The cervical spine is the portion of the spinal column connecting the base of the skull to the upper back. Between each of the seven cervical vertebrae (C1 through C7), a cervical disk acts as a shock absorber. A disk injury can result in the disk...
Several potential causes of spinal cord compression exist, including trauma, bony growths, cancer and swelling. When the cervical spinal cord is compressed, regardless of cause, a similar set of symptoms occurs. These symptoms may be mild or...
Cervical radiculopathy involves the compression of a cervical spinal nerve that results in symptoms that radiate from the cervical spine to other areas of the upper body. Common causes of radiculopathy include spondylosis, or wear and tear...
The neck--the cervical region of the spine--is a very delicate part of the body. Many muscles, nerves, tendons and ligaments run through this region and are prone to injury. The Cleveland Clinic says overuse and sudden blows to the cervical region...
Your spinal column is composed of 24 vertebrae: seven cervical vertebrae, 12 thoracic vertebrae and five lumbar vertebrae, according to health professionals at the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS). The...
Cervical spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the canals that the spinal cord and the spinal nerves run through. Spinal stenosis is usually caused by arthritis, a herniated disk or spinal tumors, according to the Mayo Clinic. Narrowing of the...
Cervical spondylosis is damage to the vertebrae (spinal column) in the neck due to the wear-and-tear of aging. It is the most common form of spinal dysfunction in older people, according to the Mayo Clinic, mostly affecting people older than 55...
Cervical stenosis is the compression of the spinal cord within the spinal column. While the most common cause is osteoarthritis, other causes include a herniated disk, ligament changes, spinal tumors, injury, Paget's disease (a disease in which...
Fluid-filled discs separate the spine bones, or vertebrae. The discs of the neck are called cervical discs, which cushion the vertebrae and provide a space for nerves to exit the spinal cord. A herniated disc describes the rearward displacement of...
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a condition that causes progressive inflammation and destruction of the joints in the human body. The longer a person has RA, the greater the odds that RA will attack the joints in the spine. Those who have had RA for...
Arm pain caused by a pinched nerve is often the result of nerve compression in the cervical spine. The nerves in your arms exit out of the spine in your neck. If these nerves become pinched, either due to swelling, a slipped disc or degenerative...
An anterior cervical fusion of your neck is a major surgical procedure and requires many weeks to recover fully. People that opt for this surgery often do so because they have weakness and pain in their arms due to cervical nerve irritation or...
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....
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...
Exercise after surgery is often recommended, but certain surgeries and conditions may contraindicate or advise against certain types of exercise. If you're considering or have recently undergone any type of spine surgery, talk to your doctor and...
Neural foraminal narrowing, often referred to as neural foraminal stenosis, is a condition that affects the spinal cord and the associated spinal nerves. The condition is due to a narrowing of the foramen, resulting in eventual nerve compression.
Pinched nerves occur when a bone, muscle, tendon or cartilage presses on a nerve root, the portion of the nerve that exits from the spinal column. A pinched nerve in the neck, called cervical radiculopathy, may cause pain, weakness, numbness or...
There are numerous symptoms associated with cervical spine pain. According to MayoClinic.com, neck pain can be caused by a variety of injuries or conditions, and neck pain can range from mild and irritating to severe and debilitating. Cervical...
The pathology underlying the condition known as degenerative cervical disc disease is not well understood. However, as the disc decays, it weakens, and then it begins to herniate into the space occupied by the spinal roots and spinal cord. This...
A cervical collar is to be worn after neck injury or surgery to prevent excessive movement of the neck and to allow it to heal, according to the Ohio State University Medical Center. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) further...
Spinal stenosis causes narrowing of the bones that make up the spinal canals, or the areas through which the spinal cord and spinal nerves pass. The Mayo Clinic reports that spinal stenosis causes symptoms only when the spinal nerves or spinal...
Herniated cervical disc, also known as ruptured or bulging disc, causes pressure on the nerves in the spine, which is made up of vertebrae that surround and protect the spinal cord. Between each vertebra is a disc that separates the two from each...
Cervical stenosis is a progressive condition that pinches the spinal cord. Cervical myelopathy refers to a cervical spine compression caused by spinal stenosis. Common signs of cervical stenosis with myelopathy are arm pain, heavy feeling in the...
A yoga headstand calms the brain, improves memory, promotes healthy digestion and builds strength in the muscles of the neck, shoulders and the upper back. However, a headstand is an advanced pose and requires dedicated practice to execute...
Cervical spinal stenosis sufferers have a narrowing of the spine in the neck region. This can lead to nerve impingement, headaches and postural imbalances resulting from muscle weakness or atrophy. Keeping fit helps reduce symptoms but cervical...
A disorder characterized by compressed spinal discs is called cervical spondylosis. As a person ages, the bones and cartilage in the spine begin to degenerate and form bone spurs. The degeneration of the cervical disks and joints can cause the...
The vertebrae in the spine serve to protect and support the spinal cord. These vertebrae are themselves cushioned and supported by cartilage-filled discs. Sometimes these discs can break, leading to a herniated or a ruptured disc. The symptoms of...
Cervical stenosis is when the bony spinal canal narrows. Since the spinal cord occupies this space, narrowing may produce pressure against the spinal cord. This can result in symptoms of spinal cord irritation and damage. This condition can be...
Spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the space between your vertebra which compresses one or more nerves in your spinal cord. This frequently occurs in your neck and lower spine, according to MayoClinic.com.
