Foraminal Neuropathy: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Everyone gets tingling sensations in hands and fingers from time to time, or feelings of "pins-and-needles," but these symptoms usually disappear as quickly as they appear. When they don't disappear, this may indicate you have a problem with your spinal nerve channels--a condition called foraminal neuropathy.

What is a Foramin?

• The Foramen Magnum is the opening at the base of your skull through which the spinal cord and spinal nerves pass, linking your spine to your brain. The foramin is a cartilege channel for the nerves, running out of your skull and down the center of the spinal canal.

What is Foraminal Neuropathy?

• Foraminal neuropathy occurs when this channel starts to narrow, putting pressure on the nerves and giving you pinching, tingling sensations, severe pain and causing problems with individual spinal discs. Narrowing can occur due to aging or injury, or from problems like spinal stenosis. Other factors are degenerative disc disease and herniated discs.

How is Foraminal Neuropathy Diagnosed?

• Besides symptoms of pain and tingling sensations, narrowing of the foramina can be seen on an MRI or CT scan. Other symptoms can include sharp aching or stabbing pain in arms and hands, or areas of numbness. Radiating pain is another symptom.

Treatment for Foraminal Neuropathy

• Treatments include rest, physical therapy and working with a chiropractic practitioner, as well as alternating applications of ice and heat. Analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants can be prescribed, and steroid injections into the affected area of the back can offer relief.

Surgery

• Lack of mobility and severe pain indicate surgery may be needed. When the narrowing is severe, neurosurgery may be able to widen the nerve channel via a spinal fusion operation.