Cervical stenosis, which can lead to the more serious cervical myelopathy, is a narrowing of the spinal canal in the neck.
A jellylike substance inside discs provides cushioning and helps hold vertebrae in place. If the substance dries out with age or oozes out of the disc into the spinal canal, it can cause stenosis and put pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots.
Other causes of cervical stenosis include bone spurs on the vertebrae or overgrown ligaments in the spinal column. Facet joints in the back of the spine can degenerate with time or become enlarged from arthritis.
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When the pressure from stenosis injures the spinal cord, affecting nerve function and causing symptoms, the condition is called cervical myelopathy.
Cervical stenosis typically develops over time, but can worsen rapidly after a long period of stability.
Loss of strength and sensation in the hands, frequently dropping things, or poor coordination and unsteady gait all can be signs of cervical stenosis that has advanced to myelopathy. Trouble using your hands and difficulty walking don’t need to permanently interfere with your life. Symptoms in patients with these signs of cervical myelopathy often can be greatly improved with nonsurgical treatment and, if necessary, surgery.
The combined team of orthopedic spine and neuroscience specialists at Norton Leatherman spine is the premier destination for patients in Louisville, Southern Indiana and beyond experiencing cervical stenosis and cervical myelopathy.
Our skilled physicians have the experience to identify the right treatment for a broad range of spinal conditions — including the most complicated issues and also more common, serious issues like cervical myelopathy that can affect both younger and older patients.
Our specialists know that surgery isn’t right for everyone. We’ll evaluate your case and give you a treatment plan customized for you. If simpler treatments don’t work, and relief will come only from an operation, you’ll want surgeons with the most experience and expertise.
With a combination of nonsurgical, surgical and innovative techniques, we can help relieve cervical stenosis and symptoms of cervical myelopathy.
As the most comprehensive spine care team in the region, our specialists routinely care for patients with potentially serious conditions such as cervical stenosis and cervical myelopathy. In selecting the best treatment plan for cervical stenosis, timing may be important. Cervical myelopathy is much easier to prevent than it is to repair.
Nonsurgical treatment can relieve many cervical stenosis symptoms.
If surgery is required, some patients with cervical spinal stenosis can be treated by limited decompression of the involved nerves. In other cases, associated issues such as kyphosis or multilevel involvement create the need for more complex procedures. Norton Leatherman Spine specialists have the experience and expertise to select the right procedure the first time. This helps to avoid poor outcomes or the need for additional surgeries.
Depending on your case, our surgeons may perform a minimally invasive decompression to remove the overgrown ligament or bone spurs that cause your pain and difficulty with walking.
In a minimally invasive procedure, we make small incisions through which we can correct the cervical spinal stenosis. This eases pressure on the nerves and helps relieve pain.
A smaller incision means you can get back on your feet faster and resume living your life.
With spinal instability issues such as cervical spondylolisthesis or cervical kyphosis, your surgeon may need to restore spinal stability and alignment in order to allow effective decompression of the nerves and spinal cord. Norton Leatherman Spine surgeons have the training and experience to perform these procedures safely and effectively.
New advances such as robotic-assisted spinal surgery and computer-assisted navigation used at Norton Leatherman Spine allow for these more complicated procedures, with less recovery time and less postoperative pain. The decompression and fusion procedure can reduce pain and restore function by removing bone and ligament overgrowth compressing the nerves, while maintaining the spinal stability needed for full function.
Norton Leatherman Spine is a world-renowned program delivering groundbreaking care and treatment for back, neck and spine conditions and procedures.