Cervical spine stenosis
Thousands of Americans suffer from symptoms of spinal stenosis every year. This condition can affect the neck and cause pain, limited mobility and other symptoms.
The first step to getting pain relief is to equip yourself with the right information about the condition.
Stenosis means the narrowness that passes through your body. This can happen in the spine, which can become narrow and put pressure on the nerves.
Spine stenosis can be divided into two types according to location – upper or cervical stenosis and lower or lumbar stenosis.
Causes of cervical stenosis
Some people have a very small spine and are at a higher risk of suffering from cervical stenosis. However, stenosis is often the result of injury or other musculoskeletal changes, such as –
- Thickened ligaments
- Growth on bones
- Herniation of the intervertebral disc
- tumor
- Spinal cord injury and other fractures
- Spine trauma
Symptoms of cervical stenosis
Patients with cervical stenosis may experience symptoms ranging from mild to severe, worsening over time.
The most common symptoms include –
- Numbness, tingling or weak hands and arms
- Difficulty in walking
- Balance issues
Treatment of cervical stenosis
Regardless of whether your spinal cord stenosis causes symptoms, treatment should never be ignored.
Pain relief doctors specialize in diagnosing and treating a variety of spinal diseases, including cervical stenosis.
To accurately identify the cause of cervical stenosis, your pain doctor may perform imaging tests such as MRI, CT scans, and X-rays. They may also have a physical examination and discuss your medical history and symptoms with you.
Once an accurate diagnosis is made, your pain management doctor will design a personalized treatment plan based on your needs, goals and lifestyle. The treatment plan may include one or more of the following:
- Pain relief medicine
- Physical Therapy
- Steroid or epidural injection
- Nerve block
- Radiofrequency Therapy (RFA)
