Spinal Stenosis
What Is Spinal Stenosis?
Your spine, or backbone, protects your spinal cord and allows you to stand and bend. When Spinal Stenosis occurs, the spine narrows making everyday movements painful. Spinal Stenosis (or narrowing) is a common condition that occurs when the small spinal canal, which contains the nerve roots and spinal cord, becomes compressed. This narrowing can cause a “pinching” sensation of the spinal cord and/or nerve roots leading to pain, discomfort, cramping, weakness or numbness, and at its worst can affect how your bladder and bowel work.
Spinal Stenosis or Lumbar Spinal Stenosis doesn’t happen at once, but over time. Your spine, or backbone, protects your spinal cord and allows you to stand and bend.
What Causes Spinal Stenosis?
Aging - General wear and tear and as bones begin to weaken and thin in advanced age, we become susceptible.
Herniated Discs - There are soft discs in between the vertebrae of the spine that act as cushioning, absorbing shock and helping to prevent back injuries.
Trauma - Traumatic accidents in which the spine is injured can lead to extended pain.
Tumors - Another potential cause of spinal stenosis are tumors, even if you do not have cancer.
Osteoarthritis - Many older adults suffer from osteoarthritis, which can also cause spinal stenosis. With osteoarthritis, bone spurs can form due to the damaged caused by wear and tear throughout your life.
Scoliosis - a condition that causes the spine to curve rather than be straight. Its abnormal form can cause the spinal canal to narrow, putting pressure on the nerves.
Thickening ligaments - as you age, the ligaments in the body can thicken and become less healthy and unable to properly protect the spine.
What Are the Symptoms of Spinal Stenosis?
- X-rays
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- CT or CT myelogram
Pain relievers - Pain medications such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), naproxen (Aleve, others) and acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) may be used temporarily to ease the discomfort of spinal stenosis. They are typically recommended for a short time only, as there's little evidence of benefit from long-term use.
Antidepressants - to help ease chronic pain.
Anti-seizure drugs - are used to reduce pain caused by damaged nerves.
Physical Therapy - A physical therapist can teach you exercises that may help build up your strength and endurance, maintain the flexibility and stability of your spine, and improve your balance.
Steroid Injections
Surgery - Surgery may be considered if other treatments haven't helped or if you're disabled by your symptoms. The goals of surgery include relieving the pressure on your spinal cord or nerve roots by creating more space within the spinal canal. Surgery to decompress the area of stenosis is the most definitive way to try to resolve symptoms of spinal stenosis.
Lumbar laminectomy, laminotomy, or decompression and fusion
Cervical laminotomy, laminoplasty, or anterior cervical decompression and fusion
Integrative medicine and alternative therapies may be used with conventional treatments to help you cope with spinal stenosis pain. Examples include:
- Massage therapy
- Chiropractic treatment
- Acupuncture
In the neck (cervical spine)
- Numbness or tingling in a hand or arm
- Weakness in a hand or arm
- Pain in shooting down an arm
- Problems with walking and balance
- Difficulty with hand coordination such as buttoning a shirt
In the lower back (lumbar spine)
- Numbness or tingling in a foot or leg
- Weakness in a foot or leg
- Pain shooting down a leg
- Pain or cramping in one or both legs when you stand for long periods of time or when you walk, which usually eases when you bend forward or sit
- In severe cases, bowel or bladder dysfunction (urinary urgency and incontinence)