M99.70: Connective tissue and disc stenosis of intervertebral foramina Head region

The openings between your vertebrae have narrowed where your head meets your cervical spine.

The spine consists of several sections. The cervical spine begins below the head. The cervical spine is very mobile. Below that is the thoracic spine. The ribs are attached to the thoracic spine. Below the thoracic spine is the lumbar spine. The lumbar spine is also very mobile and it bears a large part of the body’s weight. After the lumbar spine, the sacrum and coccyx join. The spine is made up of the individual vertebrae. Between every 2 vertebrae there is a vertebral disc. Intervertebral discs consist of cartilage and connective tissue. Intervertebral discs connect neighboring vertebrae to one another and absorb pressure and shocks. To the right and left of the spine, at the level of each vertebra, a spinal nerve comes out. The spinal nerves come out of the spine through openings between the vertebrae. The spinal nerves transmit information between the spine and the body.

The openings between your vertebrae have narrowed due to changes in your intervertebral discs or your connective tissue. Changes can occur in intervertebral discs or connective tissue if the spine has suffered wear and tear, for example. The discs between the vertebrae can become flatter due to wear and tear. This can constrict the openings between the vertebrae. If the openings between the vertebrae are constricted, this can damage the spinal cord nerves.

If your spinal cord nerves get damaged, it might be painful or you may have sensory malfunctions. This can affect your neck or arms, for example. For example, the skin in the affected areas may tingle or be numb. It may also be that you are no longer able to move certain muscles properly.