Spinal stenosis refers to a narrowing of your spinal canal, which is the area that surrounds your spinal cord. The narrowing is caused by anything that is taking up space in your spinal canal and compressing your spinal cord or spinal nerves. This is a common medical condition for those who are getting up in years as one of the biggest causes behind spinal stenosis is the fact that our bodies are aging.
How spinal stenosis develops
Spinal stenosis happens when your spinal canal is narrowed from something that is infringing on the space in your spinal canal. This could be from a disc problem, bone growth or even a tumor. Anything that is taking up space in your spinal canal can cause pressure on your spinal cord and spinal nerves resulting in spinal stenosis.
Age is a dominant factor in whether you are susceptible to getting spinal stenosis or not. As our bodies age the ligaments can get stiff and the discs in our backs can break down and constrict the space in the spinal canal. Lifestyle choices can also contribute to your chances of getting it. Things such as your diet, bad posture, and if you are a smoker can all lead to back problems and make you susceptible to spinal stenosis.
If you have been diagnosed with any kind of arthritis, osteoporosis or scoliosis (abnormal curvature of the spine) you will be a target for spinal stenosis. These medical conditions can contribute to the narrowing of your spinal canal potentially leading to spinal stenosis.
There are occasions when a young person is diagnosed with spinal stenosis and this is very likely due to that person having sustained a physical trauma or if that person has a genetic disease that affects their bone formation such as Paget’s disease or Achondroplasia.
What are the symptoms?
People with spinal stenosis will experience pain, numbness or weakness in their limbs as their spinal cord and nerves are being compressed.
In severe cases of spinal stenosis, it can come to the point that you start to lose mobility as your spinal nerves have become severely compressed. You may notice that you fall easily and that your legs are extremely weak and unstable.
Proper treatment needs to start with proper diagnosis
It’s important to go see your doctor whenever you suspect things are not as they should be in your body. Be prepared to give your doctor accurate information about how you are feeling and what you are experiencing so that he can order the appropriate medical tests and give you a proper diagnosis.
Once you know for sure that you are dealing with spinal stenosis you can start to look at the treatments that are available. If your spinal stenosis is not too severe yet you may be able to manage the pain and discomfort with pain relievers, simple exercises or cortisone shots.
If your stenosis is bordering on mid to severe you could try physical therapy. If your stenosis is in an advanced stage and you are losing mobility, your doctor may recommend that you look at surgery as an immediate option. Do your research before deciding to undergo surgery. With all the new holistic treatments that are available today, you may find one that meets your needs and is sufficient in helping you deal with your spinal stenosis. However get your doctor’s advice before pursuing any course of treatment.
Whenever you discover you have a health ailment or condition it is important to find out everything you can about it. Asking your doctor and doing your own research is a good way to start.
This article is considered general information only; please consult a medical professional concerning your specific condition.
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