8 Stretches That Can Help Ease the Pain of Sciatica

8 Stretches That Can Help Ease the Pain of Sciatica

Spinal Stenosis: All You Ever Wanted to Know and More

What is spinal stenosis?
By definition, spinal stenosis is when one’s spinal column and/or foramina (openings that branch away from the spinal canal providing pathways for root nerves) narrows—putting pressure on the spinal cord or root nerves. The word “stenosis” comes from the Greek word, “choking.” Therefore, spinal stenosis could almost be described as, “choking one’s spine.” 

Mostly affecting the cervical (neck) and lumbar (lower back) parts of the spine, spinal stenosis can interfere with nerve function and cause pain in one’s back and/or other parts of the body. 

Watch this video about spinal stenosis

What are the symptoms of spinal stenosis?

Symptoms of spinal stenosis depend on its location and severity of the condition. Some of the most common symptoms include:

• Cervical (neck)
  • Pain, weakness, numbness and tingling in the arms/hands/fingers
  • Loss of dexterity often leading to dropping items
  • Stiff or sore neck
  • Pain around the shoulder blades
  • Tremors in the arm or hand
• Lumbar (lower back)
  • Leg pain, weakness and/or numbness
  • Difficulty or poor balance when walking; clumsiness
  • Sciatica—a burning pain throughout the buttocks and down the legs
  • Increased leg pain when walking that is diminishes when resting
  • Foot pain
  • Pain in the buttocks
  • Hip pain and/or weakness

More severe cases of spinal stenosis may include loss of bladder or bowel control. Patients experiencing these symptoms should seek emergency help right away.

How is spinal stenosis diagnosed?
The most common procedures used to diagnose spinal stenosis are:

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used to get detailed images of spinal discs. MRIs use a giant magnetic that circles the body.
• Computerized tomography (CT) scan with myelogram is an X-ray used with a special dye injected into the spinal fluid. The CT scan is used to help identify the “bony” causes of spinal stenosis, while the dye helps diagnose soft tissue conditions such as disc herniation or a bulge.
• Selective nerve root block (SNRB) is when a local anesthetic is injected into a nerve root suspected of being affected by spinal stenosis. If the patient’s pain goes away after the injection, it can be determined that the compressed nerve is the cause of pain.

What causes spinal stenosis?
There are a number of conditions that can cause spinal stenosis, including, but not limited to, a herniated disc(s), osteoarthritis, bone diseases, a dislocated or fractured vertebral bone, thickened spinal ligaments, excess growth of bone around the spinal nerves, an injury or blunt trauma that creating pressure on the nerve roots or spinal cord, tumors in the spine and people born with a smaller spinal canal (congenital condition).

What are the different spinal stenosis treatments?
Typically, a combination of treatments works best to treat spinal stenosis. Treatment options may include:

• Exercise
• Activity modification
• Medication
• Physical therapy
• Heat and ice therapy
• Injections
• Surgery

Does spinal stenosis require surgery?
In some cases, surgery is required. SpineOne is dedicated to minimally invasive options whenever possible and will do everything we can to avoid surgery.

Where can I get treatment for spinal stenosis?
If you suffer from chronic or acute back pain and cannot find relief, you should always contact a spine specialist like the physicians at SpineOne.  SpineOne offers a comprehensive evaluation, diagnosis and treatment plan tailored to meet the needs of each individual patient. The physicians at SpineOne practice minimally invasive procedures combined with other practices to get you back on your feet and enjoying your life again. SpineOne provides doctor consultations, MRIs and treatments all from the same facility for your convenience. Same-day appointments are also available upon request.

Visit www.SpineOne.com or call 303.500.8611 today.

What You Should Know About Back Pain from ZocDoc.

Back pain 101 – 
An infographic by the team at ZocDoc

We thought we would share this infograph that illustrates information you should know about back pain from the ZocDoc Blog.
  
If you suffer from chronic or acute back pain and cannot find relief, it may be time to contact a spine specialist like the physicians at SpineOne.  SpineOne offers a comprehensive evaluation, diagnosis and treatment plan tailored to meet the needs of each individual patient. 

The physicians at SpineOne practice minimally invasive procedures combined with other practices to get you back on your feet and enjoying your life again. SpineOne provides doctor consultations, MRIs and treatments all from the same facility for your convenience. Same-day appointments are also available upon request.

Visit www.SpineOne.com or call 303.500.8611 today.

Are You at Risk for Sciatic Pain?

What is sciatica?

Sciatica refers to a type of pain affecting the sciatic nerve which extends from your lower back down into the back of each leg. Sciatic pain occurs when the sciatic nerve or its origins along the lumbar spine are pressured, irritated or damaged causing pain, weakness, numbness and/or tingling in the lower back and extremities. Sciatica is symptomatic of other medical conditions such as a herniated disc, disc degeneration or spinal stenosis. 

While a spine specialist can determine whether you are showing symptoms of sciatica, it is important to educate yourself on the risk factors for sciatic pain. To assist you, SpineOne has provided an online infographic that explains some of the key contributors to sciatic pain. Simply click on the image to enlarge, save and/or print it.

If you or someone you know is experiencing chronic neck or back pain and is unable to find a solution, it may be time to schedule an appointment with a spine specialist like the ones at SpineOne.

The physicians at SpineOne provide each patient with a comprehensive evaluation, diagnosis and treatment plan. SpineOne physicians subscribe a personalized treatment plan to ensure that patients receive the highest level of medical and rehabilitation services specifically tailored to meet each person's individual health needs.

Call us at 303.500.8611 or visit www.spineone.com to learn more about our services.  For your convenience, SpineOne offers same-day appointments with consultation, imaging and treatment all within one facility.

Congratulations Kendra!

SpineOne Employee of the Month for October!  Learn more about Kendra at http://dlvr.it/CbyCSY

Two Simple Tests to Diagnose Sciatica Pain

Two easy tests to determine if your back, buttock, leg and/or foot pain is sciatica. 
dlvr.it/CSl3sw

Read what SpineOne patient, Todd, wrote on the SpineOne Facebook page.

‘You Should Check Them Out if You Have Issues with Back Pain.’ - Blog - SpineOne Medical Center

Do You Have Back Pain?

Your symptoms could be from one of these commonly acquired spinal conditions. Find out more at http://dlvr.it/CJLBnf

What You Should Know About Back and Neck Pain Following an Auto Accident.

Out of the more than three million injuries reported after car accidents in the United States each year, trauma to the back and/or neck is the most common.
 
While better safety features have led to dramatic decreases in serious injury and fatalities, many crash victims still experience chronic neck and back pain shortly after an accident. This SpineOne infographic provides a snapshot of prevalent injuries, associated symptoms and statistics caused by auto accidents each year.
 
If you or any of your family members, friends or coworkers has recently been in a car accident, please be sure to be evaluated for any of these conditions.

Got Foot Pain? You May Have Sciatica.

We have all likely had foot pain at some point in our lives—albeit from causes such as arthritis, sports injury and/or flat feet.  However, we often times overlook the low back as the culprit for foot pain.  For instance, if you have pain in one or both of your feet as well as any of the following symptoms, your lower back may be the one to blame.  Many indicators may include:

• Back pain, which may be a mild ache, or a debilitating-sharp, burning sensation
• Weakness, pain, numbness and/or tingling in the lower extremities
• Discomfort when sneezing, coughing or laughing
• Pain that may worsen at night, interrupting your sleep
• Heel walk, which is the decreased ability to bring your foot upward
• Drop foot (difficulty when flexing your ankle and bring up the front of your foot)
• Restricted ability to walk on your tiptoes, walk, drive and/or lift your heel off the ground

If you are experiencing any combination of these symptoms, you may have sciatica.

What is sciatica?
Sciatica is a when one or more nerve roots along the lumbar spine are pressured, irritated or damaged and cause pain, weakness, numbness or tingling in the lower back and extremities.  Sciatica is a symptom of other medical conditions with the lower (lumbar) spinal column such as a herniated disc (can also be referred to as a slipped or bulging disc), degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, injury and/or piriformis syndrome.  
 
Sciatica is fairly common and studies suggest that as many as 40 percent of people will get sciatica at some point in their life.  You may watch this video to learn more about the causes of sciatica.  

What are the treatment options for sciatica?  
Treatment options may include:

• Activity modification
• Medication
• Physical therapy
• Heat and ice therapy
• Injections
• Surgery in some cases  

Typically, a combination of treatments works best to treat sciatica.  You can schedule an appointment with SpineOne and have one of our board-certified physicians diagnose your condition and help you get started on the road to recovery.
 
When can I expect to resume my normal activities without pain? 
Many people with sciatica are able to resume their normal activities after treatment.  The goal of treatment for most patients is to have a healthy, active lifestyle free of sciatic pain.  You’ll want to speak with a board-certified physician to plan your particular treatment and get back in the swing of things.
 
Does sciatica require surgery?  
In some cases, surgery may be needed.  That being said, SpineOne is dedicated to minimally invasive options whenever possible and will do everything we can to help you have a more pain-free life.
 
Where can I get treatment for sciatica?  
You will need to have a spine specialist like those at SpineOne assess, diagnose and recommend treatment for your condition. 

SpineOne spine specialists provide information about your condition and optional treatment plans in a straight and direct manner.  You use that knowledge to make a well-informed decision about how to best manage your pain, and a treatment plan is tailored to address your specific needs.

The physicians at SpineOne practice minimally invasive procedures combined with other practices such as physical therapy to get you back on your feet and enjoying life to the fullest again.

SpineOne provides doctor consultations, MRIs and treatments all from the same facility for your convenience.  Same-day appointments are also available upon request.

If you or a loved one is experiencing any of the above symptoms or chronic back pain, be sure to Contact us today!