Cervical stenosis

The neck contains passageways for our nerve and spinal cord to run through. These passageways can become narrowed. This narrowing process is called stenosis. Spinal stenosis is the condition where the space for the spinal cord or exiting spinal nerve roots becomes narrowed and compressed. Bones spurs, trauma (previous injury), arthritis, a herniated disc or tumour can cause this stenosis.

Symptoms

The symptoms of cervical stenosis really depend on two things. Is the spinal cord being compressed? Or is the spinal nerves (roots) being compressed? The symptoms between each of these are different. A pinched nerve in the neck will rarely affect the legs whereas as a pinched spinal cord (cervical myelopathy) can affect the arms and the legs. For spinal cord compression, symptoms may include muscle weakness in the legs, spasticity in the legs, changes in your reflexes and pain and sensation changes. For spinal nerve root compression we typically have radiating pain, sensation changes and occasionally muscle weakness just in the arms.

Treatment

Medical attention is needed for stenosis. Rehabilitation exercises are important. Ask your medical provider for more information.