Spinal Stenosis

Types of spinal stenosis

According to the location of the condition in the spine, spinal stenosis can be categorized into different types. Several types can exist at the same time. Spinal stenosis can be classified into two types:

Cervical stenosis: Your neck is involved in this condition because the narrowing occurs there.

Lumbar stenosis: The narrowing of the spine occurs at the lower back region in this condition. Spinal stenosis of this type is the most common.

Symptoms

On an MRI or CT scan, many people can be detected with spinal stenosis but may not exhibit any symptoms. It usually begins slowly and gets worse over time when they do occur. Based on the location and type of stenosis, the symptoms will vary.

In the neck (The Cervical Spine)

• Neck pain
• Tingling or numbness or in a hand, foot, arm, or leg
• Weakness in a hand, foot, arm, or leg
• Issues with walking as well as balance
• In serious cases, bladder or bowel (urinary urgency)

In the lower back (lumbar spine)

• Tingling or numbness in a leg or foot
• Weakness in a leg or foot
• Whenever you stand for long periods or walk, you may experience cramping or pain in your legs, which is usually relieved when you sit down or bend forward.
• Back pain

Diagnosis

You will be asked about your medical history, symptoms, and a physical examination will be conducted by your healthcare provider. As part of your physical examination, your provider may feel your spine, pressing on different areas to see if there is pain there. To determine whether different spine positions cause pain or other symptoms, your provider will likely ask you to bend in different directions. In addition to testing your balance, your provider will also watch how you walk and how strong your arms and legs are.

The doctor will use imaging tests to assess the condition of your spine and determine its type, location, and extent. The following imaging studies may be necessary:

X-ray: An X-ray is an inexpensive method of examining the bone structure, such as determining loss of disk height or the presence of bony spurs affecting the area of the spinal cord.

MRI: Cross-sectional images of the spine are obtained with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which uses radio waves and a powerful magnet. Neurological, disk and spinal cord MRI images provide detailed insights into potential tumors.

CT or CT myelogram: A computed tomography (CT) scan is a combination of X-rays that provides a cross-sectional view of your spine. A CT myelogram gives a contrast dye for better vision of nerves and the spinal cord.

What are the treatments for spinal stenosis?

A stenosis treatment depends on what is causing your symptoms, where the problem is located, and how severe they are. You may be advised to apply self-care remedies first if your symptoms are mild. Physical therapy, medication, and, eventually, surgery may be recommended if these approaches don’t help and the symptoms worsen.

Self-help remedies include:

• If you are experiencing pain due to osteoarthritis, heat is the best treatment. As a result, heat calms aching muscles and increases blood flow. You should be careful when using heat – make sure not to set it too high or you will burn yourself.
• Use ice if heat is not easing your symptoms (a frozen gel pack, an ice pack, or frozen peas or corn). A typical 20-minute application of ice is followed by a 20-minute cooling cycle. Inflammation, swelling, and tenderness can be reduced with ice.
• Exercise: To relieve pain, strengthen muscles in your back and improve flexibility and balance, speak with your healthcare provider first.

On the other hand, the non-surgical treatments include:

• Oral medications
• Decompression procedure
• Steroid injections
• Physical therapy

For complex cases, spine surgery may be required. A surgical procedure can be performed to remove bony growths on facet joints or disks that are pressing on the spinal cord. These operations create additional space in the spine, often relieving symptoms of spinal stenosis. After surgery, some people experience the same symptoms or worsen. A blood clot might form in a vein in a leg or neurological damage may occur. Infections and tears in the membrane protecting the spinal cord are other surgical risks.

Risk factors

Spinal stenosis typically occurs in people over 50. Younger people may develop spinal stenosis due to degenerative changes, but there are other possibilities. Among them are trauma, genetic disease that affects the development of bones and muscles, and congenital spinal deformity such as scoliosis. It is possible to distinguish these causes by using a spinal image.

Can spinal stenosis heal on its own?

In general, no! Most spinal stenosis is caused by the normal aging process of wearing down the bones and structures in the spine. A herniated disk, on the other hand, often recovers on its own after a short period of rest or can be treated with physical therapy, spinal injections, or anti-inflammatory medications to treat the issue.