Ambulance 912HAP 9252
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Cervical disc herniation

With cervical disc herniation, a bulging disc or bony growth presses on a nerve in the neck. This can cause pain, tingling, reduced sensation or weakness in an arm.

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With cervical disc herniation, a bulging disc or bony growth presses on a nerve in the neck. This can cause pain, tingling, reduced sensation or weakness in an arm.

  • Sharp, burning or electric pain spreading from the neck to one shoulder, arm or hand.
  • Tingling or numbness in part of the arm, hand or fingers.
  • Alternate sitting, standing and walking, and avoid keeping your neck in the same position for a long time.
  • Take short rests, but do not stay in bed for days.
  • Make an appointment for new pain radiating into an arm with tingling, numbness or reduced strength.
  • For urgent GP care outside office hours, call HAP 9252. Call Ambulance 912 only for an immediate threat to life.

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Lumbar disc herniationIn a lumbar disc herniation, material from an intervertebral disc can irritate a nerve root, causing pain radiating down the leg, tingling, loss of sensation or weakness. Recovery usually occurs without surgery. New bladder, bowel or saddle-area symptoms are time-critical.
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Spinal stenosisIn spinal stenosis, the space for the spinal cord or nerve roots becomes smaller. In the lower back, this often causes leg pain, tingling or weakness when standing and walking that eases with sitting or bending forwards; in the neck, pressure on the spinal cord may cause clumsy hands and walking difficulties. Inability to urinate, loss of bladder or bowel control, or numbness around the anus and genitals is an immediate emergency.
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Neck painNeck pain usually comes from muscles, joints and temporary overloading, and often improves with continued movement. Prompt assessment is needed after an accident, with fever and serious illness, or with new loss of arm or leg function.