Treating Your Cervical Stenosis With Physical Therapy

At first, you might have dismissed your neck pain. Maybe you thought you slept on it wrong or just tweaked it. But when that discomfort persists for more than two weeks, it’s time to see a doctor.

In many cases, neck pain stems from cervical stenosis, a narrowing in the uppermost part of your spine. Stenosis puts pressure on your spinal cord and the nerves in the area, causing the hallmark neck pain. 

Fortunately, Patrick S Hill, MD, can help. Not only can he diagnose your neck pain, determining if cervical stenosis is to blame, but he can also tailor a plan to bring you relief. 

At our office in Beverly Grove, Los Angeles, California, Dr. Hill works with you to explore the most conservative options first, reducing your risk for side effects. For many people, that means he recommends starting with physical therapy.

Physical therapy for cervical stenosis

With physical therapy, you get a set of prescribed stretches and exercises. Dr. Hill and his team design these to help strengthen the muscles of your neck for support, while also improving your mobility in the area. That means that if you’ve lost the ability to turn your head because of your neck pain, physical therapy can help. 

At the same time, our team might apply hands-on treatment, like massaging certain tissues, to move you closer to a pain-free neck.

Ultimately, with your physical therapy plan, Dr. Hill and our team aim to reduce your neck pain by alleviating any stiffness and tension and relieving nerve compression in the upper portion of your spine. 

Because we tailor your stenosis-focused physical therapy to you, we can’t necessarily list what your personalized program will include. Talk with our team about your neck pain, so we can see if physical therapy is right for you and, if so, build you an individual plan. 

Other treatments for cervical stenosis

With physical therapy, paired with other treatments like neck bracing or pain relievers, many people find lasting relief from their neck pain.

That said, some sources of neck pain won’t resolve without direct intervention. If you have a bone spur or a herniated disc, for example, Dr. Hill generally recommends more targeted treatment for that issue. 

Fortunately, as a minimally invasive spine surgeon, Dr. Hill can explore all of your options with you. His goal is always to recommend the treatment that will bring you the most relief with the least downtime and side effects.

To find out if physical therapy could alleviate your neck pain, get in touch with our team. To start your personalized neck pain relief plan, call our office or schedule your appointment online today.