Spinal stenosis is narrowing of the spinal cord that causes pressure on the spinal cord, or narrowing of the openings (called neural foramina) where spinal nerves leave the spinal column.
Alternative NamesPseudo-claudication; Central spinal stenosis; Foraminal spinal stenosis
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsSpinal stenosis typically develops as a person ages and the disks become drier and start to shrink. At the same time, the bones and ligaments of the spine swell or grow larger due to Arthritis or chronic inflammation.
However, other problems, including infection and birth defects, can sometimes cause spinal stenosis.
Spinal stenosis may be caused by:
Often, symptoms will be present and gradually worsen over time. Most often, symptoms will be on one side of the body or the other.
Symptoms are more likely to be present or get worse when you stand or walk upright. They will often lessen or disappear when you sit down or lean forward. Most people with spinal stenosis cannot walk for a long period of time.
Patients with spinal stenosis may be able to ride a bicycle with little pain.
More serious symptoms include:
During the physical exam, your doctor will try to pinpoint the location of the pain and figure out how it affects your movement. You will be asked to:
Your doctor will also move your legs in different positions, including bending and straightening your knees. All the while, the doctor is assessing your strength, as well as your ability to move.
To test nerve function, the doctor will use a rubber hammer to check your reflexes. Touching your legs in many locations with a pin, cotton swab, or feather tests your sensory nervous system (how well you feel). Your doctor will instruct you to speak up if there are areas where the sensation from the pin, cotton, or feather is duller.
A brain/nervous system (neurological) examination can confirm leg weakness and decreased sensation in the legs. The following tests may be done:
When your Back pain does not go away completely, or it gets more painful at times, learning to take care of your back at home and prevent repeat episodes of your back pain can help you avoid surgery. Your doctor and other health professionals will help you manage your pain and keep you as active as possible.
Generally, conservative management is encouraged. This involves the use of medications, physical therapy, and lifestyle changes. Steroid injections may relieve pain for a period of time.
Various other medications may help with chronic pain, including phenytoin, carbamazepine, or tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline.
For more information about treatment, see: Low back pain - chronic
If the pain is persistent and does not respond to these measures, surgery is considered to relieve the pressure on the nerves or spinal cord. Surgery is performed on the neck or lower back, depending on the site of the nerve compression.
See also:
Expectations (prognosis)Many people with spinal stenosis are able to carry on active lifestyles for many years with the condition. Some change in activities or work may be needed.
Spine surgery will often provide full or partial relief of symptoms. However, future spine problems are still possible after spine surgery. The area of the spinal column above and below a spinal fusion are more likely to be stressed when the spine moves. Also, if you needed more than one kind of back surgery (such as laminectomy and spinal fusion), you may be more likely to have future problems.
ComplicationsInjury can occur to the legs or feet due to lack of sensation. Infections may get worse because you may not feel the pain related to them. Changes caused by nerve compression may be permanent, even if the pressure is relieved.
Calling your health care providerCall your health care provider if you have symptoms of spinal stenosis.
More serious symptoms that require immediate attention include:
Weinstein JN, Tosteson TD, Lurie JD, Tosteson AN, Blood E, Hanscom B, et al. Surgical versus nonsurgical therapy for lumbar spinal stenosis. N Engl J Med. 2008;358:794-810.
Katz JN, Harris MB. Clinical practice. Lumbar spinal stenosis. N Engl J Med. 2008;358:818-825.
Chou R, Qaseem A, Snow V, Casey D, Cross JT Jr., Shekelle P, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of low back pain: a joint clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society. Ann Intern Med. 2007;147:478-491.
Chou R, Baisden J, Carragee Ej, Resnick DK, Shaffer WO, Loeser JD. Surgery for low back pain: a review of the evidence for an American Pain Society clinical practice guideline. Spine. 2009;34:1094-1109.
Chou R, Atlas SJ, Stanos SP, Rosenquist RW. Nonsurgical interventional therapies for low back pain: a review of the evidence for an American Pain Society clinical practice guideline. Spine. 2009;34:1078-1093.
Spinal stenosis is narrowing of the spinal column that causes pressure on the spinal cord, or narrowing of the openings (called neural foramina) where spinal nerves leave the spinal column.
Alternative NamesPseudo-claudication; Central spinal stenosis; Foraminal spinal stenosis
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsSpinal stenosis usually occurs as a person ages and the disks become drier and start to shrink. At the same time, the bones and ligaments of the spine swell or grow larger due to arthritis or long-term swelling (inflammation).
Spinal stenosis may also be caused by:
Often, symptoms will get worse slowly over time. Most often, symptoms will be on one side of the body or the other.
Symptoms include:
Symptoms are more likely to be present or get worse when you stand or walk. They will often lessen or disappear when you sit down or lean forward. Most people with spinal stenosis cannot walk for a long period of time.
Patients with spinal stenosis may be able to ride a bicycle with little pain.
More serious symptoms include:
During the physical exam, your doctor will try to find the location of the pain and figure out how it affects your movement. You will be asked to:
Your doctor will also move your legs in different positions, including bending and straightening your knees. All the while, the doctor is checking your strength and your ability to move.
To test nerve function, the doctor will use a rubber hammer to check your reflexes. Touching your legs in many places with a pin, cotton swab, or feather tests how well you feel. Your doctor will tell you to speak up if there are areas where you have less feeling from the pin, cotton, or feather.
A brain/nervous system (neurological) examination can confirm leg weakness and decreased sensation in the legs. The following tests may be done:
When your back pain does not go away, or it gets more painful at times, learning to take care of your back at home and prevent repeat episodes of your back pain can help you avoid surgery.
Your doctor and other health professionals will help you manage your pain and keep you as active as possible.
A type of talk therapy called cognitive behavioral therapy may be helpful if the pain is having a serious impact on your life. This technique helps you better understand your pain and teaches you how to manage back pain.
SURGERY
If the pain does not respond to these treatments, or you lose movement or feeling, you may need surgery. Surgery is done to relieve pressure on the nerves or spinal cord.
You and your doctor can decide when you need to have surgery for these symptoms. Spinal stenosis symptoms often become worse over time, but this may happen very slowly.
For more information about how surgery is done and who is most likely to benefit, see also:
Expectations (prognosis)Many people with spinal stenosis are able to be active for many years with the condition, although they may need to make some changes in their activities or work.
Spine surgery will often partly or fully relieve symptoms. However, people who had long-term back pain before their surgery are still likely to have some pain afterward. Spinal fusion probably will not take away all of the pain and other symptoms.
Spine problems are possible after spine surgery. The area of the spinal column above and below a spinal fusion are more likely to be stressed when the spine moves. Also, if you needed more than one kind of back surgery (such as laminectomy and spinal fusion), you may be more likely to have future problems.
ComplicationsA lack of feeling can make you more likely to injure your legs or feet. Infections may get worse because you may not feel the pain. Changes caused by pressure on the nerves may be permanent, even if the pressure is relieved.
Calling your health care providerCall your health care provider if you have symptoms of spinal stenosis.
More serious symptoms that need immediate attention include:
Weinstein JN, Tosteson TD, Lurie JD, Tosteson AN, Blood E, Hanscom B, et al. Surgical versus nonsurgical therapy for lumbar spinal stenosis. N Engl J Med. 2008;358:794-810.
Katz JN, Harris MB. Clinical practice. Lumbar spinal stenosis. N Engl J Med. 2008;358:818-825.
Weinstein JN, Tosteson TD, Lurie JD, et al. Surgical versus nonoperative treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis. Four-year results of the Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial. Spine. 2010;35:1329-1338.
Chou R, Baisden J, Carragee Ej, Resnick DK, Shaffer WO, Loeser JD. Surgery for low back pain: a review of the evidence for an American Pain Society clinical practice guideline. Spine. 2009;34:1094-1109.
Chou R, Atlas SJ, Stanos SP, Rosenquist RW. Nonsurgical interventional therapies for low back pain: a review of the evidence for an American Pain Society clinical practice guideline. Spine. 2009;34:1078-1093.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 06/04/2011
C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Assistant Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Dept of Orthopaedic Surgery. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
The difference between lumbar spinal stenosis and cervical spinal stenosis is mainly the location of the problem. however, between the two lumbar spinal stenosis is the more severe form of stenosis.
No. Spinal stenosis a condition where the spinal canal narrows and compresses the spinal cord and nerves. Spinal degeneration is a natural process that occurs as we age and it often the causeof spinal stenosis.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis is the narrowing of the spinal canal in the neck. The spinal canal is an open area in the bones that make up the spinal column.
Get the best spinal stenosis surgery in Lucknow. Dr Ashish Jain spinal stenosis surgeon in Lucknow. Back & Neck Clinic utilizes the latest technology to provide personalized and comprehensive care spinal stenosis surgery.
narrowing
Spinal stenosis is not back pain, but it can be a cause of back pain. Stenosis implies narrowing of the spinal canal because of thickened pedicles, or hypertrophied ligaments, or a disk bulge, or a tumor, etc. Sometimes this can cause pain if it aggravates pain-generating structures within or around the spinal canal.
Cervical stenosis is a condition in which the spinal canal is too small for the spinal cord and nerve roots. This can cause damage to the spinal cord.
They can be the contributors to the stenosis.
No, you can have surgery to fix it. Severe cases of stenosis often require surgery. The goal of the surgery is to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or spinal nerve by widening the spinal canal.
is there drs in Ga that does the laser orocedure for spinal stenosis
Focal spinal stenosis is a condition that happens with the aging of the human body. It is the progressive narrowing of the spinal canal which can lead to disc herniation and degenerative diseases.
You can find exercises to help with this condition on a number of websites. Try checking out http://www.spine-health.com/wellness/exercise/exercise-sciatica-spinal-stenosis, http://spinalstenosis.org/blog/spinal-stenosis-exercises/, and http://www.ehow.com/about_5076676_spinal-stenosis-exercises.html.