Duration of the therapy | Therapy of a slipped disc of the cervical spine

Duration of the therapy

The duration of conservative therapy for a herniated disc of the cervical spine is usually six to eight weeks. However, depending on the severity of the cervical spinal disc herniation, the therapy can also last longer. Through regular physiotherapeutic applications and the administration of medication, pain can be reduced, an incorrect posture (relieving posture) of the head can be prevented and the course of the disease can be positively influenced. If a herniated disc of the cervical spine is not treated at all or is treated too briefly, the pain can become chronic and lead to further complaints.

Surgery of a slipped disc of the cervical spine

Surgical therapy (surgery) of a herniated disc of the cervical spine should be carried out if conservative therapy with pain-relieving medication and physiotherapy is not responded to and if additional neurological symptoms such as paralysis or sensory disturbances occur. During surgery for a herniated disc of the cervical spine, the damaged disc is first removed and then the affected vertebral bodies are fixed with screws and metal plates. This procedure is called vertebral body stiffening.

Instead of the vertebral body stiffening, an artificial disc, a so-called disc prosthesis, can also be installed after removal of the damaged disc. Usually the operation of a herniated disc of the cervical spine is performed from the front (neck), less frequently from the back (neck). The surgical therapy of a herniated disc of the cervical spine is a minimally invasive procedure.

This means that skin and soft tissues are less injured by this type of surgery. After the operation, physiotherapeutic applications and targeted exercises should be started as soon as possible to strengthen the neck and back muscles and stabilize the spine.