Cervical stenosis is where the space within the spinal canal is reduced in your neck. The reduced space can irritate or compress the spinal cord. Symptoms can vary from none at all to pins and needles, numbness, headaches, pain or weakness in the neck, arms and/or back. The area affected depends on the level of the stenosis in your neck.
Some people are born with a narrow spinal canal, while for others something needs to have happened to narrow the space. Other causes may be:
Symptoms usual develop gradually over a long period of time.
It is common for people with Cervical Stenosis to reduce exercise to help with pain, however this is counter productive as you also lose strength and increase pain in the long run. Physiotherapy is an effective way to reduce pain and improve mobility with cervical stenosis. Timely diagnosis and treatment can be vital to improve your long term out look on life.
At Vitalis Physiotherapy, treatment is aimed at stabilising the spinal column and using exercise to unload the neck and spine. This is done through:
Anti-inflammatory and/or analgesic medication, rest and heat packs may help some of the symptoms.
Rarely, untreated severe spinal stenosis may progress and cause permanent:
Are you suffering from painful cervical stenosis? Contact Vitalis Physiotherapy now to book in your treatment. Call our friendly team on 0410 559 856. We’d love to help.
