Before I dissect into the Cervical Stenosis treatment, it is important to shed some light on what it is and it manifests in the body. Cervical stenosis is quite common among older people. It is usually caused as a result of the narrowing of the upper part of spinal cord especially around the neck area. The narrowing is usually dangerous since it puts excess pressure on the spine. As one ages the problem becomes more elaborate since the spine cord suffers a wear and tear problem.
Effective Cervical Stenosis treatment requires a good diagnosis. While most back problems might not necessarily be Cervical Stenosis, any backaches should be viewed with a lot of caution. There are a number of procedures that medical doctors use to diagnose the problem or the extent of damage of the spinal canal. The most common procedures involve reviewing the patient's medical history. This includes checking for any treatment related to the spine or any serious problems that may be experienced. Other tests include physical examinations and diagnostic tests. Physical examination simply relates to observing the patient's movements and clues relating to any sharp pains on the spine. On the other hand, the diagnostic tests involve running X-rays and CT scans which provide a pictorial view of the spinal canal and any signs of infections.
Cervical Stenosis treatment may involve non-operative treatment or operative treatment. The most common approach to treating the Cervical Stenosis is the use of physiotherapy procedures and exercises. Patients are usually taken through a regular schedule of activities that help strengthen the spine. The use of exercises and body movements to correct certain body ailments is well documented in many medical books and journals. Other procedures involve the use pain and anti-inflammatory medications. Doctors would sometimes prescribe the use of collar necks to restrict bones and muscle movements.
In case the non-operative procedures fail to work, the next course of action is usually the use of surgical treatment procedures. These can also be recommended depending on the extent of damage. In cases where the problem has been left for too long, doctors would simply seek to perform a corrective surgery. The surgical operations are conducted with the main aim of decompressing and widening the spinal canal. Once the canal is opened up, the medical doctors would eliminate the cause of the compression.
Decompressive laminectomy is the most common type of surgical procedure performed on a patient. During this process the upper part of the vertebrae is carefully chopped off. The removal of this part allows for more room and space for the nerves. This in turn helps reduce the amount of pressure on the spinal canal. Another form of surgical operation is the posterior laminoplasty. This procedure also helps expand the spinal canal, hence reducing the pressure build up on the spine. Lastly, a procedure called the foraminotomy may be used to remove any bulging or herniated discs from the spinal canal. Cervical Stenosis treatment may also be treated by expanding the spinal canal. This is usually done by enlarging the area where the nerve roots exit the spinal canal. Further treatment may involve the use of metal plates to provide additional support to the spinal canal.