| A C5 C6 disc that is herniated can cause incredible | | | | sports-related injury, or some other type of |
| pain and disability for the person suffering with it. | | | | trauma. |
| This article will discuss the most common | | | | There is also a genetic component to this |
| symptoms associated with a C5 C6 herniated | | | | condition. If you have any other family members |
| disc, causes, and three things you can do from | | | | who suffer with spinal problems, it is possible for |
| home for relief. | | | | you to be born with weaker discs, which |
| Before we get into all of that, though, we need | | | | predisposes you to a disc herniation. This doesn't |
| to discuss what a herniated disc is, because | | | | mean that your stuck with the problem - it just |
| without this background, the rest of the | | | | means that you need to take extra steps to |
| information will not make sense. | | | | keep your spine strong if you have a family |
| The discs of the spine serve 2 purposes. First of | | | | history of this. |
| all, they are a special type of ligament, which | | | | So, what can you do about a C5 C6 disc that is |
| holds the bones of the spine together. There are | | | | herniated? Most doctors would recommend |
| actually 23 discs of the spine, each one separating | | | | medications, physical therapy, pain injections (such |
| 2 bones. | | | | as cortisone or epidurals), or even surgery. There |
| The second purpose of the disc is to act as a | | | | are many things you can do at home as well. We'll |
| cushion, or shock-absorber whenever you move. | | | | discuss just 3 things you can do from home for |
| Because the disc is separating the bones of the | | | | relief in this article. |
| spine, it prevents the bones from touching | | | | First, if you're actually experiencing pain, the best |
| whenever you move (which would be very | | | | thing you can do from home is use ice over the |
| painful). | | | | painful area. It's important to note that you have |
| Now, the intervertebral discs are very special in | | | | to use the ice over the disc in the neck, even if |
| the way they are made. They each have a firm | | | | you feel pain elsewhere. You must treat the |
| outer covering (called the annulus), and a jelly | | | | source of the pain in order for it to be alleviated. |
| center (called the nucleus). When a disc herniates, | | | | So, how do you use the ice for the most |
| the outer covering will tear (and we'll talk about | | | | effectiveness? Well, you want to use real ice, |
| why in just a moment), and the jelly starts to | | | | rather than a substitute (such as a gel ice pack, |
| shift from the center of the disc into the area | | | | or frozen vegetables). Place the ice directly on the |
| where the disc is weak from the tear. | | | | skin, and leave it on for 15 minutes maximum or |
| This creates a bulge in the disc, which sounds like | | | | until the area becomes numb (whichever comes |
| it would be painful, but surprisingly, the discs of | | | | first). Repeat this treatment every hour for best |
| the spine are designed to not feel pain. Why? | | | | results. |
| Well, think about it - if one of the main purposes | | | | Consistency is truly the key with ice - it will |
| of the disc is to absorb shock, wouldn't it make | | | | typically take 3 - 6 treatments before you will |
| sense that it be designed to not feel pain? After | | | | experience any relief. In most cases, if you are |
| all, if the discs of the spine did feel pain, you | | | | consistent with this treatment, you can expect to |
| would hurt every time you move! | | | | experience quite a bit of relief within 3 days. |
| So, the question becomes - if a disc does not feel | | | | The second thing that you want to keep in mind |
| pain, why can this condition be so painful? Well, | | | | with a C5 C6 disc that is herniated is your |
| unfortunately, the disc will tend to bulge where | | | | sleeping position. It is very important that you are |
| the nerves of the spine are located, which usually | | | | using the correct pillow so that you don't make |
| applies pressure to the nerves. | | | | this condition worse over time. |
| The nerves of the body are very sensitive, and | | | | I would recommend that you use only 1 pillow, |
| any amount of pressure that is applied to them | | | | and you especially want to be sure that you don't |
| can not only cause severe pain, but also disability. | | | | stack pillows under your neck, which forces the |
| You have to realize that the nerves control | | | | neck into a flexed position. This position is very |
| everything in the body. | | | | hard on a herniated disc, and will actually make |
| So, for example, a C5 C6 disc that is herniated | | | | your condition worse. |
| will affect the nerves that control the muscles in | | | | The 3rd tip I'll give you today is that you bounce |
| the shoulders, arms, hands, neck, as well as other | | | | on a therapy ball at home. A therapy ball is one |
| areas of the body such as the head, eyes, ears, | | | | of those large balls you see at health clubs or in |
| and thyroid gland. | | | | physical therapy clinics. You basically want to sit |
| Because of this, if there is any pressure applied to | | | | on the ball and gently bounce up and down. |
| these nerves (whether it be from a herniated | | | | Now, you're probably wondering how that will help |
| disc, or some other condition), it is very common | | | | a disc problem in your neck. Well, remember how |
| that you will not only experience neck pain, but | | | | we discussed that the discs of the spine are |
| also symptoms related to these other areas. | | | | made up of that hard outer covering, and jelly |
| For example, you may also experience arm pain, | | | | center? The jelly of the disc is very important, |
| burning, numbness, weakness, headaches, thyroid | | | | because this is where the nutritional and oxygen is |
| problems, problems with your vision, ringing in the | | | | stored in the discs, which is very important for |
| ears, etc. | | | | the discs to heal properly. |
| So, now that we've established what a herniated | | | | The only way you can get new nutrition and |
| disc is, and the types of symptoms you may | | | | oxygen into the discs of the spine is by physically |
| experience from a C5 C6 disc that is herniated, | | | | pumping them, which is what this exercise will do |
| let's discuss the causes of the problem. | | | | for you. It doesn't matter if your injured disc is in |
| The most common cause of a herniated disc is | | | | the neck or somewhere else in the spine - this |
| trauma - some type of injury. Whether it be | | | | exercise will effectively pump new oxygen and |
| from a car accident, lifting something heavy, a | | | | nutrition into the disc for faster healing. |