Features
Download the Summer 2009 Health Connection (PDF).
A New Hope for Ending Neck Pain
Cervical spinal stenosis—the narrowing of the spinal column in the neck—is a common condition that can cause pain and weakness in the extremities and alter the way a person walks.
Generally caused by age-related changes, cervical spinal stenosis may cause pain, stiffness, and numbness in the neck, arms, shoulders, and legs. A study appearing in The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery estimates that as many as nine percent of American adults over age 70 and approximately five percent of adults overall suffer from the condition. It generally develops gradually and usually only starts causing symptoms after middle age. “There is not a single cause for cervical spinal stenosis, but there are a variety of reasons a patient might develop symptoms,” says Cyril C. DeSilva, M.D., neurosurgeon on staff at Bay Medical. “Some patients have cervical spinal stenosis caused by a traumatic injury such as a herniated disk. Other patients who come to us with these problems have primary cervical spinal stenosis, meaning the spinal canal is already narrow. Minor accidents and age can exacerbate the symptoms and create the need for surgery.”
Exploring the Symptoms
Some cervical spinal stenosis symptoms worsen over time—so much so that many patients don’t realize that deterioration is occurring. Other symptoms appear in different parts of the body, leading some patients to mistake their symptoms for other health conditions. In addition to the common symptoms in the extremities, people with cervical spinal stenosis may experience:
- headaches
- change in gait
- weakness in the arms and legs
- numbness and pain in the buttocks
Because the narrowing of the spinal column can impact nerves running throughout the body, the loss of bladder control and issues with sexual function are not uncommon in some patients.
“The severity of these symptoms creates the need for surgical intervention,” explains Joel I. Franck, M.D., neurosurgeon on staff at Bay Medical. “Luckily for patients in our community, many of the procedures available today have a 90 to 95 percent success rate. The improvements in these patients’ conditions can be truly remarkable.”
Ending Your Pain
Mild and moderate cases of cervical spinal stenosis can be treated with pain medicine, steroid injections, physical therapy, rest, and exercises at home designed to improve and maintain flexibility. When these measures prove ineffective, surgery may be the next option. Advanced surgical imaging technology available at Bay Medical allows the neurosurgeon to reach these delicate areas with pin-point precision ensuring optimum outcomes for patients who require surgery to relieve their pain. Using the O-arm available only at Bay Medical, a CT scan can be made in the operating room during the procedure to verify that the repair to the spine is complete and successful. “Bay Medical’s equipment provides surgeons with unprecedented access to the cervical spine,” Dr. DeSilva says. “The enhanced visualization we have allows us to operate with greater precision in this sensitive location. Our patients are continually getting wonderful results from these procedures and resuming their regular lives without pain.”
For more information about neurosurgery options available at Bay Medical, visit www.baymedical.org and select “Surgical Services,” then “Neurosurgery.”