Conservative and Surgical Treatment for Cervical Spinal Stenosis

According to more and more info coming from medical trials, cervical stenosis accounts for about 25% of all stenosis cases, which is a pretty high percentage. It most often affects people between the ages of 55 and 60. While younger people can experience something like this, the chances of this happening are pretty small.

It is a narrowing of the lumen of the spinal canal. Such a problem can arise against the background of various diseases. Not to mention that it can cause the initial disease to become much more problematic in the future. If a person with this condition is not treated correctly, he may lose the ability to work and become disabled.

For that reason, it is important to find a solution to this problem. Naturally, to do that, it is of the utmost importance to consult with a professional who can determine the right therapy and how this procedure should last. Because of that, we would like to provide you with a couple of tips that can help you understand how to treat this condition properly.

Conservative treatment of cervical stenosis

The earlier a person seeks medical help, the sooner and easier he can get rid of the problem. Not to mention that the condition can progress to a severe level. When that happens, treating it will become much more complex. At the initial stages of the disease, the patient receives conservative therapy.

It includes taking medications and undergoing physical treatment. Once again, its length will depend on the severity of the case, which is once again, determined by the doctor. The physician selects medicines for the patient individually, taking into account the peculiarities of the condition.

As a rule, a patient with cervical stenosis is prescribed:

• Non-steroidal pain-relieving drugs
• Diuretics
• Glucocorticosteroids

Physicians can prescribe medicines both for local and internal use

Physiotherapeutic procedures have also shown a good effect in treating cervical spine stenosis. Doctors often advise patients with this pathology to undergo a course of acupuncture, magnetic therapy, and massage.  All of these treatments can provide much-needed benefits to those who require them.

Therapeutic exercise plays an essential role in the fight against stenosis and its causes. The regimen should be developed by a physician who is well aware of the patient’s condition. Not to mention that finding the right doctor to provide therapy can be problematic. The reason is quite simple, there are too many of these to choose from.

Therefore, you will need to conduct thorough research before you can find the right one. The patient should strictly follow the recommendations; otherwise, exercise will have no effect. Thankfully, every physician will provide the patient with detailed insight. So, there is practically no excuse why someone shouldn’t follow these instructions as carefully as possible.

Surgical options for cervical stenosis

Surgery is resorted to only in the most complicated cases when no conservative treatments have improved the patient’s condition. Basically, this is the last resort. Several types of surgery are used to correct stenosis of the cervical spine. The choice depends on each case. Meaning, there is no universal solution that will take care of all of these. Today, specialists most commonly use the following ones:

• Decompressive laminectomy
• Interspinous fixation of the vertebrae
• Implantation of a steadying system

The first type of surgical procedure is indicated to patients whose vertebral canal is narrowed due to compression by pathological structures, such as tumors, bone spurs, or herniated intervertebral discs. During this intervention, surgeons remove the cause of the stenosis and implant a segment stabilizer.

Without inserting the stabilizer, there’s no point in conducting the procedure at all. Such an operation is rather traumatic and complex, so it is performed only by highly qualified surgeons with extensive experience. Not to mention that the recovery process can be quite durable. Once again, following the instructions provided by the doctor carefully should be your only concern. By doing that, you will ensure that the result will be successful.

When do you need treatment?

The first sign of the disease is neck pain resulting from nerve roots and spinal cord compression. Since this is something that can happen quite often, many people make the mistake of not paying attention to it. Therefore, they will not act until is too late for them. When that happens, they immediately need to undergo the surgical procedure. It appears in the neck and spreads to the shoulders and the back of the head.

Cervical spinal stenosis can cause both unilateral and bilateral pain. The intensity of cervical stenosis symptoms depends on the stage of the disease. At the early stages, pain may occur with physical exertion and a particular position of the neck. So, whenever you feel something like this, be sure to consult with a physician who can help you start the treatment.

In addition, the most common manifestations of the condition include:

• “Goosebumps” on the skin of the neck
• Severe headaches
• Weakness in the arms
• Dizziness when bending your head

At the advanced stages of cervical stenosis, a person tends to faint. Fainting can be provoked by sharp turns of the head or bending. In its neglected form, cervical stenosis leads to paresis and paralysis. The patient may be completely immobile, so he will not be able to perform activities of daily living. Without any doubt, this is a symptom that will immediately show that you need to think about starting the therapy.

What to do if you need cervical stenosis treatment during a lockdown?

The first and probably one of the most important things to consider will be to decide if you want to organize treatment yourself or use the services of the medical tourism company. And yes, the latter is an option, in fact, quite a good one. We’ve already said that it is quite hard to determine what physician is the proper solution for your case.

To do that, you will need to conduct serious research and look at even the smallest of details. Only by doing that, you will have a chance to understand which way you should go. Another way you can do it is to talk with people from your surrounding who have this sort of experience. Sure, these will provide you with a proper physician.

In Conclusion

As you can see, this is a pretty serious condition. So, taking care of it as soon as possible is an absolute must. Here, you can take a look at a couple of solutions you can decide on.

Visit the Booking Health website for more info on the cost of treatment abroad and available therapeutic programs.