Cervical Spinal Stenosis

The spinal canal is similar to a tunnel running the length of the human spine. It sits right behind the bony blocks called vertebrae and contains the nerves (spinal cord and nerve roots) that run from the brain throughout the body. Cervical (C1 through C7 vertebra) spinal stenosis (compression) occurs when something causes a narrowing of the canal, which results in the nerves becoming irritated or squeezed. The flow of cerebrospinal fluid is often obstructed by this abnormality as well. Stenosis can lead to a variety of symptoms including tingling, numbness, and weakness to severe pain and paralysis. (Refer to Comparable Symptom Chart.) Congenital conditions, injuries to the spine, cervical disc disease and age-related degeneration can be instigators of cervical spinal cord stenosis.