This is known as cervical foraminal stenosis. When the intervertebral foraminae are narrowed, the nerve roots may be compressed. The nerves then travel to the arms where they control sensation and movement. The spinal nerves (‘nerve roots’) leave the cervical spinal canal by passing through the intervertebral foraminae. This is known as cervical canal stenosis. When the spinal canal is narrowed, the spinal cord and nerve roots may be compressed. It contains the spinal cord and nerve roots. This canal sits directly behind the bony blocks, or veterbrae which form the spine. The spinal canal is a long tunnel that runs down the centre of the spine. This may be due to age, injury, or degeneration. Call us to schedule a consultation and learn about all your options.Cervical spinal stenosis is a broad term which refers to a range of symptoms which can result from the narrowing of the spinal canal in the neck. When that is the case, we have fellowship trained spine specialists who are skilled and experienced in all aspects of spine surgery. Our goal is to help relieve our patients’ pain, and restore their function so they can get back to the life they love. Ortho Illinois Spine Care is a regional spine center for people in Northern Illinois and the Chicago region who are suffering with neck and back pain. What types of surgery are used?Ĭervical laminectomy is surgery to remove a section of the bone that covers the spinal canal, to remove pressure on the spinal cord and nerves. We do know that the longer the compression the higher the risk of permanent damage. Spinal cord damage can heal by itself but there is no way to determine the degree of healing. Surgical decompression will prevent worsening of the symptoms. When they do not provide relief, surgery will be recommended. Nonsurgical measures like physical therapy and pain management, muscle relaxers, and epidural injections can provide effective relief for many people. Treatment is designed to relieve pressure on the spinal cord and requires surgery. CT and MRI Scans are essential to diagnosis. Spinal cord compression may be visible on imaging studies. Your Ortho Illinois surgeon will evaluate your history and perform an exam. Loss of fine motor skills affecting handwriting, buttoning clothing, picking up coins and moreīecause the symptoms are similar to other conditions, diagnosis can be challenging.Clumsiness of the hands which make it difficult to grasp and hold things.Weakness in the arms, shoulders and hands.Tingling and numbness in the fingers, hands and arms.Sometimes there may be an acute worsening of symptoms followed by a stable phase that can last for years, before the deterioration continues. Many people have no symptoms, but once symptoms begin they become progressively worse. Even simple acts like lifting, bending, pulling and twisting can cause a herniated disk Who is most affected by CSM?ĬSM is the most common spine disorder in people over age 55. With age, the discs deteriorate, and are prone to herniation, or squishing out into the spinal canal, compressing the spinal cord.

These changes eventually impinge on the spinal cord and compress the delicate spinal cord fibers. What causes cervical spine compression?ĭegenerative changes that narrow the spinal canal (Spinal Stenosis) include arthritis of the spine, herniated discs, bone spurs and thickened ligaments.

It is a progressive, degenerative condition that disrupts normal nerve transmission, causes disability and impairs the quality of life. This is age-related changes in the cervical spine (the neck) that compress, pinch or squeeze the spinal cord or nerves. They are labeled as C1-C7 to indicate the position of the damage. The cervical spine is made of seven, small vertebra that begin at the base of the skull and form the neck. Discs are round, and flat, and about a half inch thick. Nerves branch out from the cord through the vertebrae to carry messages between the brain and the muscles all over your body.īetween the vertebrae are intervertebral discs that act as shock absorbers when you move. The spinal cord travels from the brain through the spinal canal made of the vertebrae to the lower back. The vertebrae cover and protect the spinal cord. There are 24 bones in the spine, called the vertebrae. Posted on: November 22nd, 2018 by Ortho Illinois Spine Anatomy

Cervical spine compression