I have recently be diagnosed with cervical spinal stenosis and degenerative disk disease. I also have many of the symptoms of Hydrocephalus but have not been diagnosed with it (yet). I've done some reading and I have a basic understanding of hydrocephalus and spinal stenosis.

In my case, the stenosis is at C5 and the thecal sac is completely compressed around the spinal cord (via MRI). It looks like there is no room for the CSF to flow beyond the point of the stenosis. So where does it end up going?

As I understand things, your brain generates about a pint of CSF per day. The CSF delivers fresh nutrients to the brain and it is also distributed down the length of your spinal cord and absorbed by your body. But what happens to the CSF if it can't get beyond the neck due to stenosis?

Standing back and just looking at the mechanics of the situation, it seems to me the CSF would just backup, from the point of the stenosis, into the brain and cause Hydrocephalus (very much like a clogged drain). But I haven't found any published material that draws the same conclusion.

Any thoughts or knowledge regarding this cause and effect relationship?

TIA