Spine Stenosis

Spine stenosis is a debilitative condition which generally appears in millions of people age 50 and older.The painful affliction, which can limit mobility and cause near constant discomfort, can have a detrimental affect on your quality of life. Focused treatment, however, can give spine stenosis sufferers relief from the pain.

Spine stenosis is a narrowing of the space around spinal cord, which puts pressure on the spinal canal and nerve roots. Symptoms may appear in the neck, shoulders and arms, or lower down, in the lower back, buttocks and legs, and may include pain, numbness and cramps.The condition can make even the simple act of walking, especially for long distances or periods of time, a difficult chore. In more serious cases, spine stenosis sufferers can have problems with balance when walking and/or problems with bowel movements or urination.

Spine stenosis causes pain in those parts of the body to which the nerves of the spinal cord are directly connected.The shooting pain known as sciatica, which radiates down the buttocks and down the leg, is a result of spine stenosis.

Spine stenosis naturally occurs in people age 50 or older and is the most common reason for surgery in the U.S. for people aged 60 and up. People as young as their thirties, however, can contract a congenital form of the condition. Another form of spine stenosis, called a stinger, is usually caused by significant trauma to the head or neck, and sometimes afflicts athletes.

Leaning forward while sitting or standing is a way sufferers of spine stenosis have of temporarily easing the pain, because some of the pressure is taken off the spinal column.When this adjustment is made, it increases the space around the spinal cord.Standing or beginning to walk, however, are all that's required to make the pain return.

Once diagnosed with spine stenosis, a patient can have several tests performed to learn the condition's extent.Of course, your medical history may provide valuable information about the condition's progress. In addition, the doctor may also perform "range of motion" tests, and quantify any pain produced by that motion. He may also measure whether any numbness or weakness have impacted your reflexes.The doctor may also request a CAT scan or MRI.

The doctor's recommendation of surgical or non-surgical treatment will be founded primarily on the information learned from the tests, but the level of pain the patient's experiencing plays a major role as well.Non-surgical treatment may include stretching exercises, massage therapy and lumbar strengthening. Some pain amelioration strategies include the prescription of anti-inflammatory medications and even acupuncture.

Surgical treatment is usually only prescribed in extreme cases and includes spinal fusion and laminectomy. With spinal fusion, two or more vertebrae are fused together to prevent painful motion and increase stability. A different approach is to ease the compression of the nerve roots by removing bone spurs and ligaments that are creating the pressure. This procedure is called a laminectomy.

For millions of people, the onset of spine stenosis is a painful, life-changing occurrence.Yet a relatively pain-free and normal life is still a viable option for those patients who get proper treatment, whether surgical or non-surgical.