CONDITIONS

Cervical spinal stenosis occurs when an abnormal event, such as a herniated disc, causes the spinal canal in the neck to narrow. Your spinal canal is a hollow tube that runs through each successive vertebra of your spine. More importantly, however, your spinal canal houses your spinal cord. If this small, 18-mm passageway becomes constricted to 13-mm or less, then deficits can occur. Namely, the spinal cord may suffer compression, a condition that doctors refer to as myelopathy.   Narrowing of the spinal canal (i.e. spinal stenosis) and spinal cord compression (i.e. myelopathy) can occur for a number of reasons. The top 3 causes include: Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD): DDD arises when our spinal discs begin to show signs of wear and tear. This can occur as a natural consequence of the aging process or as the result of an injury. As our intervertebral discs break down, they may suffer annular tears or distend beyond their normal perimeters, a condition known as a bulging disc. If a bulging disc places pressure on the spinal cord, then cervical stenosis with myelopathy can result. Cervical Herniated Discs: If a bulging disc ruptures, herniated disc material can become trapped (or “sequestered”) in the spinal canal. These tiny fragments of disc material can pinch, or even tear, the spinal cord. Osteoarthritis (OA) & Bone Spurs: OA occurs when the spine becomes inflamed from wear and tear, injury, or anatomical defects, setting a degenerative cascade of effects into motion. Cartilage breaks down. Ligaments harden. And, the facet joints can begin to develop bone spurs, or tiny outcroppings of bone tissue. Bone spurs cause symptoms, like neck pain, when the spinal cord or nerves become pinched. Other causes of spinal stenosis include spondylolisthesis (i.e. a slipped vertebra), spinal cord injuries, and spinal tumors among others. What are the Symptoms of Cervical Spinal Stenosis? The onset of cervical stenosis often occurs very slowly, taking years for the full effects to creep in. As you’ll notice, the top 3 causes of cervical stenosis are degenerative (or related to the aging process). This often means that, excluding injuries, symptoms won’t set in overnight. However, it also means that symptoms can vary quite a bit in intensity–from barely perceptible to excruciating or limiting. Common signs of cervical spinal stenosis include: Radiating Pain: Cervical stenosis causes pain in the neck that can radiate down into the shoulders, arms, hands, or fingertips. Known as cervical radiculopathy, the pain may be described as searing, electric, or tingling. Arm & Hand Weakness: Because your cervical spine connects to nerves that control motor movements in the arms and hands, you may develop muscle weakness in these areas. You may also experience a loss of gross motor control (your ability to flex, extend or rotate your arms) or fine motor skills (intricate tasks like buttoning a shirt). Shoulder Weakness: In addition, the nerves in your neck supply sensation and motor information to the muscles in your shoulders. As such, the muscles that control your shoulder blades and deltoid muscle