Similar to aortic stenosis, cervical spinal stenosis is a serious medical condition.
A type of spinal stenosis, cervical spinal stenosis occurs when your spinal canal narrows.
This narrowing can put pressure on your spinal cord, which can result in myelopathy, which is damage to the spinal cord.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis Symptoms
Common symptoms of cervical spinal stenosis include:
- Neck pain
- Back pain
- Numbness in your arms or hands
- Pain in one or both arms
- Tingling sensation that shoots down your back whenever you move your head
- Spinal stenosis and balance problems – you may also experience some weakness in your legs or feet, which can create some problems with balance and walk.
Things to Avoid with Cervical Spinal Stenosis
If you’ve been diagnosed with cervical spinal stenosis, here are some things you should avoid:
- Avoid exercises that put too much stress on your neck
- Avoid long walks or running
- Avoid slouching – poor posture can aggravate cervical spinal stenosis symptoms
- Avoid contact sports
Living with Cervical Spinal Stenosis
Living with cervical spinal stenosis – what is it like?
Most people with cervical spinal stenosis have mild cases or symptoms; they don’t have to adjust their lives too much to accommodate their condition.
In fact, many people find that their pain doesn’t get progressively worse over time, and they can manage their symptoms.
But for some people, the condition does get worse as time goes by.
They may develop more serious symptoms, such as loss of bladder function and trouble walking.
This is more likely to happen to people who have cervical stenosis with myelopathy.
However, even in more serious situations, there are treatment options available, so make sure to consult your doctor.
Disclaimer: The information on this site is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All information contained on this website is for general information purposes only.
