Patients with cervical spinal stenosis may have the following symptoms:

• Tingling, pain or numbness that originates in the neck and extends down the arms
• Loss of control over the arms (called spasticity) that can lead to the inability to hold objects
• Numbness in arms
• Loss of position sense, meaning the inability to know what position arms are in if they are not visible.
• With major weakness or loss of bladder or bowel control, seek help immediately as this could signal a serious problem

The natural aging process is far and away the main cause of spinal stenosis. Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of cervical spinal stenosis. The gelatinous discs that cushion the vertebrae in the spine begin to dry out as we age, resulting in shortened disc height. This puts pressure on the facet joints. As they feel more pressure, they too deteriorate, leading to arthritis. The arthritis can cause the ligaments around the joints to thicken and enlarge, decreasing space in the spinal canal for nerves to pass through. The cartilage that protects joints wears away as well. Too much wear leads to bone-on-bone rubbing. To compensate for the missing cartilage, the body may grow bone in the facet joints. Bone overgrowth is called spurs, and their formation further contributes to the narrowing of space in the spinal canal for nerves to pass through. Once the space within the spinal canal becomes too cramped, pain can ensue.

Cervical spinal stenosis can also be caused by other conditions as well. Those include:

• Spondylosis or spondlylolisthesis (slipped disc)
• Injury or fracture
• Rheumatoid arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis
• Metabolic conditions such as Paget’s disease or fluorosis, an excessive level of fluoride in the body.