What is Spinal Stenosis? Find Causes, Symptoms and Cure

Before starting the discussion about spinal stenosis let us first get a brief about what stenosis is, seems like a difficult word, but interestingly has a very easy meaning and that is when a passage or lets say passing canal of any body part narrows or constricts in diameter , the condition is called stenosis , this was the medical definition. In general terms, stenosis can be stated as the narrowing of a body passage or canal opening.

You may or may not have heard or read about the condition in detail previously, let us help with the article to know your condition better and scope of treatment. Spinal Stenosis occurs when the space in the spinal cord passage is too small for the nerves and bones to pass through pressuring them and leading to the above condition. Below are some key facts about the condition.

• Another name is Lateral Stenosis
• Most common in individuals age 50 and above
• Mostly affects lower back and neck
• Most common cause is wear and tear damage in the spine
• People having scoliosis or other spinal problems are also at risk.

Causes

• Drying of Spinal disc and can rupture with time
• Disc Herniation or slipped disc can also lead to spinal stenosis
• Arthritis of the Spine or continued swelling
• Ligament Thickening of the Spines, where the ligament(or bones in some cases) grow thicker or larger than natural size leading to narrowing of the passage
• Traumatic Injury or Fractures to Spine leading to nerve pressuring then leading to spinal stenosis
• Tumors in spine, if any.

Note: In order to prevent spinal stenosis people with age 50 or nearing the age must start exercising after doctor’s recommendation. Gym goers and heavy weight lifters must learn and lift weights under proper guidance and with correct postures to avoid any kind of spinal injury.Try maintaining a healthy weight to put pressure on the spine. Also try to quit smoking for the ones who do as it causes pressure on the nerves passing through the spine.

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Symptoms

Symptoms usually depend on the fact that which part of the spine has been affected by Spinal Stenosis and hence the pain or followed symptoms are seen in those parts.Let us look at the symptoms of the condition in detail

• Pain in the neck followed by the pain in a hand, leg, foot or an arm. if the stenosis took place in the neck region
• Numbness, tickling or weakness in the above mentioned areas.
• Followed by bowel and bladder problems.
• Pain in the back, one or both the legs, if the stenosis has occurred in the lower back.

Note: Surprisingly, more often than not there could be no symptoms of spinal stenosis, symptoms, if any are occuring will worsen with time.

Diagnosis

There are several tests performed in order to diagnose the spinal stenosis condition which we are going to discuss below

Note: All of these tests are imaging test techniques.

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI), an MRI can help detect damage to the disc and ligaments if any through detailed images
• X-ray, an x-ray image can show changes in the backbone if any leading to the narrowing of the spine
• A CT scan(Computerised Tomography), a collection of X-ray images from different angles known as a CT scan can help detect herniated discs, bone spurs or spinal tumors if any. 

Cure or Treatment

Treatment usually depends upon the extent and extremes of your symptoms. The proper criterion and steps of the treatment are mentioned below

In the initial phases of the treatment the doctors must prescribe and give common pain relief medications, but if the condition gets worse and no relief is seen, then following drugs may be used

• Nightly doses of anti cyclic antidepressants, for example amitriptyline to help reduce chronic pain.
• Some anti-seizure drugs such as Gralise and Nuerontin to help reduce pain occurring due to ruptured nerves.
• Opioids in some cases which are Rexicodon and other lesser known options but their long term use can be addictive hence performed under proper guidance.

Some pain experts or specialists prescribe and perform physical therapy for the affected areas in order to gradually heal the spine and finally help the patient live a normal life.

In the case of Thickened ligaments, Needle procedure is performed, some similar to needle tools inserted into the skin help get the ligaments out making enough space for the nerves and bones. Surprisingly the treatment method lasts only for a day or two.

The final option if any of the above mentioned methods or techniques of treatment are not working is Surgery.

Surgery to treat the Spinal Stenosis is commonly of the following two types

• Laminectomy – In this method the surgeon removes the back part of the spinal bone that is affected and this part is commonly called the lamina hence the name laminectomy. This helps release pressure from suppressed nerves and bones making enough space for them.
• Laminoplasty – In this method the surgery is performed only on the spinal bones which are in the neck. It creates a hinge-like structure on the lamina making the space within the spinal passage bigger as usual.

Note: Some not very common complications or side-effects of the above surgical methods seen in some patients at times are blood clotting in a vein of leg, membrane tear that covers the spine and also infection at operated parts at times. To avoid such complications some alternative and famous medications are Acupuncture, Chiropractic and Massage treatment.

Conclusion 

We hope that the article was helpful and informative enough to help your research about the condition, its symptoms and treatment. Last but not the least, if the condition and symptoms are worsening, the patient should waste no time before seeing an expert and start getting proper treatment. Thank You.

Read More: Top underrated exercises that are crucial to cure back pain