October 17, 2025 | Bill Winters | Personal Injury
A herniated disc in the neck can disrupt your daily life. The cervical spine, which supports your head and connects to the shoulders, faces a high risk of injury in car accidents, workplace incidents, and falls.
When a disc at C4/C5 or C5/C6 bulges or ruptures, you may feel pain across your neck, shoulders, and arms. We help you understand how these injuries develop, how doctors diagnose them, and how legal action may help you recover financial losses after an accident.
How a Herniated Disc Forms in the Neck
A herniated disc develops when the soft center of a disc pushes through its outer shell. That bulge can pinch nerves and cause inflammation. The pain may stay in the neck or travel into the arms. This injury can occur from a sudden impact that forces the neck forward or backward.
Car crashes, slip and fall incidents, or workplace accidents often create that type of strain. As people age, the discs in the spine lose moisture and strength. While natural wear may cause minor discomfort, trauma can accelerate the damage.
A single jolt can tear the disc wall and expose the inner material. Once a disc herniates, symptoms can appear quickly or develop over several days. Early diagnosis and treatment improve recovery.
Accidents That Cause Cervical Disc Injuries
Cervical disc injuries can happen in a variety of everyday situations, often without warning. These injuries typically involve the discs in the neck and may result from sudden trauma or repetitive strain.
Below are some of the most common causes:
- Rear-end collisions: Whiplash from car crashes frequently strains the cervical spine, leading to disc damage.
- Falls on hard surfaces or from heights: A fall can jar the spine and compress or tear neck discs.
- Sudden twisting or lifting: Quick, forceful movements or lifting heavy objects can overload the neck and injure the discs.
- Motor vehicle crashes: Crashes often cause disc herniation at the C4/C5 or C5/C6 levels due to the abrupt back-and-forth motion of the head.
- Workplace incidents: Jobs involving heavy lifting or impact—especially in construction or warehouses—pose high risks for cervical disc injuries.
- Slips and falls: Even a simple slip on a wet surface can result in enough neck trauma to damage the cervical discs.
If you experience neck pain after an accident, seek medical attention promptly. What seems like minor discomfort could be the first sign of a serious disc injury.
Symptoms of a C4/C5 or C5/C6 Disc Herniation
Herniated discs in the cervical spine—particularly at the C4/C5 or C5/C6 levels—can produce a wide range of symptoms depending on which nerves are affected. Early recognition is key to preventing long-term damage.
Common symptoms include:
- Neck pain: The most frequent symptom, often worsening with head or neck movement.
- Radiating pain: Discomfort may spread into the shoulders, arms, or fingers.
- Burning or tingling sensations: Some individuals report a prickling or burning feeling along the nerve path.
- Arm or hand weakness: Muscle weakness can make it hard to grip or lift everyday items.
- Loss of fine motor control: Tingling fingers or clumsy hand movements may appear with prolonged nerve compression.
- Shoulder weakness (C4/C5): A disc herniation at this level may cause weakness in the shoulder muscles.
- Arm numbness or pain (C5/C6): This level often causes symptoms radiating down the arm.
- Severe neurological symptoms: In rare cases, spinal cord pressure may affect balance or bladder control—an emergency that requires immediate medical care.
If you notice any of these symptoms, especially after an accident or injury, seek medical attention promptly. Early treatment may prevent lasting nerve damage.
Schedule a Consultation With a Personal Injury Attorney
If you suffered a herniated disc from an accident, please contact Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer today. We have five convenient locations in Florida, including Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, New Port Richey, and Lakeland.
We proudly serve Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, Pasco County, Polk County, and their surrounding areas:
Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers – Tampa Office
601 W Swann Ave, Tampa, FL 33606
(813) 223-6200
Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers – Clearwater Office
600 Bypass Dr Suite 224-D, Clearwater, FL 33764
(727) 493-4418
Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers – St. Petersburg Office
111 2nd Ave NE Suite 350, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 314-5988
Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers – New Port Richey Office
5006 Trouble Creek Rd Unit #200, Port Richey, FL 34652
(727) 910-5060
Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers – Lakeland Office
1543 Lakeland Hills Blvd Suite 18, Lakeland, FL 33805
(863) 251-6196
