Spinal Stenosis

Spinal Stenosis is a condition that affects spinal cord. In this condition, your spinal cord areas may narrow down. You will find the problem in your upper or lower back.

As the spinal cord areas become narrower, so this condition causes extended pressure on the spinal cord and also on the nerves. As nerves are present in each and every area near the spinal cord, so they are affected by the increasing pressure.

This situation may be the base for other several problems in human body. You will have problems in the form of pain, cramp, numbness in the legs, insensitivity in neck, back, arms and shoulders etc. These may lead to other physical problems like bladder dysfunction or bowel dysfunction. You may even lose sensation in any of the body parts mentioned.

This condition may appear in any body parts. But they are mostly seen in the upper or lower part of the spinal cord. Spinal Stenosis that occurs in the upper spinal part is known as Cervical Spinal Stenosis. On the other hand, another stenosis is seen in the lower part of the spinal cord, which is called as Lumbar Spinal Stenosis.

Spinal Stenosis Cause

The cause of Spinal stenosis is age or aging of the body. In most of the cases this condition is found in aged people. Most of the patients are more than 50 years old, in case of Spinal stenosis. So, it is a general “wear and tear” process. As you grow old, your body parts become less active and as a result of everyday use, wear and tear happens. So, after 50 years of age due to aging of the body parts, this condition appears in the patients.
In some cases, doctors find that individuals born with narrow spinal cords. Doctors do not nullify the responsibility of genes for this condition.

Some other age related problems might lead to Spinal Stenosis. Calcification (thickening and hardening of ligaments), Osteophytes (enlargements of bones and joint), Spondylolisthesis (slipping of vertebra) may cause pressure on the nerves and spinal cord, which ultimately leads to Spinal stenosis.

Signs and Symptoms

Initially there may not be any symptom at all. Symptoms occur later when the nerve inflammation occurs. Due to increased pressure, nerves swells and then you will find pain in your spinal cord and back.
The symptoms are different for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis and for Cervical Spinal Stenosis. In lumbar spinal stenosis symptoms appear in the legs, buttocks or calves. There may be pain, numbness or weakness. In cervical spinal stenosis, symptoms occur in arms, shoulders and legs. Pain starts and then clumsiness and problem in balance may occur.

Tests and Diagnosis

Diagnosis is done by researching the history of the patient, physical examination and then tests. Tests like X ray, MRI, CAT, Myelogram, bone scan are done to ensure that the patient has Spinal stenosis.

Spinal Stenosis Treatment

There are surgical and non-surgical treatments available for Spinal stenosis. In non-surgical treatment, corticosteroid injections, medications, rest or restricted activity and physical therapy and/or prescribed exercises are used. In some case surgery is needed. Various surgical methods are used like Decompressive Laminectomy, Laminotomy, Foraminotomy, Medial Facetectomy, Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion, Cervical Corpectomy, Laminoplasty etc.