What about herniated discs in my back?

A common cause of neck, shoulder and arm pain is a ruptured or herniated cervical disc.
Symptoms may include dull or sharp pain in the neck or between the shoulder blades,
pain that radiates down the arm to the hand or fingers, or numbness or tingling in the
shoulder or arm. Certain positions or movements of the neck can intensify the pain.

The symptoms of a cervical herniated disc often resemble other disorders such as carpal
tunnel syndrome, problems with the rotator cuff and gout. In some patients, a cervical
herniated disc can cause spinal cord compression where disc material pushes on the spinal
cord. This is a much more serious condition and may require a more aggressive treatment
plan. Spinal cord compression symptoms include awkward or stumbling gait, difficulty with
fine motor skills in the hands and arms, and tingling or “shock” type feelings down the torso
or into the legs.

Anatomy – Normal Cervical Disc In between each of the vertebrae (bones) in the spine is a
disc, a tough fibrous shock-absorbing pad. Endplates line the ends of each vertebra and help
hold individual discs in place. Each disc contains a tire-like outer band (called the annulus
fibrosus) that encases a gel-like substance (called the nucleus pulposus).Nerve roots exit
the spinal canal through small passageways between the vertebrae and discs. Pain and other
symptoms can develop when the damaged disc pushes into the spinal canal or nerve roots.

Cervical disc herniation occurs when the annulus fibrosus breaks open or cracks, allowing
the nucleus pulposus to escape. This is called a Herniated Nucleus Pulposus (HNP) or herniated
disc.