Cervical Spinal Stenosis - The Symptoms And Treatment
Spinal stenosis is a disorder of the spinal cord. Usually this disorder is caused when the spinal canal narrows. This narrowing causes pressure on the spinal cord. Due to this pressure, the spine is under the threat of collapse. In case the pressure is on the lower part of the spine, it is known as lumbar stenosis. In case the pressure is on the upper part of the spine, the ailment is termed as cervical spinal stenosis. In case the pressure is too much on the upper back, cervical spinal stenosis arises. This leads to lot of pain in the muscles of the spine and may also restrict your movements.
The cervical spine is usually made up of small bones known as cervical vertebrae. These cervical vertebrae protect the spinal cord. The spinal cord is inside the spinal canal that runs through the main openings in the vertebrae. This part of the spine provides strength and support to the neck and arms. The cervical spinep also provides stability and motion to the arms. In cervical spine stenosis, the muscles of the neck are under pressure. This may cause you severe pain and restriction in motion.
Generally, the cause of cervical spine stenosis is aging. It has been observed that cervical spinal stenosis arises due to changes in the body related to aging. With aging, the shape of the spine changes. Around the age of 50, these changes have been observed in the body. Aging can also result in bulging of the discs in which disc tissues thicken. This can cause destruction of tissues that cover cervical cones. These changes ultimately lead to the narrowing of the spinal canal and gives rise to cervical spinal stenosis.
Symptoms of Cervical Spinal Stenosis: Cervical spinal stenosis does not give rise to symptoms unless the condition becomes severe. It gives rise to symptoms only when the spinal cord or the spinal nerves get squeezed due to pressure. The common symptoms that may evolve after sometime are: * Stiffness encountered during movements, acute pain, and numbness in shoulders, neck, arms, or legs. * Problem in maintenance of balance in the body, and a tendency to trip, while walking * Incontinence Treatment for Cervical Spinal Stenosis: The solution for this disorder is surgery, but it depends on the stage of cervical spinal stenosis. In case of severe pain and excessive softness or fragility of bones, surgery is required. There are various therapies for treatment of cervical spinal stenosis. These therapies for cervical spinal stenosis aims at an improvement in the flexibility of the nerves of the neck and shoulders. Emphasis is laid on improvement of blood circulation. Patients are required to do treadmill exercises. These exercises help you strengthen your muscles and to improve muscle tone.
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