While each case is unique, common symptoms of a C5-C6 disc bulging include neck and shoulder pain, radicular pain felt in the arms and hands, and sensations such as tingling, numbness, shooting electric shock-like pains, weakness, and a reduced range of motion.
C5-C6 disc bulging can be a painful and debilitating condition affecting the quality of life. Traditional medical treatment may involve medication, physical therapy, and surgery.
Someone seeking traditional medical treatment for C5-C6 disc bulging is often looking to remedy the pain and discomfort disrupting their daily life. This treatment will likely involve being prescribed medication such as steroids for inflammation, injections, physical therapy, disc surgery, or spinal-fusion surgery.
A c5-c6 herniated disc can affect the nerves that control the muscles in the arms, neck, shoulders, hands as well as the head, eyes, ears, or thyroid gland. Symptoms in these areas in addition to pain in the neck is very common with c5-c6 disc herniations.
Each case is different and will depend on important patient/condition variables such as patient age and overall health, condition severity, and causation, common symptoms of C5-C6 disc issues is a dull ache, or a sharp pain, that is most intensely felt in the back of the neck.
C5-C6 (C6 nerve root): Pain, tingling, and/or numbness may be felt in the thumb side of the hand. Weakness may also be experienced in the biceps (muscles in the front of the upper arms) and wrist extensor muscles in the forearms.
C5 radiculopathy tends to lead to pain in the upper shoulder near the neck and could either be sharp pain on the surface or a deep, achy pain. C6 radiculopathy would be more on the outer shoulder and likely a pain that feels closer to skin level.
You can usually resume light activities two weeks after the injury, and it takes around six weeks to fully heal.
Treatment with rest, pain medication, spinal injections, and physical therapy is the first step to recovery. Most people improve in 6 weeks and return to normal activity. If symptoms continue, surgery may be recommended.
In worst-case scenarios, patients can lose feeling in their nerves permanently. This normally leads to what is referred to as saddle anesthesia. It can also lead to loss of control over bowel movements and bladder. In cases where a herniated disc has been untreated for too long, this type of damage can be permanent.
When a bulging or herniated disc occurs in the C5-C6 region, it can cause sharp pain that radiates from the neck to the shoulder, arms, hands, and fingers. It can also lead to muscle weakness, numbness, spasms, headaches, and neck stiffness. There may also be a cracking or popping sound when moving the neck.
C5: someone with an injury at C5 may be able to breathe independently but will have a reduced lung capacity with less effective breathing and cough. C6-C7: C7 is the lowest of the cervical vertebrae, and someone with an injury at C6 or below is likely to be able to breathe independently.
A herniated disc can cause pain while you sleep for a few reasons. First, when you lie down, the pressure on your discs increases. It can cause the herniated disc to bulge more and pressure your nerves. Second, lying down flat on your back may not be the best position for a herniated disc.
Sleeping without a pillow may help some people who sleep on their front. It can help keep the spine and the neck in alignment during sleep, easing neck and back pain. It is not a good idea for everyone, though. People who sleep on their back or side might find that sleeping without a pillow causes neck or back pain.
Additionally, from C5 and C6, the axillary nerve supplies the motor function of the deltoid and teres minor, as well as the sensory aspect of the overlying skin, the superior lateral cutaneous nerve of the arm, and the skin of the lateral shoulder and arm.
People with degenerative disk disease need to avoid foods that promote inflammation and physical activities involving heavy lifting and twisting. Additionally, a person should avoid smoking, if applicable, slouching, and consuming more than moderate amounts of alcohol.
Vertebral and disc pain from C5-C6 may occur suddenly following an injury or gradually increase over a period of time. Typically, a dull ache or sharp pain may be felt at the back of the neck. The neck's range of motion may also decrease. There may be crepitus (a snap, crackle, or pop sound) with neck movements.
Nonsurgical Treatment for C5-C6
Manual therapy in combination with therapeutic exercise may help improve neck function, decrease pain, and increase the range of motion of the C5-C6 level. This treatment also helps improve head and neck balance and prevent falls.
A patient with C6 radiculopathy usually feels pain or numbness from the neck to radial side of the biceps, forearm, the dorsal web space of the hand between the thumb and index finger, and to the tips of those fingers.
C5 radiculopathy.
Tingling, numbness, and/or pain may go from the neck into the shoulder and/or down the arm and into the thumb. Weakness may be experienced in the shoulder or upper arm.