Herniated Cervical Disc

A herniated cervical disc is one of the injuries we see most often see as personal injury attorneys in Georgia. A herniated cervical disc is a common result of an an injury in an automobile, truck, tractor trailer, semi or big rig accident.

The spine is a stack of bones called vertebra. Nerves run out from the spinal cord, which is in the middle of the spine, to all parts of the body. The vertebra are separated by shock absorbers called intervertebral discs. The discs are often compared to a jelly donut. The outer layer (the “bread” of the donut) is the annulus fibrosus, a tough tissue comprised of several layers of fibrocartilage. This layer contains the nucleus pulposus (the “ jelly ” of the donut) and distributes pressure evenly across the disc.

There are normally 23 discs in the hum your spine: 6 in the neck (cervical region), 12 in the middle back (thoracic region), and 5 in the lower back (lumbar region). They are called by letters and numbers according to location. For example, the disc between the fifth and sixth cervical vertabrae is designated “C5-6.”

When there is an injury to the disc, the bread of the donut weakens and cracks and the jelly begins to protrude outward. There may be a bulge in the disc so that it pinches nerves causing pain, numbness or tingling. When the jelly leaks out of the donut, it is called a herniation. Often a disc herniation causes disabling pain or loss of bodily function.

As people age, annulus fibrosus gets weaker with age and begins to crack, and the nucleus pulposus begins to dehydrate, which limits its ability to absorb shock. The These age related changes may not cause any symptoms for many decades until some event such as a car or truck collision causes trauma that aggravates or exacerbates the degenerative condition.

Because a person with age-related degeneration may do just fine until trauma causes severe pain, numbness, tingling or loss of bodily functions, in insurance claims and injury litigation we generally address such injuries as aggravations of preexisting conditions. The few exceptions are when post-accident x-rays, CT scans and MRI images show a fresh fracture of a vertebra. We embrace preexisting conditions that were previously asymptomatic and make them part of the client’s case.

We often see clients who have had cervical disc herniation injuries due to automobile or truck collisions. Typically, orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons prescribe conservative treatment with physical therapy a series of injections in the spine. If symptoms still persist, they will discuss with the patient surgical options. For cervical (neck) injuries, we most often see anterior cervical fusion surgery in which an incision is made in the front of the neck, the damaged disc is removed, replaced with bone tissue (from the patient’s own hip or donor bone tissue), and the vertebra secured with a metal plate and screws. Sometimes a newer model of flexible artificial disc is used. While results vary, we usually hear from clients that the surgery greatly improves their quality of life and ability to engage in normal activities without significant pain.

A herniated cervical disc occurs when a neck disc presses on a nerve root, causing neck pain with radiating arm pain, numbness/tingling, and sometimes weakness. Diagnosis typically includes a neurologic exam and MRI. Most cases improve with activity modification, medications as appropriate, and physical therapy; injections may help persistent nerve pain. Surgery may be considered for progressive weakness, spinal cord compression, or symptoms that remain disabling despite conservative care.

A cervical disc herniation can occur when sudden force, rotation, or loading overwhelms the disc and nearby tissues—especially if the disc is already degenerating.

Common symptoms include neck pain radiating into the shoulder/arm, numbness or tingling in the hand, and weakness in grip or arm muscles. Serious signs include balance problems, clumsy hands, and bowel/bladder changes.

What cervical disc herniation often typically causes:

1) Cervical radiculopathy (nerve root irritation) — most common

• Neck + arm symptoms on one side are the classic pattern in cervical disc herniation:
  •  Pain: neck pain that shoots into shoulder/arm/hand Numbness/tingling: “pins and needles” in a specific finger patternWeakness: trouble with grip, lifting, or specific arm motions
  • Reflex changes: decreased biceps/triceps reflexes on exam
• Common “which nerve?” patterns in cervical disc herniations:
  •  C5: shoulder/upper arm pain, deltoid weaknessC6: pain/numbness to thumb, biceps/wrist extension weaknessC7 (most common): to middle finger, triceps weaknessC8: to ring/small finger, finger flexion/grip weakness
  • (Real people don’t always read the textbook—overlap happens.)

2) Cervical myelopathy (spinal cord compression)

A less common, more serious effect of cervical disc herniation. This is in the “don’t ignore it” category:

• Clumsy hands (buttoning, handwriting changes)
  • Balance trouble, wide-based gait
  • Leg stiffness/spasticity
  • New urinary urgency/incontinence (sometimes)

How it happens

• Common triggers:
  •  Age-related disc degeneration + a “final straw” movement
  • Lifting/overhead work, sudden rotation, awkward posture
  • Sometimes it just shows up without a clear injury

Diagnosis

• History + neuro exam (strength, sensation, reflexes)
•  MRI is the best test if symptoms are significant/persistent or there are neuro deficits
• X-rays can show alignment/arthritis but don’t show the disc well

Treatment of herniated cervical discs

• Conservative first line (often 4–8+ weeks)
•  Activity modification (not bedrest)
•  Anti-inflammatories if safe for you (or alternatives)
• Physical therapy: posture, traction (select cases), nerve glides, strengthening
• Short course oral steroids sometimes used
• Epidural steroid injection can reduce inflammation and arm pain in selected cases
• Surgery (when it’s considered)  More likely if:
  •  Progressive or significant weakness
  •  Symptoms persist despite adequate conservative care
  •  Myelopathy signs (cord compression)
  • Common operations: ACDF (anterior cervical discectomy and fusion) or disc arthroplasty (artificial disc) in selected patients.

Red flags — get urgent evaluation

•  New/worsening weakness in arm/hand
•  Trouble walking/balance changes
•  Bowel/bladder changes
• Severe pain with fever, cancer history, or unexplained weight loss

Talk to a lawyer about a serious neck injury

If you have a herniated cervical disc due to someone else’s negligence, with persistent pain, radiating into your arm, interfering with work, it’s worth getting both medical and legal guidance. A personal injury attorney can help gather records, preserve evidence, evaluate future care needs, and negotiate with insurers—so you can focus on recovery.

If you or a family member are seriously injured due to someone else’s carelessness, contact us by phoning 404-253-7862 or submitting our contact form.

Updated February 2, 2026.

Johnson & Ward, founded in 1949, is the first, premiere personal injury specialty law firm in Atlanta.

Ken Shigley is a senior counsel at Johnson & Ward. He is a former president of the State Bar of Georgia, earned three board certifications from the National Board of Trial Advocacy, and was lead author of eleven editions of Georgia Law of Torts: Trial Preparation & Practice. He is a past chair of the motor vehicle collision section of the American Association for Justice, the first Georgia lawyer to earn three board certifications from the National Board of Trial Advocacy, a recipient of the State Bar of Georgia Tradition of Excellence award, honored in Best Lawyers in America®, Georgia Super Lawyers®, and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum®.

John Adkins, managing partner, experienced in personal injury law, including auto accidents, truck accidents, wrongful death, workers’ compensation, premises liability claims, dangerous or defective products, medical malpractice and related Plaintiff’s tort litigation. B.A., magna cum laude, Kennesaw State University; J.D., Thomas Jefferson Law School.

Ed Stone, partner, personal injury law, including truck accidents, auto accidents, wrongful death, workers’ compensation, premises liability claims, dangerous or defective products, medical malpractice, and related Plaintiff’s tort litigation. B.B.A., Kennesaw State University; J.D., John Marshall Law School.