Question
I have been experiencing headaches and neck pain for about 6 months now. I was recently diagnosed as having mild c5-6 and c6-7 disc degeneration and spinal stenosis with more severe bilateral foraminal stenosis. My question is: Can this be what is causing the headaches (which are constant and pretty bad) and if so what are my options. Everything I have read nothing mentions symptoms of headaches.

Answer
Spinal Decompression Toronto patients , like you Tommy have asked me questions like this before, and I thank you for yours.

Firstly, I am sorry to hear about your headaches. I have been treating patients with headaches for over 22 years and I know how debilitating they can be.  

To answer your first question, it is possible that severe foraminal stenosis can cause head aches by negatively affecting the mechanics of the spine but liklely not directly.  That is to say it may be a contributory factor.  The architecture and mechanics of the cervical or neck spine makes it a very complicated structure.  In cases where there is severe foraminal stenosis in the C5-6 region it could result in any number of problems which may include, neck and associated muscle pain, peripheral neuropathy - which is irritation to the nerves which leave the spine at that level and travel into and down the arm and to the fingers. Symptoms may include pain, numbness, tingling, loss of strength, reduced reflexes in the arm.  It may also include a reduction in the normal range of motion of the neck.  

A person must be evaluated by a specialist like a chiropractor to determine the causality.  The possible common causes may be mechanically related, that is to say that misalignments patterns of the neck spine can result in nerve irritation leading to headaches.  The cause of such spinal misalignments is usually due to some combination of stresses: which can include 1. physical trauma stress, eg. slip and fall, 2. emotional stress and 3. Biochemical stresses due to exposure to toxins.  

A proper assessment would include a physical examination, muscular, orthopedic and neurological (nerve) tests and possibly a series of relevant x-rays.  Depending on the diagnosis treatment options may include:
1. manipulation in conjunction with exercises and postural advice
2. Massage therapy and acupuncture
3. Non- surgical Spinal decompression

I do strongly suggest that you have a nutritional work up to clarify if your diet may be involved somehow with your headache.


Allopathic forms of treatment, which in many cases do not offer root cause and have potentially elevated risks with their use may include:
1. pain relievers
2. anti-inflammatories
3. muscle relaxants
More aggressive intervention may include:
1. nerve block/cortisone injections
2. prescription drugs, some with addictive qualities
3. surgery such as discectomy, laminectomy and spinal fusion

So, sounds to me like you may have gone the medical route so far and it may be time, if you havent done so already, to find yourself a chiropractic doctor to arrange a consultation and examination to gain more clarity with your problem.

I thank you for writing to me. When you get more information please write back to me and let me know what new information you learn about what's going on.

Can you take a moment out Tommy to rate my answer and consider to nominate me as volunteer of the month.
Thanks and if you wish you can learn more at
www.backclinicsofcanada.ca

Dr. Ron Nusbaum