Spinal stenosis is a peculiar narrowing of spaces within the spine which usually occurs in the neck and lower back. Depending on how much reduction of the spaces occurs in the long-run and the location, a spinal cord or a spinal nerve could become compressed, resulting in pain, numbness, and weakness, and tingling. An estimated 250,000-500,000 people in America have shown signs of symptoms of spinal stenosis. This number represents about one per a thousand individuals older than sixty-five and about five of every a thousand individuals older than fifty years. Georgetown is home to a high number of seniors; this suggests that Georgetown spinal stenosis prevalence could increase fast. Here are the symptoms as well as the causes of spinal stenosis.
Symptoms
Many people present signs of spinal stenosis on CT and MRI scans, but most do not have to display the symptoms. When such stenosis symptoms occur, they usually begin gradually and deteriorate over time. Such symptoms vary greatly depending on the type of nerves affected and the location of stenosis. Here are the most common signs and symptom of spinal stenosis:
In the cervical spine
- Neck pain
- Weakness in arm, hand, foot or leg
- Numbness
- Tingling in arm, hand, foot or leg
- Walking problems
- Balance problems
- pins-and-needles tingling sensation
- Reduced sensation
- Bladder and bowel dysfunction in severe cases
In lumbar spine
- Back pain
- Weakness in legs
- Cramping in legs when you walk long distances or when you stand for long periods of time
- Lower back pain when walking or standing
- Numbness in your buttocks or legs
- Problems with coordination or reduced strength experienced in legs or arms
- Paralysis
Causes of spinal stenosis?
Aging is the most common cause of spinal stenosis, given our bodies degenerate as we age. The bones in your spine may get bigger, and tissues may begin to thicken, compressing the nerves. Here are other causes of spinal stenosis:
- Spinal injuries
Accidents and other trauma one experiences can cause fractures and dislocations of the vertebrae resulting in the displaced bone, which damages the spinal canal content. Trauma may similarly result in swelling of tissues putting pressure on the spinal nerves and spinal cord.
- Overgrowth of bone
Benign overgrowth of pre-existing spinal nodes can result in bone spurs, which may grow and extend to the spinal canal. The extended bones can result in the reduction or narrowing of the foramina, thereby resulting in a spinal stenosis.
- Ligament bucking or thickening
Ligaments in the spinal canal can often thicken and encroach upon the nearby spinal cord or spinal nerves. Other ligaments may buckle into the spinal canal and result in a narrowing of the foramina.
- Degenerative disc infection
When the disc bulges, it can start to encroach into the spinal cord, forcing the intervertebral foramina to narrow.
Call to action
At Republic Spine & Pain, we pride ourselves in helping our clients find relief, reduce pain, and prevent further progression of spinal stenosis. We have experienced physicians who will advise you on the most suitable way to manage spinal stenosis if the conservative management technique is not effective for you. Spinal stenosis can take over your life and lead to devastating impacts. However, if you contact Republic Spine & Pain, this won’t be a problem. Symptoms of spinal stenosis, which lead to serious back pain and numbness in your extremities, affect as many as 500,000 Americans. If you’re suffering from spinal stenosis, the board-certified physicians at Republic Spine and Pain provide innovative treatment solutions at the practice’s locations in Austin and Georgetown, Texas.
