Cervical spinal stenosis

Cervical spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal in the neck. Its symptoms can included pain, numbness, tingling, weakness and other symptoms seen in cervical medullary syndrome.

Fibromyalgia
A study of 270 patients with fibromyalgia found that 46% had cervical spinal stenosis and 20% chiari malformation. A significant improvement in physical and mental well-being was found in patients with cervical stenosis who received surgery. A second study found that 71% had cervical spinal cord compression.

It is important to note that in the past many patients were misdiagnosed with fibromyalgia when further testing would have revealed the true source of their pain; the 2010 (updated in 2016) American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria has helped reduce the rate of misdiagnosis.

ME/CFS
A 2018 case study published by Peter Rowe found marked post-operative improvement of symptoms in three patients with severe myalgic encephalomyelitis, orthostatic intolerance and cervical spinal stenosis.