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C5-C6 disc herniation symptoms aren’t just restricted to pain symptoms. Instead, it can potentially cause paresthesia, or even paralysis from the neck down! When the C5-C6 disc is compromised, it affects the normal working and strength of the whole spine.
The human spine has three normal curves, and when looking at it from the side, it takes a delicate ‘S’ shape. When one of those curves is lost, negative spinal pressure is presented, causing various issues.
The spine is comprised of a few interconnected bones.
- These vertebrae safeguard the delicate tissues, the spinal line, and the nerves that go through the spine.
- To keep up with their flexibility, a connective disc isolates every vertebra. These spinal discs are comprised of solid flexible tissues.
- When the spine twists or pivots, the spinal discs change in size to help the development and forestall grinding between the bones.
At times, the spinal discs may bulge out. This is generally normal in the lower spine. However, it can also happen in the upper part of the spine. In more severe cases, it can lead to C5-C6 disk herniation symptoms.
What are the C5-C6 vertebrae Responsible For?
The C5-C6 vertebrae are situated in the lower part of the cervical spine (upper back and neck), and can help in:
- Padding between the individual vertebra of the spine
- Helping to uniformly disseminate stress all through the spine
- Conserving spine flexibility to avoid back deformation.
Why Does C5-C6 disc Herniation Happen?
The spine has three solid curves.
- These curves cooperate to make the spine as solid and adaptable as could be expected.
- The spine’s upper back contains the cervical curve with a delicate inwards curvature at the neck starting from the top.
- The center back has an outward curve known as the thoracic curve, and the lower back spine has an internal lumbar curve.
- The curves of the spine depend on each other for structure.
- If one of these curves is compromised, its impact can be seen all through the whole spine.
When the spine’s normal curves are lost, the body reacts by making abnormal curves of its own.
If the C5-C6 disc herniation symptoms occur, the neck’s normal curve is compromised. This leads to spinal strain and tension on the nerve attachments situated close to the spine.
Those experiencing C5 C6 disc herniation symptoms need proper treatment.
What Factors Affect the C5-C6 Motion Segment?
While the C5-C6 spinal motion segment gives adaptability and support to a large part of the neck and the head, it’s also easily affected by:
- Poor posture,
- With age,
- Possible trauma,
- Degeneration
- Radicular pain
What are the Structures that make up the C5-C6 spinal motion segment?
Each vertebra comprised the C5 and C6 vertebral body, a vertebral arch, and two transverse processes.
On the joint surfaces, articulating cartilages are provided. This helps facilitate smooth movements and prevent friction between the facet joint surfaces.
Causes Of C5-C6 Disc Herniation Symptoms
Patients experience C5-C6 Disc herniation symptoms when there is damage to the external layer, which makes the inward substance spill out of the vertebrae, which can lead to unexpected or chronic injury.
For instance, having incorrect posture and lifting loads with poor posture can cause chronic injury to the cervical disc.
Other potential causes of C5 C6 Disc herniation symptoms include:
- Being overweight
- Being older causes wear and tear, which in turn causes pain
- Having a sedentary lifestyle
- Having an intervertebral disc infection
Spinal discs debilitate over the long run and become more defenceless against injury. This implies that aging increases the dangers of C5-C6 disc herniation symptoms.
If the nucleus pulposus, or the delicate internal tissue, starts to degenerate initially, a disc may have no issue.
If the annulus fibrosis, which is the external supporting layer, begins to deteriorate first, the internal nucleus pulposus may escape into the vertebral channel and push on a nerve root or the spinal cord.
C5-C6 Disc Herniation Symptoms And Signs
Some of the common symptoms of C5 C6 Disc herniation include:
1) Neck Pain
This pain is regularly felt behind or side of the neck or the arms. It can go from a less-than-overwhelming pain that feels delicate when touched to a sharp or consuming pain. At times, back pain and weakness of muscles of the upper body – arms and hands can also be seen.
2) Radicular Pain
This pain can radiate from a squeezed nerve or nerve root in the neck down through the shoulder, upper arm, hand, wrist extensor muscles, and finger. Patients may feel an electric shock-like or numbness and tingling.
3) Cervical Radiculopathy
Squeezed nerves or nerve root irritation may likewise cause numbness. The pain can radiate down into the shoulder, arms, hand, and additionally, any finger. Radicular pain may likewise go with radiculopathy1, with numbness and tingling in certain examples.
4) Neck Stiffness
Pain and irritation from a cervical herniated disc may confine certain neck movements and decrease the scope of movement.
5) Swelling, Tenderness, and Inflammation
In the area where the C5-C6 disk herniation symptoms are most prominent, one might also find tenderness and swelling on palpation.
A slightly raised temperature of the site of the bulge says that the area is inflamed as well.
The C5-C6 disc herniation symptoms deteriorate with exact head positions or exercises. A herniated disc’s pain will generally erupt and feel more terrible during exercises, such as while playing a game or lifting a significant weight.
Certain head positions—like turning the head from side to side or shifting the head forward—may likewise deteriorate the pain.
Diagnosis Of C5 C6 Disc Herniation Symptoms
C5-C6 Disc herniation symptoms can be diagnosed through many methods.
Symptomatic picture testing, such as magnetic resonating imaging (MRI) or a CT scan2, will show a swollen disc. It will also show where it is found and how extreme it is.
From that point, you can allude to an expert who will work with you to pick your course of treatment.
Treatment Of C5 C6 Disc Herniation Symptoms
With any ailment, there are two treatment ways:
- One is to address and treat indications of the condition
- The other is to address and treat the condition’s hidden reason.
Treatment options for C5-C6 disc herniation symptoms can go either way, depending on the seriousness of the issue. Medical professionals recommend surgery for severe cases that may cause nerve root impingement, which could lead to paralysis.
Medications like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs 3are given for swelling and inflammation. Painkillers are given along with calcium tablets and other such medicines.
Physiotherapy is a great way to recover from C5-C6 Disc herniation symptoms. Stretching and strengthening exercises of the neck have been shown to benefit patients.
Dealing with C5 C6 Disc Herniation Symptoms
C5-C6 disc herniation symptoms can happen when a spinal disc gets disturbed. This can prompt a herniated disc, wherein trauma makes the inward gel-like substance of the disk spill out. The condition can cause pain and numbness, as well as a tingling sensation.
Should you experience the same, seek medical advice.
Active rehabilitation and physical activities can assist with treating C54-C6 Disc herniation symptoms. This will incorporate a combination of delicate neck stretches and activities to strengthen the neck and muscles.
You may also look at painkillers and other medical procedures for the short term.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How is a C5-C6 Disc Herniation Identified?
To diagnose C5-C6 disc herniation, a doctor will often perform a physical exam, evaluate the patient’s medical history, and request imaging tests such as X-rays, CT scans, or MRI scans.
2. What Are the Treatment Options for A Herniated C5-C6 Disc?
Pain medication, physical therapy, chiropractic care, and, in more severe situations, surgery are all treatment possibilities for C5-C6 disc herniation.
3. Is it Possible to Avoid C5-C6 Disc Herniation?
While there is no sure technique to prevent C5-C6 disc herniation, excellent posture, regular exercise, and avoiding activities that impose undue strain on the neck can all help minimize the risk of having this problem.
- Mansfield, Michael, et al. “Cervical spine radiculopathy epidemiology: a systematic review.” Musculoskeletal Care 18.4 (2020): 555-567. ↩︎
- Zhao, Jinyu, et al. “Covid-ct-dataset: a ct scan dataset about covid-19.” (2020). ↩︎
- Kirkland, J. L., and T. Tchkonia. “Senolytic drugs: from discovery to translation.” Journal of internal medicine 288.5 (2020): 518-536. ↩︎
- Mastellos, Dimitrios C., et al. “Complement C3 vs C5 inhibition in severe COVID-19: Early clinical findings reveal differential biological efficacy.” Clinical Immunology 220 (2020): 108598. ↩︎
Last Updated on by Sathi Chakraborty, MSc Biology
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