Spinal stenosis is categorized by the narrowing of the spinal canal, which is the area through which spinal nerves pass as they traverse throughout the body. When this narrowing occurs in the neck region, it’s known as cervical spinal stenosis. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at why spinal stenosis develops in the neck, the types of symptoms it causes and how the issue is effectively treated.
Causes And Symptoms Of Cervical Spinal Stenosis
The narrowing of your spinal canal in the neck region can occur for a number of different reasons, some more preventable than others. In many instances, narrowing occurs as a result of wear and tear or natural degeneration that affects the anatomical structure of your neck. While you can help to slow this degeneration by having good posture and regularly strengthening your neck and back, all individuals experience some degree of natural degeneration, and it could be a factor in your symptoms. Injury or trauma to the neck region can also lead to cervical spinal stenosis.
When the spinal canal narrows in the neck region, key spinal nerves can become compressed. This can lead to a variety of symptoms, including but not limited to:
- Localized pain
- Radiating pain
- Numbness
- Tingling
- Muscle weakness
- Balance problems
- Inhibited gait
- Loss of bladder control
- Spasms in the extremities
Symptoms can come and go or vary in severity depending on your posture or body positioning, but if you’re dealing with any of the above symptoms, it’s a good idea to consult with a spine specialist like Dr. Jackman.
Diagnosing And Treating Cervical Spinal Stenosis
If you’re dealing with any of the symptoms listed above, or you’re just dealing with chronic neck discomfort, consider setting up an appointment with a specialist like Dr. Jackman. He’ll begin by reviewing your medical history, talking with you about your symptoms and conducting a physical exam of your head, neck and back. He may ask you to perform a few simple movements to see how the neck responds to stress and if symptoms develop or relieve.
Dr. Jackman may have a pretty good idea of what’s going on in your neck after this assessment, but in order to pinpoint the location of the narrowing, he may order an imaging test. X-rays are typically ordered first, and if there are still questions about which soft tissues are impacted, an MRI or CT scan may be conducted.
If cervical spinal stenosis is confirmed, your doctor will walk you through some treatments. In most cases, unless a severe issue is detected, your doctor will begin with conservative care techniques. Some of those treatments include a combination of physical therapy, posture adjustments, stretching techniques, anti-inflammatory medications/muscle relaxers or manual manipulation therapy. If those fail to provide relief, a trigger point or corticosteroid injection may be recommended so that other conservative treatments can be more easily pursued.
In severe cases or in those that fail to respond to weeks of conservative treatments, surgery may be the best option. The main goal of surgery is to decompress the nerves that are being impinged. This can be accomplished in a few different ways, depending on your specific situation. Should your doctor believe that your spinal column may be unstable with decompression alone, they may recommend an anterior cervical decompression and fusion procedure. Laminectomy, laminotomy and artificial disc replacement are also options, and you can learn more about each of those specific procedures on their individual pages.
Most patients experience moderate to significant symptom relief when working with a spine specialist to find a solution for their cervical spinal stenosis. If you want to connect with a specialist and find relief for your neck discomfort, look no further than Dr. Jackman and the team at the Midwest Spine & Brain Institute. Contact their office today at (651) 430-3800.
