I am a healthy and active 32 year old male. Last month I was diagnosed with cervical stenosis (C5-C6) after having morning finger numbness for 2 months. All 3 doctors I asked suggest surgery, either disk replacement or merging of spines. Has anyone dealt successfully with such conditions via non surgical means? Thank you. You are absolutely correct that cervical stenosis can cause arm pain. There are other causes too, so it is important that your spine specialist figures out where your pain is coming from. It sounds like you have imaging that indicates severe stenosis. Has your specialist recommended surgical intervention? I am a cervical spine surgery patient. Spinal stenosis occurs when the open space within your spine narrows, causing pressure and irritation to the nerve tissue. It can happen for a variety of reasons, but most of the time spinal stenosis is a result of aging and the buildup of arthritis. I have c4- c7 severe foraminal stenosis and have associated radiculopathy. I had a Cervical ESI Monday and have had some relief so far. My. He immediately diagnosed me with cervical spondylotic myelopathy caused by congenital stenosis/degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis. My spinal cord/nerve roots at C5-C6 were compressed and being injured. He recommended the ACDF surgery ASAP to prevent further spinal cord injury. Most of my symptoms improved, even the chest pain. I had cervical spinal stenosis with compression of my spinal cord due to a collapsed disc and bone spurs that were compressing it, and I had successful surgery at Mayo to free my spinal cord and a fusion of C5/C6. Is that something that you are considering? You might want to see a spine neurosurgeon for that opinion. Spinal stenosis happens when the main channel for the spinal cord — called the central spinal canal — or the openings for individual nerve roots in your spine become narrowed, causing pressure on nerve tissue. Spinal stenosis often is a result of aging and the formation of bone spurs from arthritis. The spinal cord floats in fluid and needs to be able to move when you change body position. If the stenosis narrows the canal so much that the spinal cord is compressed or cannot move, that is a problem and likely a patient would need surgery. That was my situation with a ruptured disc at C5C6 along with bone spurs pressing unto my spinal cord. Connect with others like you for support, practical information, and answers to your questions about spine health and related conditions, such as back pain, brachial plexus, disc degeneration, scoliosis, spondylolysis, stenosis, spondylopathy and more. How does cervical foraminal stenosis cause walking problems? Posted by jmaplewood9 @jmaplewood9, Nov 16, 2025 Hi does c5 c6 c7 severe foraminl stenosis cause walking problems.