Medline Plus defines spinal stenosis as a narrowing of the openings in the bony parts of the spine. Spinal stenosis may occur in the neck (cervical spine) or the lower back (lumbar spine), and may place pressure on nerves as they enter or exit. Spinal stenosis may also cause pressure on the spinal cord itself. The Mayo Clinic reports that spinal stenosis symptoms often become worse over time.
Neck and Shoulder Pain
Cervical spinal stenosis often causes neck, shoulder and arm pain, especially if the nerves that supply these areas are compressed. This is called radiculopathy. The University of Wisconsin reports that C6 and C7 radiculopathy usually causes pain that radiates out from the neck. It can affect the shoulder as well as the outer arm (also called the lateral arm). Some cases of C6 and C7 radiculopathy may even cause pain in the thumb, index and/or middle fingers. This pain may be felt on one or both sides: Medline Plus reports that pain from spinal stenosis is often worse on one side of the body that the other. Spinal stenosis pain may be relieved by sitting or lying down.
Headaches
The Mayo Clinic reports that spinal stenosis located in the cervical spine can also cause headaches. C6 and C7 spinal stenosis can put pressure on nerves and cause head pain. Headaches may also result from pain that radiates up from the neck and shoulders.
Arm Tingling and Numbness
Cervical spinal stenosis can also cause tingling and numbness, otherwise known as parasthesias. While this tingling may be focused in the upper body--particularly the neck, shoulder and outer arm--cervical stenosis in C6 and C7 may also cause abnormal sensations in the lower body. This is especially true if the spinal cord is partially compressed. Parasthesias, like the pain associated with cervical spinal stenosis, may be worse on one side of the body.
Arm and Leg Muscle Weakness
When cervical spinal stenosis causes compression of the spinal cord or the motor nerves (nerves that allow movement), muscle weakness may be present. The motor nerves at the C6 and C7 levels allow the triceps, finger flexors and forearm muscles to move. Disruption of these nerves may make it difficult or even impossible to straighten the elbows, form a fist or turn the palms up, depending on the degree of nerve injury. The Mayo Clinic states that if spinal stenosis at C6 or C7 causes compression of the spinal cord, this weakness may be present both in the arms and the legs.
Spasticity
Spasticity is the term for tightness in the muscles, and may be caused by cervical spinal stenosis at the C6 and C7 levels. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that a person with cervical spinal stenosis that causes spinal cord compression may have spasticity in their legs. This can make it difficult to straighten or bend the legs, and can decrease a person's ability to bear weight. Cervical spinal stenosis that compresses the spinal cord can actually cause difficulty with standing and walking.
