15 Mar What Are the Most Common Causes of Spinal Stenosis?
If we needed to list the highest five complaints which have patients in search of out Lone Star Pain Medicine and hopes of finding relief from their back pain, spinal stenosis would definitely be on that list. Whether it’s the first explanation for back pain or not, loads of our back pain patients suffer with its symptoms.
Spinal stenosis is straightforward enough to know from a physiological standpoint. In the only possible terms, it’s a condition through which the natural spaces within the spinal column begin to narrow. Because the condition progresses, it may possibly result in spinal cord and nerve compression. That’s where the pain comes from. Compressed nerves are the foundation explanation for all varieties of back pain by the best way, not only spinal stenosis.
The excellent news is that spinal stenosis is a treatable condition. We are going to talk more about treatments toward the top of this post. For now, though, let’s discuss what causes spinal stenosis to start with.
Changes within the Spinal Column
Even though it sounds fairly mundane and benign, the foundation explanation for most cases of spinal stenosis is a change within the spinal column. Take into consideration what happens to your body as you age. Things change. It is a component of the aging process.
One among the largest changes within the spinal column is arthritis resulting from normal wear and tear. Do not forget that the spinal column is supported by the backbone, which is actually a series of bones connected by soft tissue in between and held together by ligaments and tendons. As an individual ages, that soft tissue in between – referred to as cartilage – begins to interrupt down.
The lack of cartilage causes bone-on-bone contact together with inflammation and pain. That is what we call arthritis. Within the back, arthritis and the lack of cushioning ultimately reduces the space between the affected bones. Gravity takes over and the spine starts to compress. That’s if you find yourself with pinched nerves and a compressed spinal column.
Spinal Stenosis Symptoms
The strange thing about spinal stenosis is that some people have the condition but experience no symptoms. Given what we all know concerning the spinal column’s fragile nature, an individual with spinal stenosis but no noticeable symptoms is fortunate. For everybody else, the symptoms might be quite uncomfortable.
Common symptoms include:
- neck and back pain
- numbness and tingling
- weakness in an arm, leg, ankle, or foot
- bowl and bladder problems.
Spinal stenosis symptoms are inclined to be minor within the early stages. They have a tendency to worsen over time. As well as, an individual’s each day symptoms can change based on activities. A patient may experience pain within the lower back in addition to numbness within the legs. The symptoms will likely be less noticeable when the patient is sitting or lying down. Nonetheless, the pain and numbness will increase when the patient stands or walks for long periods of time.
Treating Spinal Stenosis
Earlier we mentioned that spinal stenosis is treatable. Essentially the most severe cases generally call for a surgical operation that inserts a filler designed to extend the space within the spine. But for less severe cases, there are less invasive alternatives. Those alternatives include caudal steroid injections, lumbar sympathetic blocks, discoplasty, and even laminoplasty.
When you suffer with spinal stenosis pain and weakness, we will probably help. Determining the best treatment option for you starts with the consultation between you and certainly one of our pain management doctors. Make an appointment at our Weatherford clinic and are available see us as soon as you’ll be able to. We will help relieve your pain and restore lost function.
