[라포르시안] Nowadays, many things are done non-face-to-face to prevent infection, and as the use of personal electronic devices such as smartphones and tablets increases, the number of people complaining of neck disc symptoms is increasing. This is because they take a posture with their head bowed for a long time to use smart devices.
‘Cervical disc herniation’, commonly called a disc in the neck, is a disease in which the disc (disc), a tissue that absorbs shock between the cervical vertebrae (vertebrae in the neck), escapes or ruptures, compressing the nerve root or spinal cord, causing pain in the arms and fingers of the neck, shoulder, etc. It can cause numbness or even paralysis in severe cases.
Neck disc can occur as a result of an acute injury due to trauma, but mainly occurs as the external fibrous tissue of the intervertebral disc weakens as the body ages and the internal nucleus pulposus comes out.
Recently, more people are taking the ‘turtle neck’ posture, which puts a strain on the spine, and the incidence of such neck disc disease is increasing.
Neck, shoulder, back, and arm pain are the most common symptoms of a neck disc, and when the nucleus pulposus prolapsed from the intervertebral disc presses on the cervical nerve root, it can cause numbness and paralysis in the hands and arms.
In addition, when the spinal cord, which is the central nerve, is pressed, it weakens the strength of the legs or causes ataxia that makes it difficult to balance when walking, making daily life difficult.
The most accurate method for diagnosis is to observe the soft tissue, nerves, and cerebrospinal fluid shadows in the neck area through MRI. However, a cervical disc does not necessarily require surgical treatment. In most cases, the improvement is often achieved with appropriate exercise, posture correction, and physical and drug therapy.
If the drug treatment effect is insignificant, invasive procedures such as nerve block can be performed. In addition, if there is pressure on the spinal cord, surgical treatment such as disk removal, osteosynthesis, and artificial disk insertion may be required at an early stage, but surgery should be decided very carefully through consultation with a specialist.
Kim Beom-jun, a professor of spinal neurosurgery at Korea University Ansan Hospital, said, “The time spent using smartphones and laptop tablets at home is increasing significantly due to COVID-19. “Proper posture and regular stretching are essential for neck health, and the use of a pillow of an appropriate height is recommended.”
Professor Kim said, “The symptoms of a herniated disc in the neck do not go away immediately even after treatment.” “In most cases, symptoms gradually improve through lifestyle changes and the pain is forgotten, so early diagnosis and treatment through consultation with a specialist is essential.” requested
