Severe Spinal Stenosis

You are more at risk for severe spinal stenosis if you ignore your symptoms.  Severe spinal stenosis can be extremely painful and can be the cause of more serious spinal conditions.  Symptoms may not even surface for mild spinal stenosis; therefore, severe spinal stenosis can set in without you realizing it.  It is important that if you do develop pain to contact a doctor for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.

Severe Spinal Stenosis Symptoms

The symptoms that you experience will depend on where the narrowing of the spine is occurring.  In mild cases, discomfort in the neck, back, and/or legs can Continue reading

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Spinal Stenosis Back Pain

Spinal stenosis back pain is common and can easily be overlooked due to the idea that those who suffer from back pain on a continual basis may think that it is normal, and many tend to just deal with the discomfort or pain.  Back pain is not normal, and you should not ignore it.  It is possible that you are suffering from spinal stenosis back pain.   The best way to determine if spinal stenosis back pain is the cause of your problems is to make an appointment with your doctor.

Spinal Stenosis Back Pain Causes

There are a variety of causes for this type of pain.  The most common cause is age.  As you get older, you are susceptible to many degenerative conditions that can cause the narrowing in your spinal canal.   Some common causes include:

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Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Lumbar spinal stenosis refers to the lower part of your spine.  The aging process can lead to the degeneration of the vertebrae, discs, muscles, and ligaments.  The changes caused by these degenerative conditions can lead to lumbar spinal stenosis.

What is Lumbar Spinal Stenosis?

Your lumbar spine is made up of five vertebral bodies in the lower back.  Continue reading

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Spinal Stenosis Symptoms

Spinal stenosis symptoms differ depending on the location of the stenosis.   Spinal stenosis symptoms may not occur until later on in life as the most common cause for this condition is the aging process.

Your spinal canal can be narrowing over a long period of time, and you will not experience spinal stenosis symptoms until the narrowing is severe.  Or, spinal stenosis symptoms can come on suddenly due to an injury or bulging/herniated disc.

Cervical Spinal Stenosis Symptoms

  • Legs – Pressure on the spinal canal in your neck can affect nerves and muscles in your legs.  This can cause changes in your walking, such as Continue reading
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Cervical Spinal Stenosis

Cervical spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the spinal canal in your neck.  Your spinal canal is the open area in the bones that make up the spinal column.  Your spinal cord consists of nerves that run through the spinal canal from the base of your brain to your lower back.

The Cervical Spine

The different sections of your spine have different names.  The cervical part of your spine is made up of the first seven vertebrae.  It begins right below the skull Continue reading

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Foraminal Stenosis

Foraminal Stenosis is similar to spinal stenosis, except that it primarily affects one or more vertebral foramen.  The vertebral foramen is the opening formed by the anterior segment and the posterior part.  These openings are found on either side of the vertebrae and allow passage of the nerve roots that branch off the spinal cord.  It begins at the cervical vertebrae and continues to the lumbar vertebrae.  The foramen consists of the spinal cord and associated meninges.

Foraminal Stenosis Definition

In a healthy spine, there is enough room for the nerve roots to slip through the foramen.  As you age, your foramen can become clogged with debris that can trap and compress the nerves.  This is where the stenosis begins to take effect.

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Spinal Stenosis Surgery

Spinal stenosis surgery is generally the last resort.  Your doctor will try to exhaust as many non-surgical options as possible before recommending spinal stenosis back surgery.   There are a few different types of spinal stenosis surgery options available to you.

Are you a Spinal Stenosis Surgery Candidate?

You will have to meet a number of requirements before you are considered for this type of treatment.  A doctor will generally only recommend surgery if you meet the following conditions:

  • You have been in severe pain for a long time.
  • You have weakness or numbness in your arms or legs, also called radiculopathy.
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Spinal Stenosis Treatment

There are many spinal stenosis treatment options available to you. The method you use will depend on the severity and type you have. Your doctor will be able to discuss these spinal stenosis treatment options with you in more detail. Treatment is generally categorized into non-surgical and surgical. It is important that you contact your doctor before beginning any new exercise program, especially if you have back pain.

Non-Surgical Spinal Stenosis Treatment

The first approach for non-surgical treatment is to try to manage the pain and inflammation with over-the-counter pain medication. Anti-inflammatory medication can be helpful. It has also been recommended to take a >B-complex vitamin and 1200 mcg of folic acid; however, this is not supported in medical literature.
While there are many different methods, the three most common include: exercise, activity modification, and epidural injections.

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Spinal Stenosis Definition

Spinal Stenosis definition:  Spinal stenosis is a condition that involves the spinal canal narrowing and compressing the spinal cord and nerves.  This is generally the cause of spinal degeneration that occurs with aging.  Spinal stenosis can also be caused by a disc herniation, osteoporosis, or a tumor.

Your spine is a row of bones in your back.  They allow you to stand up straight or bend over.  These bones protect your spinal cord from being hurt.  People who have spinal stenosis have a narrowing in one or more of three parts.  These spaces include:  the space at the center of the spine, the canals where nerves branch out from your spine, and the space between the vertebrae.

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