Is the decrease in cervical spinal stenosis serious?

Is it serious if the numerical value of cervical spinal stenosis decreases?

Clinically, spinal stenosis mainly refers to lumbar spinal stenosis, and the value of cervical spinal stenosis is smaller. Whether it is serious should be determined according to the degree of lumbar stenosis and the patient's clinical manifestations. If the patient has lumbar spinal stenosis, local tenderness is positive, percussion pain is negative, the patient occasionally limps, and the lumbar joint function is normal, it is not a serious lumbar spinal stenosis. If the patient is conscious of lumbar pain, percussion pain is positive, the lumbar function is limited, the lower limb skin is tingling, loss of sensation or pathological reflexes, and the patient often limps, it is a serious lumbar spinal stenosis. Lumbar CT or MRI films can be taken to clarify the degree of spinal stenosis. Surgical treatment is the first choice, which can be performed by incision decompression and fixation of the nail rod system.

Dangers of cervical spinal stenosis:

1. Urinary dysfunction. It usually occurs later. In the early stage, there is weakness in urination and defecation, with frequent urination, urgency, and constipation as the main symptoms. In the late stage, there may be urinary retention and incontinence.

2. Lameness. The symptoms of spinal extension are aggravated, while those of flexion are alleviated. In a few patients, the muscles of the lower limbs atrophy, the Achilles tendon reflex is sometimes reduced or disappears, and there is lameness.

3. Neck and back pain, upper limb weakness, finger numbness, dizziness and nausea, and even blurred vision and swallowing.

4. In daily life, we should pay attention to the combination of work and rest, maintain correct posture, avoid standing or sitting for long periods of time, choose a hard bed, and maintain the physiological curvature of the spine.

The treatment of cervical spinal stenosis is mainly divided into surgical treatment and conservative treatment. If the symptoms of cervical spinal stenosis are mild, conservative treatment is the first choice. For secondary spinal stenosis, such as intervertebral disc herniation, it is recommended to wear a neck brace, do chin-pillow traction, and apply local hot compresses to reduce muscle spasms, which can significantly alleviate the symptoms. If it is severe spinal stenosis and there are obvious symptoms of peripheral nerves, such as limb numbness or dizziness, surgical treatment is recommended.