What is disk disease in the neck?
A person with disk disease in the neck may have a herniated disk or disk degeneration. A person with a herniated disk has weakness in the outer wall of the disk. A person with disk degeneration has a disk that has broken down. Risk factors for disk disease in the neck include elderly patients, auto accidents, osteoporosis, and high impact sports.

What are the symptoms of disk disease in the neck?
Common symptoms of disk disease in the neck include neck pain that may travel to the shoulders or arms. Neck pain often worsens with movement of the head or neck. Other symptoms include chronic headaches, neck stiffness, numbness or weakness in the arms, and decreased range of motion in the neck.

How does the doctor treat disk disease in the neck?
Treatment for disk disease in the neck may include cold compresses to neck, massage therapy, neck brace, muscle relaxants, oral corticosteroids, ultrasound therapy, physical therapy, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications for pain. Some may benefit from disk surgery.