Spine Stenosis

Congenital Cervical Spinal Stenosis

Anything that causes pain in your back or neck is frightening, isn't it? And when you hear a doctor tell you that you have a 'congenital' condition, often what leaps to mind is something that's incurable - well, let me put your mind at ease. A congenital condition (such as congenital cervical spinal stenosis) is simply a condition that has existed since before you were born - as you were developing in the womb, this condition began, in other words.

Stenosis at any level of the spine can cause significant problems in terms of overall function and quality of life issues. To understand what this condition means, let me first give you a definition of the term. Congenital cervical spinal stenosis means that, during pregnancy, a defect occurred in your spinal development that caused (or will cause at some future date) a narrowing of the canal that carries the spinal cord.

Have you ever heard the phrase 'bundle of nerves'? Well, that essentially is the spinal cord. It rests in the middle of a canal that runs the entire length of your spine. This canal is created by the bony parts of the spine, also known as vertebrae. These are cushioned by what are known as intervertebral discs, which act as shock absorbers as you walk or move.

Cervical stenosis happens when the canal where the spinal cord rests is narrowed to 13 millimeters or less. As to exactly what causes the stenosis, that can arise from a variety of factors. Among them is what we saw above, a defect that develops in utero - also, constriction of the blood supply to the spinal cord. Probably the most common cause of spinal stenosis is degeneration; this can be caused by several different problems, among them bone spurs that protrude into the spinal canal.

Osteoporosis, although affecting the spine as well as other bones in the body, does not cause spinal stenosis at any level; but it can lead to compression fractures of the spine and contribute to pain levels.

Symptoms of cervical spinal stenosis include pain, numbness and tingling in the arms, as well as loss of the ability to use the arms and hands.

Treatment of this condition varies; the initial course should be minimally invasive, such as physical therapy and exercise to stimulate blood flow to the spine. Conservative therapies should be looked at prior to consideration of any surgeries such as laminotomy or laminectomy.

In general, cervical spinal stenosis happens gradually over a long period of time, and the symptoms begin to manifest in the same manner. You may notice that your arms and hands feel numb and tingly, and you may have less dexterity in your hands, such as impaired typing ability. You may also have problems retaining your grasp on objects as well as dropping them. When you notice such problems, seek medical attention as soon as possible to prevent further difficulties.

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