Cervical Disc Herniation (Slipped Disc in the Neck)

A cervical disc herniation, often called a slipped disc in the neck, happens when part of a disc pushes out and irritates a nearby nerve. It can cause neck pain, arm pain, tingling or weakness. Most people settle with time and non-surgical treatment, and only a small number ever need an operation.

Reviewed by Dr. Kshitij Chaudhary — Last reviewed September 2026

What is a cervical disc herniation?

The discs are soft cushions between the bones of your neck. Each has a tough outer ring and a gel-like centre. In a herniation, the ring tears and some of the gel pushes out. The disc doesn't actually slip out of place, which is why you'll also hear it called a bulging disc or prolapsed disc. It most often happens at C5-C6 or C6-C7, the levels that do the most bending.

What causes it, and who gets it?

Mostly wear and tear. With age, discs lose water and become less flexible, so the outer ring cracks more easily. It's most often seen in people in their 30s to 50s. Years of strain on the neck, a fall or accident, smoking and a family history of disc problems can all play a part. Often there's no clear trigger at all.

How serious is it?

For most people, it's painful but not dangerous. It usually irritates a single nerve and settles with time. Occasionally a large herniation presses on the spinal cord itself. That's the situation we check for at your first visit, and it's covered on the Cervical Myelopathy page.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms depend on the size and position of the herniation.

• Neck pain, often worse with certain movements
• Pain that travels into the shoulder, arm, forearm or hand, and is often more troublesome than the neck pain. Sharp, burning or electric shock-like pain is common
• Numbness or pins and needles in parts of the arm or fingers
• Weakness in the shoulder, arm, wrist or grip

Which fingers tingle can tell us which nerve is involved. This is explained on the Cervical Radiculopathy page.

How is it diagnosed?

We start with your history and an examination: where the pain goes, where it's numb, your muscle strength, reflexes and neck movement. An MRI is the most useful scan, because it shows the disc, the nerves and the spinal cord. X-rays show alignment and age-related change, and a CT scan adds detail about the bone. Nerve tests (EMG) are used only occasionally, when the symptoms could also fit something like carpal tunnel syndrome.

Many people have bulging discs on MRI and no pain at all. So the scan is always read together with your symptoms.

Will a slipped disc in the neck get better on its own?

Yes, for most people. The inflammation around the nerve settles, and the body can slowly reabsorb some of the disc material. Most people improve over 6 to 12 weeks without surgery. Arm pain usually eases first. Numbness and weakness are slower, because nerves heal slowly.

A few people don't follow this pattern. If weakness appears or increases, or the spinal cord is affected, we act earlier. This is why we review you and don't leave it to chance.

What non-surgical treatments are available?

• Staying active: Avoid what clearly aggravates the pain, but keep moving
• Medicines: Anti-inflammatories, nerve pain medicines and muscle relaxants. A short course of oral steroids helps some people with severe arm pain
• A soft collar: Useful for comfort for short periods in the first days. Wearing one for long makes the neck muscles weaker
• Physiotherapy: Restores movement, posture and strength. See Neck Exercises for Pain Relief & Prevention
• Cervical epidural steroid injection: For selected people whose arm pain stays severe despite other treatment
• Traction: We use it very rarely

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Neck Exercises for Arm Pain Relief & Prevention

Three simple steps to ease arm pain, fix your posture and build a stronger neck. Many people feel better within few weeks.

See the exercises →

When is surgery needed?

Surgery is considered when arm pain stays severe despite treatment, when weakness develops or gets worse, when the spinal cord is being squeezed, or when the pain is badly affecting your life. It's a decision made together, based on your symptoms, examination and scans.

If you're unsure about the advice you've been given, you're welcome to send your MRI for a second opinion.

What does surgery involve?

The right operation depends on where the disc is and what it's pressing on.

• Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF): The damaged disc is removed through a small cut at the front of the neck, and the two bones are joined so the level is stable
• Cervical disc replacement: In selected patients, an artificial disc replaces the damaged one and keeps movement at that level
• Posterior cervical foraminotomy: Some nerve compressions can be relieved from the back of the neck, without removing the disc

What is recovery like?

After a single-level ACDF, most people walk on the day of surgery and go home the next day. Arm pain often eases quickly. Numbness improves gradually, and strength can take several months to return. You'll build activity back up step by step with physiotherapy.

Can it be prevented?

There's no guaranteed way. It helps to stay active, keep your neck and shoulder muscles strong, set up your desk and screen at a comfortable height, and not smoke. Our neck exercises page is a good place to start.

Questions to ask your doctor

• Which level is affected, and which nerve is involved?
• Is my spinal cord affected?
• How long should I try non-surgical treatment?
• What symptoms mean I should come back sooner?
• If I need surgery, which operation, and why that one?

Treatments we offer for this

Medicines and physiotherapy guidance, cervical epidural steroid injections, anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), cervical disc replacement, and posterior cervical foraminotomy.

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About Dr. Kshitij Chaudhary

This page was written by Dr. Kshitij Chaudhary, a fellowship-trained spine surgeon at P.D. Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai, trained in complex spine surgery at Harvard Medical School (Beth Israel Deaconess) and the Twin Cities Spine Center, Minneapolis. 🏃🏾About Dr. Chaudhary

This information is for general education and does not replace a consultation with your doctor.