What are the symptoms of cervical spine degenerative disc disease?

Question

I've had and MRI and nerve conduction studies because I had severe sciatica type pain that radiated down my right arm and could not turn my head in either direction. Unfortunately, it affects a few discs but I can't recall the "C" numbers.

Answer 1

Symptoms
The main symptom of cervical degenerative disc disease is neck pain. Of course, there are many things that can cause neck pain, so having this symptom does not automatically indicate this condition. A patient with this condition can also experience some radicular pain in the arm and shoulder.

Most people will experience some degree of degeneration of their discs as they grow older, simply as a function of aging, sometimes exacerbated by their lifestyle. However, not everyone with degenerative disc disease will experience symptoms.

Cervical degenerative disc disease pain and symptoms
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.

Cervical disc degeneration can also contribute to spinal stenosis, and other progressive conditions, as well as a more sudden disc herniation.

Answer 2

It is gonna hurt. A lot. Most of the time. It will impede your ability to move your neck and shoulders.

You really need to be in touch with a doctor ASAP.