I just found out that I have Cervical disc degeneration is a common cause of neck pain, most frequently felt as a stiff neck. Cervical degenerative disc disease is much less common than disc degeneration in the lumbar spine because the neck generally is subjected to far less torque and force. Nonetheless, a fall or a twisting injury to the disc space can spur degeneration, and accumulated wear and tear on the disc over time can also lead to neck pain caused by disc degeneration. Finding out that this is a injury that happoned in my early childhood. DR. told me that I was in much to bad of shape for my age.
In addition to having the low-grade pain of a stiff or inflexible neck, many patients with cervical disc degeneration have numbness, tingling, or even weakness in the neck, arms, or shoulders as a result of nerves in the cervical area becoming irritated or pinched.
For example, a pinched nerve root in the C6-C7 segment could result in weakness in the triceps and forearms, wrist drop and altered sensation in the middle fingers or fingertips. Which this is what is going on with me. I woke up on the 5th of July with the unability to use my left arm. Went to the local ER where I was there for 9 hours, just to be missinformed on what my status was. Thank God I went to see a Spine specialist on the 8th. When he pinpointed the problem and started treatment right away.
It is heart breaking no to beable to do the everyday activies I am used to doing, working, swimming, driving, plating games with the kids, etc. I just want to be my self again. So As I go through all this treatment please bear with me for I may not act like myself.
Love to you all.
Kelly AKA SMACKER
Cervical disc degeneration can also contribute to spinal stenosis and other progressive conditions, as well as a more sudden disc herniation.