irritated nerve so you can keep moving and exercising.
When is a herniated disc in the neck an emergency?
Get emergency care for weakness in both arms or legs, trouble walking or with balance, clumsy hands, or loss of bladder or bowel control.
Where can I get pinched nerve treatment near me?
Precision Care Medical & Sports Performance treats herniated discs and pinched nerves at all three offices:
- Brooklyn2781 Shell Rd, Suite 101, Brooklyn, NY 11223(718) 648-1234 · Get directions
- Staten Island1630 Richmond Rd, Suite 101, Staten Island, NY 10304(718) 339-7100 · Get directions
- Midtown Manhattan150 E 55th St, Suite 401, New York, NY 10022(212) 840-0135 · Get directions
Physical therapy and traction are offered at the Brooklyn and Staten Island offices only.
Educational only, not medical advice. These videos and this article explain common problems and treatments in general terms. They are not a diagnosis or a treatment plan for you. Results vary from person to person. See a qualified clinician about your own symptoms, and call 911 or go to an emergency room for an emergency.
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