Understanding Cervical Stenosis and How It Can Affect Your Whole Body

Roughly one-third of people will deal with neck pain at some point this year. Those odds already look bad, but neck pain becomes particularly problematic because it often keeps coming back.

If you live with persistent neck pain, you’ve probably wondered what causes it and how to find relief. Fortunately, Patrick S. Hill, MD, can help. As a specialist in chronic neck pain, he’s here to work with you to alleviate your discomfort from our Beverly Grove, Los Angeles, California, office.

With that in mind, Dr. Hill and our team want to explore one of the leading causes of persistent neck pain: cervical stenosis. 

Cervical stenosis 101

To understand this condition, you need to understand some specific medical jargon. So let’s break it down, starting with the term “cervical.”

When it comes to your spine, the cervical portion is the area that makes up your neck. For reference, your thoracic spine is the part of your spine along your mid-back, and your lumbar spine is your lower back.

The cervical spine consists of the smallest and tightest-fitting vertebrae. They need all the room they can get to safeguard your spinal cord and carry blood to your brain. 

Now, let’s consider “stenosis” — a medical condition that can occur along any part of your spine. You develop stenosis when your spinal column narrows, putting pressure on that portion of your spine.

So, to recap, you get diagnosed with cervical stenosis when the spinal column along the uppermost portion of your spine narrows. 

The symptoms of cervical stenosis

You probably already guessed that any narrowing causing excess pressure on the spine doesn’t bode well for your comfort. The symptoms of cervical stenosis can actually be further-reaching than you think.

The condition often causes neck pain, but it doesn’t stop there. Cervical stenosis can also result in:

• A tingling or numb sensation in your limbs and extremities
• Trouble using your hands (e.g., issues writing)
• Balance problems
• Weakness in your limbs and extremities
• Bladder/bowel control issues

Clearly, cervical stenosis can impact your life in significant ways. Beyond its signature chronic neck pain, it can leave you struggling to navigate through your day. What’s more, if you leave your stenosis unchecked, it can become more and more debilitating. 

Fortunately, you’re not stuck with these symptoms.

Getting relief from your stenosis

Here at our office, Dr. Hill specializes in treating cervical stenosis. He starts by finding the source of your condition. If something else contributes to the narrowing of your spinal column — like a bone spur or herniated disc — he can directly address that to bring you relief. 

In other cases, he generally starts with conservative treatments like physical therapy or neck bracing. From there, he works with you to escalate treatment until you find relief.

If more conservative options don’t resolve your symptoms, Dr. Hill specializes in minimally invasive spine surgery. That allows him to widen your spinal column through a tiny incision or incisions, reducing your risk of complications and downtime. 

You don’t have to live with cervical stenosis symptoms. Call our office or schedule your appointment online today.