Cervical pain starts from the neck and radiates down the arm. It also may include numbness and tingling in the arm depending on the extent of the injury or degeneration of the cervical disc in the neck. Any muscle weakness may occur because of the disc problems in the neck. When a disc protrudes in the neck, it presses on the nerves and causes many of the symptoms, Spine-Health.com indicates.
Pain Medication
The doctor will prescribe pain medication as well as anti-inflammatory medication for the disc inflammation, Spine-Health.com indicates. Physicians also prescribe muscle relaxants alone or along with pain medication as part of the treatment to allow the person's neck and muscles affected around the shoulders to relax.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy also can help relieve pain from cervical disc problems, Spine-Health.com states. The therapist will help the person to regain some of the functioning of the muscles in the neck. Strengthening the muscles will play a key roll in the relief of pain. Usually, muscle relaxants can help to make physical therapy easier to participate in.
Neck Traction
Neck traction helps to separate the discs from the nerves and decreases nerve compression, MayoClinic.com reports. This will help alleviate the pain that occurring in the neck. Traction and pulley sets placed over a door can help at home. The physical therapist will explain how to set up a traction device in the home.
Soft Collar
Use of a soft collar will help take the pressure off the nerves and will support the neck, MayoClinic.com states. The doctor also may inject an anti-inflammatory medication into the neck to help bring the swelling down around the nerves to help increase the effectiveness of the collar that the person can wear during the day and at nighttime.
Compresses
The use of heat and alternating it with cold will help provide an analgesic effect for the neck pain related to the disc problems, MayoClinic.com indicates. Not only will the ice help with relief of pain, but it will shrink the irritation in the neck. The hot compresses will relax the muscles around the neck.
