Intervetbral discs act as shock absorbers between the vertebral bodies of the cervical spine. These structures can be damaged during an accident, trauma or during activities of daily living. Injury to the disc may occur when neck motion puts too much pressure on the disc. One of the most painful injuries that can occur is a herniated disc. When a herniation occurs, the material in the center of the disc, called the nucleus pulposus, is pushed out through the fibrous outer ring like structure of the disk called the annulus fibrosis. A herniated disc can put pressure on the spinal cord or nerves to the arms and legs. Pressure on the nerve root from a herniated disc can cause pain, numbness, and weakness along the nerve. There is also evidence that the chemicals released from the ruptured disc may irritate the nerve root, leading to some of the symptoms of a herniated disc - especially pain. In situations when a disc ruptures very quickly, as in the case of an accident, then the nerve does not have any time to adjust to the increased pressure and it may stop working.

Herniated discs are more common in early, middle-aged adults. A herniated disc may occur in a disc that has been weakened by the degenerative process. Once weakened, less force is needed to cause the disc to tear or rupture. However, not everyone with a ruptured disc has degenerative disc disease. Likewise, not everyone with degenerative disc disease will suffer a ruptured disc.