Spinal Stenosis

Your spinal column is made up of a series of vertebrae that house your spinal cord and nerves. The spinal cord and nerves run through openings in the vertebrae and are vital to your ability to stand, bend, and perform day-to-day physical tasks.

But what happens when these openings begin to narrow or are intruded upon? This is a condition known as spinal stenosis. Spinal stenosis can lead to pain, weakness, and numbness in the arms and legs and usually affects the cervical (neck) and lumbar (lower back) regions of the spine. Fortunately, this is a treatable condition. Keep reading to learn more about the causes, symptoms, and treatments for spinal stenosis.

Anatomy of the Spine

Each vertebra has a large opening at the rear called the spinal canal. In the cervical and thoracic regions of the spine, the spinal cord travels through this space. In the lumbar region of the spine, this opening contains a bundle of nerve roots. Openings called foramina branch away from the spinal canal. These spaces provide pathways for the nerve roots that travel from the spine to other parts of the body.

What Does Stenosis Mean?

In a spine with stenosis, one or more of these openings are narrowed. The spinal nerves can become compressed against the vertebral bone. This can interfere with nerve function. It can cause pain in the spine or in other parts of the body.

What Causes This Spinal Condition?

Your spinal cord is contained and protected within the spinal canal, made up of the bones that form your spine. This formation of bones begins at your neck and goes all the way down to your lower back. When the open space within the spinal canal is narrowed, putting pressure on your spinal cord, this is known as spinal stenosis.

Spinal stenosis can be caused through a number of different ways, such as:

  • Bone overgrowth
  • Spinal injuries
  • Herniated disks
  • Thickened ligaments
  • Tumors

An excess growth of bone around the spinal nerves is the most common reason people develop spinal stenosis. This excess growth is typically caused by osteoarthritis. However, bone overgrowth in the spine can also develop due to a condition most common in adults known as Pagetā€™s disease.

While bone overgrowth is the most common cause for spinal stenosis, the condition can be caused by a fracture or dislocation of the vertebral column due to injury, such as a car accident. Herniated disks, tumors, and thickened ligaments can also push into the spinal canal and put pressure on the nerves of your spine. Although rare, a person can also develop spinal stenosis from being born with a small spinal canal that does not allow enough space for the spinal cord.

Symptoms of Spinal Stenosis

Not everyone with spinal stenosis will experience the same symptoms. Some people may not even realize they have spinal stenosis until they have an MRI or CT scan, because they have not developed any symptoms. Symptoms can vary depending on the location and severity of the complications and tend to gradually worsen with time.

Cervical Spinal Stenosis

If you are suffering from spinal stenosis in your neck, you may experience symptoms in your arms, legs, feet, and hands. These symptoms can include pain, numbness, weakness, and tingling sensations. You may also experience problems with balance and walking. Pain in the neck is also a common symptom of cervical spinal stenosis, and in some cases urinary urgency and incontinence can develop.

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Lumbar spinal stenosis occurs in your lower back. Symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis are generally experienced in the feet and legs, such as pain, weakness, numbness, and tingling. People with lumbar spinal stenosis may also experience back pain, especially in the lower back.

Who Is At Risk For Spinal Stenosis?

The majority of people affected by spinal stenosis are over the age of 50. However, spinal stenosis can develop in younger people as well from different risk factors, such as degenerative changes. People have a higher risk of developing spinal stenosis if they suffer from certain conditions, including:

  • Spinal trauma due to injury
  • Genetic disease causing bone and muscle growth complications
  • Congenital spinal deformities

If you suffer from any of these conditions, it may be a good idea to have your doctor use spinal imaging to see if you show signs of spinal stenosis. Even if you have not experienced any symptoms, you still may have spinal stenosis and preventative care is always the best treatment.

How Do We Treat Spinal Stenosis?

There are several different ways spinal stenosis can be treated, depending on the severity of your symptoms. If you have developed spinal stenosis, but are not experiencing any symptoms, your doctor may ask you to come in for regular checkups to see how your condition is progressing without prescribing you any treatment.

However, if your symptoms suggest that treatment is needed, you may be prescribed pain medications to help ease your discomfort. Medications typically used to treat spinal stenosis include:

  • Ibuprofen
  • Acetaminophen
  • Naproxen

In some cases, antidepressants have been shown to alleviate pain, such as amitriptyline, or anti-seizure medications like pregabalin. If you suffer from severe pain and other medications have not been successful, your doctor may prescribe a short-term regimen of opioids, such as oxycodone or hydrocodone. However, opioids do carry a serious risk of developing an addiction.

Other nonsurgical treatments that have been shown to be effective are:

  • Physical therapy
  • Steroid injections
  • Decompression procedure (only for people with lumbar spinal stenosis and thickened ligaments)

How Do We Treat Spinal Stenosis?

Surgery is not always a required treatment, but if other treatments have failed to provide significant improvement in pain or if spinal stenosis has disabled you, surgery may be considered. Surgery is used to open up the space within the spinal column, relieving the pressure causing your stenosis.

There are several surgery options that can be used to treat spinal stenosis, such as:

  • Minimally invasive surgery – A surgery with minimal damage to nearby healthy tissue used to remove bone or lamina.
  • Laminotomy – Removes a portion of the lamina (the back of the vertebrae) creating a hole to relieve pressure.
  • CoFlex Surgery – A titanium alloy device is implanted to relieve back pain or numbness in the legs or buttocks.
  • Laminectomy – A procedure that removes the lamina, creating more space around the nerves, and relieving pressure.

Surgery can be a very effective way of alleviating pain caused by spinal stenosis, but it does come with some risks, such as blood clots, infections, and neurological damage. Be sure to consult with your doctor and your surgeon to see if surgery is the best option for you and which surgery may yield the best results.

What Happens If This Condition Is Left Untreated?

Spinal Stenosis is a condition that tends to worsen over time. If left untreated, you may begin to experience greater pain, weakness, and numbness in your back, neck, legs or arms. Some people may even become disabled due to the severity of their symptoms. If you have been diagnosed with spinal stenosis, speak with your doctor about what treatment options you should consider.

Schedule A Surgical Consultation

Spinal stenosis can be a painful and aggravating condition to live with, but it can be treated. If nonsurgical treatments have failed and your doctor has recommended surgical treatment, Florida Surgery Consultants has an amazing team of highly trained surgeons ready to assist you. Contact us at (888) 411-6824 or use the form on this page to schedule a consultation with a board certified neurosurgeon and begin your road to recovery today!

No it does not, it is the narrowing of the spinal canal

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