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Oasis now offers Virtual Consultations for your initial evaluation.
Oasis now offers Virtual Consultations for your initial evaluation.
Find the best approach for fast relief from your neck pain.
Neck pain that radiates down your arm isn’t just uncomfortable; it’s debilitating. When a herniated disc in your cervical spine compresses the nerves running to your shoulders and arms, conservative treatments like physical therapy and injections may provide temporary relief but fail to address the underlying problem. If you’re facing persistent arm pain, weakness, or numbness despite months of treatment, you need a surgical solution that directly removes the source of nerve compression.
At Oasis Orthopedic & Spine, our spine surgeons perform a posterior cervical discectomy to relieve nerve compression caused by cervical disc herniation. This minimally invasive procedure accesses your cervical spine from the back of your neck, removing the damaged disc material pressing on your nerves. With nine locations throughout New Jersey, we provide advanced spine surgery backed by comprehensive pre-operative evaluation and post-surgical rehabilitation.
Posterior cervical discectomy is a surgical procedure that removes herniated disc material compressing spinal nerves in your neck. Unlike anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), which approaches the spine from the front of your neck, posterior cervical discectomy accesses the affected disc from the back. This approach works particularly well for posterolateral disc herniations, where the damaged disc material has extruded toward the side and back of the spinal canal.
The procedure targets the root cause of your symptoms by directly decompressing the affected nerve root. Your cervical spine contains seven vertebrae separated by intervertebral discs that act as shock absorbers. When these discs herniate or rupture, the inner gel-like material can push into the spinal canal and compress the nerve roots exiting the spine. This compression causes the radiating pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness you experience in your shoulder, arm, and hand.
We consider posterior cervical discectomy when you experience specific symptoms that haven’t responded to conservative treatment. The primary indication is cervical radiculopathy, which is nerve pain radiating from your neck into your shoulder, arm, and potentially your fingers. This pain often follows a specific nerve distribution pattern that helps us identify which disc level is affected.
You may be a candidate if you’ve experienced arm pain that persists despite at least six to twelve weeks of conservative care, including medications, injections, and physical therapy. Weakness in specific muscle groups of your arm or hand suggests significant nerve compression requiring surgical intervention. Progressive symptoms or sudden onset of severe weakness warrant faster surgical consideration to prevent permanent nerve damage.
The procedure is most effective for posterolateral disc herniations where the herniated material extends toward the side or back of the spinal canal. During your evaluation, we use MRI imaging to precisely identify the location and extent of your disc herniation, ensuring the posterior approach provides the best access to decompress your affected nerve root.
Posterior cervical discectomy is performed under general anesthesia through a small incision at the back of your neck. Our surgeons use specialized microsurgical techniques and magnification to minimize tissue disruption while maximizing visualization of the compressed nerve structures. The procedure typically takes one to two hours, depending on the complexity of your case.
After making a small vertical incision, we carefully separate the neck muscles to expose the posterior elements of your cervical spine. Using specialized instruments, we remove a small portion of the lamina, the bony arch covering the spinal canal, to create a window for accessing the herniated disc. This portion of the procedure is similar to endoscopic laminectomy but focuses specifically on creating access to the disc herniation.
Once we’ve exposed the compressed nerve root, we carefully retract the nerve to reach the herniated disc material beneath it. We then remove only the portion of the disc causing nerve compression, preserving as much healthy disc tissue as possible. This selective removal decompresses the nerve while maintaining spinal stability. If significant bone spurs contribute to nerve compression, we may also perform foraminotomy to enlarge the opening where the nerve exits the spine.
Most patients go home the same day or after an overnight hospital stay following a posterior cervical discectomy. You’ll wear a soft cervical collar for comfort during the first few weeks, though this isn’t always necessary depending on your surgeon’s assessment. Many patients notice immediate improvement in arm pain once the compressed nerve is decompressed, though numbness and weakness may take weeks to months to fully resolve as the nerve recovers.
Recovery follows a structured timeline designed to protect your surgical site while progressively restoring function. The first two weeks focus on incision healing and pain management, with gradual resumption of light daily activities. Weeks two through six involve progressive neck range of motion exercises and a gradual return to work for most sedentary jobs. From six weeks onward, you’ll advance through formal rehabilitation focusing on strengthening and returning to full activity.
Post-surgical rehabilitation plays a crucial role in optimizing your recovery. Our rehabilitation team works closely with your surgeon to ensure your recovery program matches your healing timeline and addresses any residual symptoms or functional limitations. Most patients return to unrestricted activity within three to four months, though individual recovery timelines vary based on factors like pre-operative symptom duration and overall health.
Don’t let persistent arm pain and weakness from cervical disc herniation limit your daily life. Our experienced spine surgeons provide advanced posterior cervical discectomy using minimally invasive techniques to decompress your affected nerves and restore pain-free function. With nine convenient New Jersey locations and integrated post-operative rehabilitation, we deliver comprehensive care throughout your entire recovery journey.
Take the first step toward relief today. Schedule your spine surgery consultation and discover how posterior cervical discectomy can help you eliminate radiating arm pain and return to the activities that matter most to you.
The team at Oasis Orthopedic & Spine consists of experienced physicians and specialists providing comprehensive orthopedic and spine care across nine convenient locations throughout Northern New Jersey. Specializing in minimally invasive spine surgery, advanced orthopedic treatments, and pain management, our goal is to bring you the real-world clinical expertise and proven treatment approaches we use in our practice daily.
