The patients with cervical stenosis often have complained of slowly developing (may develop over many years) neck pain related to an activity or position. In some cases, these symptoms can actually be mild. However, cervical spinal stenosis may cause pain, weakness, or numbness in the shoulders, and arms; hand clumsiness and gait and balance disturbances can also occur. In severe cases, the pain can be constant. Severe cases of stenosis can also cause bladder and bowel problems, but this rarely occurs.

If the cervical stenosis is profound enough, it can cause dysfunction of the spinal cord known as myelopathy.

Unfortunately, most conservative treatments are unlikely to be of much benefit and the symptoms rarely improve without surgery to decompress the affected area.