A herniated disk, also known as a slipped or ruptured disk, occurs when the cartilage that cushions the vertebral column falls out of place and slips into the spinal canal. According to MayoClinic.com, this condition can occur in both the upper and lower back. Though a herniated disk will typically improve with a small amount of treatment, it can cause a number of uncomfortable symptoms.
Neck Pain
If you have a herniated disk in your upper back, the National Institutes of Health notes that you may feel neck pain. The pain may spread to your shoulders and upper arms as the disk presses against the nerves in the region. The pain may be mild or severe, and may increase if you bend in a certain direction that increases pressure on the nerve.
Tingling
The National Institutes of Health also lists tingling or numbness as a symptom. If you have a tingly or numb sensation around your spine in your upper back, this might be due to the fact that the disk is pressing on a nerve and disrupting normal sensation.
Weakness
MayoClinic.com notes that muscle weakness around the injured area is a symptom of a herniated disk. If your upper back, neck, arm or shoulder muscles cannot exert their normal strength, ask you doctor to check for a herniated disk in the region.
Muscle Spasms
Muscle spasms in the upper back may also occur as a result of a herniated disk in the region. If the muscles in your shoulders are neck are going into spasm and tightening up when you experience pain in the region, talk to your doctor about the possibility of a herniated disc.
