Spontaneous regression of cervical disc herniation in a patient with myelopathy

Abstract

Introduction The aim of this work was to present a rare case of spontaneous regression of a herniated cervical disc in a patient with myelopathy. Case outline A 31-year-old women presented with two weeks’ history of neck pain associated with numbness in her body and all four extremities. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the cervical spine showed a large posterior medial disc extrusion at the C5–C6 spinal segment, causing myelopathy. The patient refused discectomy that was recommended. She received symptomatic treatment in the form of analgesics, a muscle relaxant, and a hard cervical collar. A follow-up MRI of the cervical spine, performed after 11 months, revealed almost complete regression of disc herniation. The patient’s symptoms subsided completely after one year. Conclusion In some cases of cervical disc herniation with myelopathy, especially in patients with mild neurological deficit, symptomatic therapy should be considered.