How do I Know if I Have a Slipped Disc? THREE Signs of a Cervical Disc!

I'll show you THREE signs of a slipped cervical disc that you can perform by yourself at home to answer your questions of "How do I know if I have a slipped disc?" A slipped disc is a common layman's term for what's better described as "disc displacement" in the rehab and medical community. The condition of disc displacement or slipped disc means that the inner material of the disc has displaced itself into an unfavorable position that can cause neck pain and in more advanced cases may cause pain, tingling, numbness, or shooting discomfort in the shoulder, upper back, or arms.

The three signs (or tests) I demonstrate are 1) Arm abduction sign, 2) Increased pain when bearing down (Valsalva Test), and 3) End range loading test. When one or more of these signs are positive it should raise your suspicion that your neck pain could be from a displaced or slipped cervical disc. In this situation, it's helpful to see a chiropractor, physical therapist, or medical doctor to get a full work-up and treatment to relieve the discomfort and fix the problem.

End range loading and nerve flossing/tension exercises (see suggested video at the end of this video) are typically the best conservative care for most cervical disc displacements. A good chiropractor will be able to teach you how to do these and get you on your way to feeling better. Medical care, many times initially, includes a Predisone dose-pack (oral steroids), muscle relaxer medications, and NSAIDs. In more severe cases or ones that don't respond to conservative care like chiropractic or PT, a doctor may suggest an ESI which is an epidural steroid injection, or a discectomy surgery which consists of removing the displaced piece of the disc material.

It's important to note that slipped disc injuries typically respond better when they're treated sooner so that they don't develop and become more severe. Also, you can be assured that these often are self-limiting, in other words, they will resolve without significant and invasive intervention but each case is unique. If you have questions feel free to drop them in the comments or check out our chiropractic care blog on many common conditions at https://www.accesshealthchiro.com/blog/

Best of luck in your treatment and recovery!

If you want to skip to the THREE signs of a slipped disc in the neck you can do that in the chapters which are outlined here:
00:00 - Intro
00:19 - Arm Abduction Sign
00:57 - Pain When Bearing Down (Valsalva)
01:34 - Do You Have Directional Preference?

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#slippeddisc
#herniateddisc