Cervical Spinal Stenosis

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Neck pain comes in many shapes and sizes, but studies have shown that almost all neck pain is caused by degenerative changes in the vertebra of the spine in the neck area. These changes occur in the cervical spine and cause wear and tear of the joints between each vertebra. Quite possibly one of the most serious types of degeneration is cervical spinal stenosis, a condition that usually requires surgery to reverse.

Knowing the anatomy of the spine is important in diagnosing the correct symptoms, especially in dealing with such delicate part of the body. The cervical spine basically consists of the first seven vertebrae in the body. It starts high in the neck, just below the brain, and continues to the bottom of the neck. And just like the lumbar spine, the cervical spine also has a c-shaped nerve that runs through, called the lordotic nerve. Because the neck twists and turns in so many angles, the cervical spine is the most flexible part of the entire spine.

In the cervical spine, each disc is comfortably situated between two vertebrae and serves as a shock absorber when movements are made. The cause of cervical ...
... spinal stenosis is simply too much wear and tear on these discs over time. As humans age, the discs in the cervical spine often dry out and begin to deteriorate. In addition to this, the cartilage in the cervical spine, which protects the bones around the joints, also begins to tear, thus causing osteoarthritis. Finally, bone spurs begin to form around the facet joints in the cervical spine, thus causing cervical spinal stenosis.

Symptoms of cervical spinal stenosis can vary. Although it may seem impossible for something that is going on in the neck to affect the arms and legs, numbness in the hands and feet is a common symptom. Also, muscle spasms and weakness in the legs is also common. The reason for this is very simple: any time the spinal canal narrows, the entire spinal cord is affected by the change. Symptoms that exist in the neck region are pinched nerves and neck pain. Perhaps the most uncomfortable and disheartening symptom is a condition known as loss of "position sense", which is the inability for the patient to know where his or her arms and legs are unless the eyes are open.

Cervical spinal stenosis treatment almost always means surgery. Before this happens, doctors always take the necessary steps to ensure that this treatment is needed. This involves a physical examination, X-rays, and an MRI. When it is determined, there are a few different surgical options, however they all have the same purpose: to make the spinal canal larger and relieve pressure from the vertebrae. Another form of surgical treatment is a "laminectomy", which is a procedure that opens the back of the vertebrae, allowing more space for the spinal cord.

Cervical spinal stenosis is not an easy condition to live with, by any means. There are times that it can be treated without surgery, if caught early enough. However, surgery or not, it is certainly not something that should be ignored.