Cervical Spinal Stenosis

Cervical Spinal Stenosis and Myelopathy Treatment

Your spine protects your spinal cord and nerves, allowing you to stand and bend. Spinal cord narrowing occurs due to wear and tear on the neck vertebrae. Due to the narrowing of the spinal canal, damage to the spinal cord and the nerves leading to the arms may be caused by pressure and pressure.

What is Channel Narrowing?

Spinal canal narrowing is often seen in people over 50 years of age. Diseases such as arthritis and scoliosis can worsen spinal stenosis. Patients may have symptoms that occur slowly or suddenly as there will be no symptoms. These symptoms may include:
• Pain in the neck or back
• Numbness in the arms or legs, burning
• Unbalance when walking
• Weakness of fingers, hands, arms and legs

Diagnosis:

Diagnosis is made by the complaints, examination and imaging of the patient. We use the Modified Japanese Orthopedic Association Scale as an international standard to assess the severity of spinal cord injury. Numbness, weakness and coordination problems in the arms and legs with the scale, bladder
and bowel problems, fine motor skills of the hands and balance problems are evaluated. MRI is used to evaluate the structure of the spinal cord.

Treatment

Comprehensive posture, neck mobility, strength and flexibility of patients with cervical spinal stenosis
After being evaluated in a way, a one-to-one training is taken in the presence of a physiotherapist.

Non-surgical Additional Therapies İnclude:

Anti-inflammatory drugs and neuropathic pain medications for the symptoms of burning, tingling and drowsiness
Weight loss guidance training to re-establish balance and prevent falls, exercise recommendations for healthier eating and alleviate pressure on the spine, pilates and yoga to strengthen back muscles

Surgical Treatments

If there is myelopathy next to the cervical spinal stenosis, surgery may be necessary. Surgery can prevent more spinal cord injury and healing with physical therapy can be achieved. When we evaluate your surgery, we can do additional studies:
Electromyography (EMG) to detect muscle weakness due to nerve problems
X-ray films
Computerized tomography (CT)
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
The most appropriate surgical method for you will be chosen.
Surgery to eliminate nerve compression from the front or back of the neck.
Laminectomy is performed on the back of the neck, the compression of the vertebrae is removed and, if necessary, fixation with metallic plates and screws.
Anterior spinal cord compression can be achieved by bone, disc or joint removal. In order to support the anterior aspect of the vertebra, it is generally necessary to insert the cage or plaques.