The spinal cord passes through the vertebrae and connects the brain to the rest of the nervous system. In the neck, the spinal cord is also known as the cervical spine. If the area around the cervical spine gets narrowed, it's called cervical stenosis, which can lead to pain and tingling in the neck and throughout the rest of the body. Cervical stenosis is treated by reducing compression or pinching of the cervical spinal cord.
Physical Therapy
As Princeton Brain and Spine Care explains, one of the first treatments that doctors recommend for cervical stenosis involves physical therapy. The goal behind physical therapy is to strengthen the muscles in the neck so that they can provide proper support for the spinal cord and vertebrae, which can then alleviate the stenosis. Rest is also an important aspect of this treatment modality. Patients may need to wear a neck brace or a cervical collar to relieve strain and stress on the neck. Physical therapy also works to build endurance and keep the neck joints flexible, making movement easier and helping prevent future joint damage.
Medication Injections
Although it's possible to orally take medications to relieve cervical stenosis (including anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving drugs), cervical stenosis is often treated by injecting these substances into the neck. Radiology Info explains that epidural injections can be used to inject pain relievers, corticosteroids and medications to reduce inflammation near the nerves in the neck. Pain relievers work to alleviate pain caused by cervical stenosis, whereas corticosteroids and other anti-inflammatories block swelling, which can contribute to cervical stenosis.
Surgery
Many different surgical procedures can be used to treat cervical stenosis. According to Princetown Brain and Spine Care, the most common surgical procedure for this condition is a decompressive laminectomy, in which the tops of the vertebrae are removed. This gives the spinal cord more space. Surgery (such as a posterior laminoplasty) can widen the spinal canal, which also relieves cervical stenosis. Surgeons can also repair or remove bulging discs. If multiple vertebrae are damaged, sometimes a spinal fusion can be performed. This fuses two vertebrae into one to give the cervical spine additional stability.
