Disc prolapse

Hi,

I have just an MRI scan on my neck and my results showed a small disc prolapse at the C5/6 level but is not enough to cause any significant pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots and they are not sure if this is related to my symptoms of numbness in the arm and pins and neddles.  I wasn't given any information on a disc prolapse, is there any thing i can do to help with the diganose.

Also I suffer from the same sensation in my buttocks and back of the thigh with a great deal of pain in my lower back, could this be related or should i go for an MRI scan on my lower back too.

[Neuro Forum]

Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with your doctor.

Without the ability to examine you and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of your symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.

There is a material that cushions the space occurring between the vertebra (bones of the spine). This material may sort of be squished out from in between the two bones; this is called a herniated disc. The disc may push on surrounding structures, namely the spinal cord and/or the nerves exiting from the spinal cord. Most often, it is the nerves that are pressed on, and not the spinal cord itself. Often, the MRI alone can diagnose whether or not a herniated disc is leading to symptoms. However, another means of assessing whether or not the nerve being pressed on by your herniated disc and leading to your arm symptoms is a test called an EMG/NCS which assesses how fast the nerve conducts electricity and how the muscle responds. This type of test is done by neurologists in most centers. It could also help assess for other potential causes of your arm symptoms, such as a neuropathy (a generic term used to describe peripheral nerve dysfunction, of which there are several causes).

A herniated disc in the lumbar area (lower part of the spine) could lead to back/buttock pain radiating down the leg, so it is possible you could have herniated discs there as well. However again I can not recommend for or against an MRI of your back without being able to examine you and review your history.

In most people, the pain of a herniated disk resolves over 4-6 weeks. The most severe pain actually eases up within 1-2 weeks. Only a minority of people every require surgery. With time, the amount of disk that has herniated shrinks and with time resolves completely in most people. Therefore, for the majority of people, non-surgical treatment is the first option. This treatment may include medications (non-steroidals such as advil), sometimes steroids if there is swelling (edema), temperature therapy (hot or cold packs), stretching and controlled physical therapy, muslce relaxants, and so on, these are best prescribed by an experienced physician, each has its own indications. In a minority of patients, surgery needs to be done.

Continued followup with your physicians is recommended.

Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.