When patients think of spinal compression issues, they’ll often associate spinal compression with back pain, neck pain, numbness and tingling in the arms and legs, but they won’t typically realize it can also affect vision. Here at Neurosurgery & Spine Consultants, we help patients further understand the complex connections between spine health and the rest of the body, in this case the eyes and vision capabilities. W’ere here to be your guide beyond the typical neck or back pain issues. Read on to learn more about how the spine and vision are connected.
How the Spine & Vision Are Connected
The human spinal cord is a crucial communication vehicle for properly transmitting nerve signals and firing between the brain and the rest of the body. When spinal compression occurs, whether it’s from a herniated disc, degenerative disc disorders, or spinal misalignment, it can end up causing a number of issues to arise, including neurological issues. While vision problems are one of the more uncommon symptoms with spinal compression, spinal compression in the cervical (neck) spine area may in some cases actually contribute to disturbances in one’s vision due to a disruption within nerve pathways and adequate circulation and blood flow.
Patients with spinal compression often report such symptoms such as:
- Hand function difficulties: Trouble gripping objects, clumsiness when moving, or randomly dropping objects due to lack of grip strength
- Numbness & weakness: Particularly in the arms and hands, often making daily tasks much more difficult than they need to be
- Fine motor movement challenges: Difficulty with precise activities such as buttoning a shirt, writing, or using utensils
- Radiating pain: Sharp, shooting pain which may travel down the arms or legs, leading to chronic discomfort
Here at Neurosurgery & Spine Consultants, we’ll encourage our patients to pay close attention to any and all of these warning signs, as they often signal underlying spinal issues or conditions that require medical evaluation and possible treatment.
Understanding Secondary Symptoms
While vision changes may not typically be the first sign of spinal compression, neurological stress caused by chronic compression of the spine may sometimes manifest in unexpected ways, such as vision disturbances or partial vision loss. Patients experiencing any form of blurred vision or other sensory changes they believe to be associated with a spinal issues such as spinal compression should be properly evaluated to rule out both spinal and non-spinal causes.
Why Proactive, Early Treatment Matters in These Types of Scenarios
Ignoring any form of spinal compression symptoms may lead to long-term nerve damage and worsening function over time. For patients who are beginning to notice hand weakness, fine motor difficulties, or radiating pain, proactive consultation with a specialist is key to identifying and resolving the underlying issue(s). At Neurosurgery & Spine Consultants, we’re happy to offer advanced diagnostic imaging, custom tailored treatment plans, and minimally invasive options to fully address spinal compression issues before they progresses further and cause additional issues to develop.
Take the Next Step Toward Relief Today with Our Team of Experts at Neurosurgery & Spine Consultants
If you’re experiencing spinal compression symptoms, or even unexpected issues such as vision disturbances combined with numbness, weakness, or difficulty using your hands or feet, don’t wait any longer for symptoms to worsen. Our team at Neurosurgery & Spine Consultants is here to help you fully understand your condition and create a new path toward recovery where you can live your life symptom-free and pain-free. We look forward to hearing from you soon and we’re eager to begin treating your spinal compression issues.
DISCLAIMER: No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.