Have you been experiencing weakness, numbness or tingling in your arms or legs?
You could have spinal stenosis. The medical condition, spinal stenosis, causes your spinal canal to narrow which compresses your spinal cord and spinal nerves and/or nerve roots. This usually happens in the neck or lower back areas but can happen in any part of the spinal canal. Spinal stenosis typically appears in people who are 50 years or older as it is largely associated with age and osteoarthritis. Spinal stenosis can lead to the symptoms mentioned above (weakness, numbness or tingling) as well as leg cramps and radiating pain. These are all common symptoms of spinal stenosis. Let’s examine these common symptoms a little further:
Weakness
Weakness can be experienced in your legs, feet and/or arms. Depending on where the stenosis is and how severally your spinal cord and nerves have been compressed, will determine where you experience the weakness, if any. For example, if your spinal stenosis is in your cervical spine (neck area) you are more likely to have the weakness in your arms, and if your spinal stenosis is in your lumbar spine area (lower back) you may experience weakness in your legs.
Numbness/tingling
Like weakness, you can also experience numbness and/or tingling sensations in your legs, feet and/or arms. This can range from very minor, inconsistent moments to severe consistent numbness and tingling. It depends on what nerves are being compressed, how much they are being compressed and where those nerves travel to. If those nerves travel to your legs then you will most likely feel the numbing, tingling sensations in your legs and possibly feet.
Leg cramps
Leg cramps are another symptom of spinal stenosis. If the bundles of nerves at the base of your spinal cord (cauda equine) are being compressed due to your narrowed spinal canal you could have cramping in your legs. Generally, the leg cramps will be worse when you are walking or standing. Leg cramps could also indicate a syndrome called neurogenic claudication that is associated with spinal stenosis so make sure that you go and get a proper diagnosis from your doctor.
Off balance
Because the stenosis is affecting your nerves it can make you experience feeling off balance. You may find yourself falling on occasion or tripping over things. This symptom tends to be more common if your stenosis originates in your cervical spine (neck area). If you are suffering from this symptom, ensure that you are extra careful when moving around so that you don’t fall or trip and cause further injuries to yourself which could possibly aggravate or accelerate your spinal stenosis.
Radiating pain
a definition of radiating is “to spread out in all directions from a center” and if you have ever had radiating pain you would agree that is an accurate description. When you have radiating pain it means that there is a source or origination of the pain and then the pain spreads out from that original spot. It radiates outwards. For example with spinal stenosis, the stenosis originates somewhere along your spine and while it’s painful in that spot, the paincan spread out from your spine into other areas of your back, your buttocks, arms or legs.
Spinal stenosis can sometimes be very minor at the onset and you may not even notice any symptoms at first. However, stenosis can get gradually worse and you will probably experience some, if not all, the symptoms at some point in time.
Severe spinal stenosis
Spinal stenosis can also sometimes be very severe and there are some severe symptoms to go along with that. Make sure you seek medical attention immediately if you are experiencing the following:
1. Severe pain, weakness or loss of feeling in legs.
2. Incontinence: this means that your spinal stenosis has severally compressed the nerves controlling your bladder and/or bowels to the point that you are having difficulty or unable to control your bladder and/or bowels.
3. Sexual intercourse difficulties.
It is important if you are experiencing any of these symptoms (common or severe) to go to your doctor to get the appropriate testing and a proper diagnosis so that you can commence treating your spinal stenosis. If your symptoms are severe it could be deemed a medical emergency and may require immediate surgery.
This article is considered general information only; please consult a medical professional concerning your specific condition.
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