Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of one or more areas in the spine — most often in the upper or lower back. The narrowing of the spinal canal at various places in the spine can put pressure on the spinal cord or on the nerves that offshoot from the compressed areas.
Spinal stenosis is seen mostly in people who are more than 50 years of age. People with a spine injury or a congenital narrow spinal canal can show spinal stenosis symptoms even at the earlier ages .Autoimmune diseases such as arthritis and scoliosis can also lead to spinal stenosis. The most common symptoms that make a doctor look at spinal stenosis as the cause are pain in the neck (cervical region) or lower back( lumbar region), insensitivity, weakness and pain in arms and legs. The onset and progression of these symptoms is gradual. The symptoms do not persist if there is circumscription of the spinal canal. This circumscription results in increased pressure on the spinal cord or on the nerves that branch out from the compressed area and then inflammation sets in and patient begins to experience problems.
In lumbar spinal stenosis, the spinal nerve roots in the lumbar portion of the spine are crammed together. Signs of LSS involves neurogenic impulsive claudication and this can set forth symptoms of pain, weakness, tingling or numbness which radiates from the lower back and into the buttocks and legs, mainly on movement such as exercising. The patient generally feels more comfort in the leaning position. Sitting or flexing the lumbar portion should comfort the patient since in the flexed position, the spinal column widens, thus enlarging the inter-vertebral spaces at the back of the spine. If the pain radiates along the back of the whole leg, the sciatic nerve gets pressed and the condition is called sciatica. About 75% of symptoms of spinal stenosis are due to lower back involvement. It is estimated that in the about 1.2 million people in the United States who have pain in the back radiating to lower limbs, it is associated with spinal stenosis.
Spinal Stenosis
In cervical spinal stenosis, symptoms can be far more dangerous. Anatomically, the spinal cord contributes to the cervical region in the neck. Therefore, cervical spinal stenosis can prove to be significantly more dangerous if ignored. It results in compressing the spinal cord itself and resulting in major weakness of the body or, sometimes, even paralysis. Signs of CSS include a spastic gait (difficulty in balancing), numbness and weakness in the upper extremities or the lower extremities or both, pain in the neck region radiating to the the upper limbs, clumsiness, disturbances related to sphincter muscles such as bowel or bladder problems, muscle wasting and abnormal reflex actions.
Spinal stenosis symptoms become prominent in the early 50's and most patients in this category first report to the physician at about age 60 when there are prominent limitations of the general activities.
Mild symptoms of spinal stenosis are treated with anti-inflammatory medicines, physical therapy or a supportive brace. The old and serious cases of spinal stenosis need surgery to generate extra space for the spinal cord or nerves. However, the symptoms of spinal stenosis may reappear even after surgery and the condition may deteriorate over time.