Cervical disc protrusion

Contents

Compression of the dura mater as a result of a fragment of the cervical disc protruding out of the intervertebral disc
Pain is experienced multisegmentally, meaning affecting many levels and may have many or selected pain reference patterns such as:
- Unilateral neck pain (although it may shift sides)
- Central neck pain
- Bilateral pain
Pain is most typically felt in
- Interscapular
- Trapezius and scapular area
  - Pain may also spread up towards the ear
- Pain can be felt in
  - Pectoral area or axilla

As a result of degeneration of the intervertebral disc / natural aging of disc ¹
Trauma/injury
- As a result of fall, whiplash, head injury

Cervical disc lesions occur at the intervertebral disc layers, as a result of the nucleus pulposus extruding and protruding through the annulus fibrosus, and then applying pressure towards the dura mater of the spine

Cervical disc protrusion is an early stage of disc herniation, a protrusion may not necessarily develop into a herniated disc but usually it is the first step in the development of a herniated disc
May begin with either discrete attacks or more suddenly as a result of a trauma
In discrete attacks there may be neck pain and pain in trapezius and scapular area which is then reaches spontaneous relief, and this process repeats again later until a protrusion occurs
If pain shifts from the scapular area towards the arm, then this may indicate a herniation of the disc has occurred
- This will put pressure towards the dural investment of the nerve root of the level below the respective level of the herniation
- See cervical herniated disc document for more information