Cervical spinal stenosis—the narrowing of the spinal column in the neck—is a common condition that can cause pain and weakness in the extremities and alter the way a person walks.
Generally caused by age-related changes, cervical spinal stenosis may cause pain, stiffness, and numbness in the neck, arms, shoulders, and legs. A study appearing in The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery estimates that as many as nine percent of American adults over age 70 and approximately five percent of adults overall suffer from the condition. It generally develops gradually and usually only starts causing symptoms after middle age. “There is not a single cause for cervical spinal stenosis, but there are a variety of reasons a patient might develop symptoms,” says Cyril C. DeSilva, M.D., neurosurgeon on staff at Bay Medical. “Some patients have cervical spinal stenosis caused by a traumatic injury such as a herniated disk. Other patients who come to us with these problems have primary cervical spinal stenosis, meaning the spinal canal is already narrow. Minor accidents and age can exacerbate the symptoms and create the need for surgery.”
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