Cervical foraminal stenosis is a serious issue for quite a few people. It is when the cervical disc space is narrowed and pinches a nerve root. Your neck and spine are very delicate and this issue can come up even without having a disc herniation so make sure to look for the signs even if you haven't had one before. Usually this doesn't lead to any serious problems other than serious pain for the most part. So don't be worried if you think you might have it. Just make sure to visit your doctor and get a professional opinion on your circumstances. A doctor can tell if you have Cerivical foraminal stenosis with a quick MRI that is covered under most insurance plans. An MRI usually only takes a few minutes out of your day and isn't painful at all.
The symptoms of cervical foraminal stenosis are pretty easy to spot. Though admittedly, it's easy to not notice it in a few people. You will get a pain that will develop slowly enough that you think it's just a kink in your neck which makes it hard to really notice. This pain will not be continuous so it will come and go. This pain can sometimes be related to certain activities, like reading a book or riding a bike. You also might notice that you are weak during some of these activities, this weakness is usually abnormal for the activity you are doing. You could also lose complete control of your limbs in which case you won't be able to feel anything which can be quite frightening. Don't worry though this is completely normal. The neck and spinal cord are very complex and a lot of strange things can happen if something goes wrong. Basically, if you cannot do some activities for an extended period of time then it's worth checking to see if you have cervical foraminal stenosis.
There are a few treatments for cervical foraminal stenosis such as activity modification. This is just avoiding the activities that might be causing your discomfort. This isn't usually an issue but should keep an eye on your condition by getting regular checkups just to make sure nothing has changed. You can always go back for surgery to fix the problem at a later date. You could also opt for the surgery which is an overnight stay in a hospital. Basically the problem disc is removed and the space that is left is distracted open to allow the nerve root more room. This gets rid of all pain after the surgery so once you get done the pain will be gone for good. The surgery only has a 2-6 week recovery time as well, so it is a major surgery but you will be back on your feet in no time.
Luckily there are some alternative treatments for cervical foraminal stenosis that could help you. If you are only having mild discomforts then something as simple as physical therapy might be enough to get rid of the pain for you. This physical therapy will entail messaging and stretching the area to make room for the nerve roots while also strengthening your neck. If you are having sever pain from your cervical foraminal stenosis then this will probably not work that well for you. So depending on your level of pain your mileage will vary. Sometimes you can get by with some simple neck stretches and exercises in your own home to help get rid of the pain. Your doctor can help you learn the exercises you should do, but this way you wouldn't have to pay a physical therapist to help you out.
In the end there aren't any real risks from leaving cervical foraminal stenosis untreated. The pain won't get any better no matter what you do, however. This is why if you have a chance to get the surgery to fix the issue it's highly recommended that you plan on doing it. You can wait a while if you can bear the pain, but taking pills to help with the pain is a slippery slope. So stick with the surgery if you can afford it or if your insurance will pay for it. The recover time of 2-6 weeks is long enough to need time off of work which is the biggest downfall of getting the surgery. Other than the recovery time, the back surgery is usually the best choice for most people.
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