What is Cervical Spinal Stenosis?
Cervical spinal stenosis, commonly known as cervical stenosis, occurs when the vertebrae in the neck shift backwards, compressing the nerve roots of the spinal cord. This compression can not only cause significant pain and discomfort, but it can affect many aspects of daily life, including sleep, heart palpitations, tremors in the hands, shoulder pain, headaches, vertigo and numbness in the hands.
Cervical spinal stenosis is often caused by looking down too much which is called flexion. For example, looking down at a computer or phone can accelerate mechanical stress in the neck and cause tension headaches as well as more serious nerve compression. Cervical stenosis can lead to permanent degenerative changes to the cervical vertebrae and cervical discs.
What are the Symptoms of Cervical Spinal Stenosis?
How serious is spinal stenosis in the neck? The answer depends on your experiences and symptoms. Everyone experiences back and neck pain differently. While cervical spinal stenosis symptoms could be slightly different for everyone, neck pain, and stiffness tend to occur in most cases. Here are a few of the most common symptoms of cervical spinal stenosis:
- Stiffness, weakness, or pain in the back, neck, shoulders, arms, and legs.
- Trouble with balance or muscle coordination.
- Heart arrhythmias
- Arm pain
- Sleep difficulties
- General weakness in the arms and legs.
- Mobility problems
- Carpal tunnel pain
Some people with cervical stenosis might not experience much pain at all, while others could struggle with severe pain. Ultimately, getting treatment for the condition as quickly as possible can help alleviate pain and discomfort and give you a better quality of life.
Can Cervical Spinal Stenosis Be Fixed?
Although it might seem as though cervical spinal stenosis is a permanent sentence, there are plenty of ways to minimize the narrowing of the cervical spine. Certain lifestyle changes can help avoid symptoms. Avoid sitting in a face-down position for any length of time, and take regular breaks if your job requires you to stare at a phone or laptop for extended periods. Additionally, avoid high-impact sports such as basketball or football since this can cause mechanical trauma to the spine.
Cervical spinal stenosis is often treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen. But this only masks the real problem. Physical therapy does not address the root cause of this condition. FIX24 Joint Biomechanics has developed unique custom treatments for spinal stenosis of the neck and spine. Our treatments focus on engineering methods that incorporate joint biomechanics, nerve function, and organ physiology. Unlike some practices that might jump to the most extreme treatments immediately, we want you to feel your best naturally, without surgery.
Contact FIX24 Joint Biomechanic Today to Schedule an Appointment for Cervical Spinal Stenosis
At FIX24 Joint Biomechanics, we understand the impact back and neck pain can have on your everyday life. We provide a natural engineering-based, structural approach to managing cervical spinal stenosis. Contact us to schedule your first appointment and to learn how we can help treat your pain and assist you in getting back to everyday life.
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