Cervical Stenosis

Normally, the spinal canal provides enough room for a person to bend and move without affecting the spinal cord. However, the cervical spine is the narrowest part of the spine and the least protected. Cervical spinal stenosis causes neck pain whenever someone moves. It impacts select nerves or groups of nerves in the neck, leading to nerve problems and pain.

Cervical spinal stenosis is a medical condition that narrows the spinal canal in someone’s neck. When this happens, the canal squeezes and compresses the spinal cord. It impacts select nerves or groups of nerves in the neck, leading to nerve problems and pain. The result is neck pain whenever someone moves. Cervical stenosis causes debilitating pain, stiffness, numbness, or weakness in the neck and arms. If someone has lumbar stenosis, the patient likely feels the effects in the lower back, buttocks, and legs.

Cervical stenosis differs from other spinal disorders because the damage is within the spinal canal. Most other cervical spine issues involve damage or degradation outside the spinal column. These conditions normally affect root nerves as they exit the spinal column. For example:

• Cervical radiculopathy: A compressed nerve
• Cervical myelopathy: A compression injury
• Cervical kyphosis: Causes a hunchback deformity

No matter what pain someone is experiencing in their neck or spine, they should see the team at NU-Spine to receive an official diagnosis and proper treatment.

What Are the Symptoms of Cervical Stenosis?

The most common symptoms of cervical spinal stenosis include:

• Neck pain or neck fatigue
• Leg cramps and discomfort
• Numbness or weakness in the leg, hand, or arm
• Tingling in the leg, hand, or arm
• Decreased physical activity
• Impaired motor function, especially of the hands
• Difficulty walking
• Partial paralysis of an arm or leg
• Alterations in someone’s gait or balance
• Loss of bladder or bowel control, in extreme cases

These symptoms are like those of other spinal conditions. NU-Spine has the expertise and resources to diagnose the condition correctly, which allows us to recommend effective cervical spinal stenosis treatment. In many cases, early diagnosis improves the chances of successful treatment.

What Causes Cervical Stenosis?

There are several possible causes of cervical stenosis. The typical reasons someone may develop cervical spinal stenosis include:

• Degeneration
• Spinal cord injury
• Spinal disc conditions, such as herniated discs, slipped discs, or bulging discs
• Poor posture
• Weakened bones
• Tumors or abnormal growths

Risk Factors for Cervical Stenosis

There are some risk factors associated with spinal stenosis. They include:

• Age, especially those over 50
• Smoking
• Congenital spinal deformity

Dr. Skovrlj will evaluate someone’s risk of cervical stenosis by performing a thorough examination.

What Is the First Cervical Spinal Stenosis Treatment to Try?

Early diagnosis leads to better results in cervical stenosis treatment because the spinal cord likely has not suffered extensive damage yet. A spine surgeon will determine the exact cause of a patient’s symptoms during diagnosis. Patients will undergo a medical history and thorough exam. Patients may need to take several tests to pinpoint the source of pain, such as X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Non-Surgical Treatment Options

Non-surgical cervical stenosis treatment options include:

• Pain medications
• Activity modification to avoid activities that cause the most pain
• Physical therapy, including exercises to maintain strength and flexibility
• Corticosteroid injections to lessen the pain

Surgical Treatment Options

If non-surgical treatment for cervical spinal stenosis does not seem to work, Dr. Skovrlj may recommend a surgical procedure. Neck surgery could address the root cause of the pain, including where stenosis is squeezing the cervical spinal cord. The types of minimally invasive spine surgery include:

• Endoscopic posterior cervical foraminotomy/cervical discectomy
• Cervical disc replacement
• Microdiscectomy
• Laminectomy
• Anterior cervical decompression and fusion
• Posterior cervical decompression
• Cervical arthroplasty

About Minimally Invasive Surgery

NU-Spine specializes in minimally invasive spine procedures. Minimally invasive spine surgery involves an incision that is two centimeters or less where a small tube is inserted that contains a microscope, camera, light, and precision tools. The surgery is performed through that small incision.

The biggest benefit of minimally invasive spine surgery is that it is done with less damage to the body. There is no need to cut through muscle and tissues. Other benefits include:

• Faster results
• Less blood loss
• Less muscle and nerve damage
• Less bruising
• Faster recovery time
• Lower risks

Additionally, many patients can go home on the same day as their surgery, allowing recovery to begin in the comfort of their own home.

Choose NU-Spine to Treat Cervical Stenosis

The world-renowned staff at NU-Spine: The Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Institute are advocates of minimally invasive spine surgery. The neurologists believe the technique is on par with traditional spinal surgery, but it is less invasive, leading to a quicker healing time for the patient.

Whether a patient has cervical stenosis or is seeking a more accurate diagnosis of neck and back pain, visit NU-Spine as soon as possible. We are conveniently located in Paramus, Woodbridge, Toms River, Jersey City, and Holmdel, New Jersey.

Transform your life with a touch of care! Experience the cutting edge in minimally invasive spine treatments. Don’t wait for relief; schedule your appointment with our spine experts today and take the first step toward a pain-free future. Contact us today.