Cervical Discogenic Syndrome

Excerpt

Chronic neck pain is a considerable public health burden that accounts for one of the top five chronic pain conditions. The pain can range from cervical intervertebral discs, facet joints to atlantoaxial joints. Cervical discogenic pain syndrome (CDPS) is a common source of neck pain with a reported prevalence between 16% to 41%. Cervical discs have a rich supply of nerve fibers that are prone to structural disruption and inflammatory reaction that makes them susceptible to pain. The commonly affected levels are C5/C6 and C6/C7, with C7 being the most common nerve root involved. Initially, the symptoms present proximally, but they can later progress to brachialgia. The pain can be resolved with conservative therapy, but refractory pain may require further intervention.