You’re likely familiar with the throbbing, pounding of a headache, and you probably used to grining and bearing it through the pain. But what’s really going on inside when a headache strikes? Learn more about headaches and your treatment options.
Every year, approximately 500,000 Americans suffer from symptoms of spinal stenosis. And while it’s typically a condition that affects your back, you can also experience pain and other symptoms of spinal stenosis in your neck as well.
The first step in getting the treatment you need is understanding the condition itself. Our board-certified anesthesiologist and interventional pain medicine specialist at CurePain, Dr. David Wu, is here to give you the best information about spinal stenosis and its impact on your whole body, especially your neck.
Stenosis refers to an abnormal narrowing of a passage in your body. This often occurs in your spine, where the already narrow spaces in your spinal canal become even more restricted and put pressure on your nerves.
There are two main types of spinal stenosis that refer to where the stenosis is located: lumbar and cervical.
In lumbar stenosis, the narrowing occurs in your lower back. This is the most common type of spinal stenosis.
Cervical stenosis occurs in the cervical vertebrae, which is the section of your spine that makes up your neck. Though it’s less common than lumbar stenosis, it can cause you significant pain and other debilitating symptoms.
Here’s everything you need to know about cervical stenosis.
Some are born with a small spinal canal, increasing their chances of developing cervical stenosis. But most often, it stems from an injury or other musculoskeletal changes. Some of the most common causes of cervical stenosis include:
Anyone can suffer from this condition, but your risk increases if you are over 50 or have degenerative changes/congenital spinal deformities, like scoliosis, or genetic bone diseases.
Many people who have cervical stenosis may only experience mild symptoms or sometimes no symptoms at all. On the other hand, symptoms can be severe and get worse over time.
Most experience numbness, tingling, or weakness in their hands, arms, feet, and legs. Other common symptoms include:
In the most severe cases of spinal stenosis, you might struggle with bowel or bladder dysfunction.
Whether or not your spinal stenosis causes symptoms, you should never let a problem in your spine go untreated.
Fortunately, Dr. Wu is an expert in accurately diagnosing and treating a wide variety of spine conditions, including cervical stenosis.
To pinpoint exactly where your cervical stenosis is and what’s causing it, Dr. Wu conducts a series of imaging tests like MRIs, CT scans, and X-rays. He also guides you through some basic physical exams and discusses your medical history and symptoms with you.
Once he’s reached a diagnosis, he begins creating your treatment plan. Depending on your needs, he recommends the following treatments:
Don’t spend another day hoping your neck pain will go away on its own. Contact our Torrance, California office to start living life without neck pain.
You Might Also Enjoy...
You’re likely familiar with the throbbing, pounding of a headache, and you probably used to grining and bearing it through the pain. But what’s really going on inside when a headache strikes? Learn more about headaches and your treatment options.
Tired of living with chronic pain but wary of committing to a prescription-based treatment plan? We get it. That’s why we offer interventional pain management treatments. Here’s everything you need to know about this alternative to pain medication.
Sciatica is a painful and uncomfortable condition that often leaves us feeling debilitated. If you’d like to learn more about treating your condition safely and effectively.
If you regularly experience migraine headaches, you may find that certain foods and drinks trigger them. Learn more about preventing migraines by cutting certain foods out of your diet here.
Did you know that back pain is one of the leading causes of disability? Because back pain is often caused by a bad posture, we’ve compiled this list of exercises you can perform to support your posture.
Sometimes headaches are just a normal part of life. But there are other times when headaches can be an indicator of a much more serious problem. Learn when you should see a doctor for head pain.