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 is Lumbar (Low Back) Spinal Stenosis?

According to the National Institutes of Health, back pain will affect eight out of every 10 of us at some point during our lifetimes. Lumbar (lower back) spinal stenosis—a narrowing of the spinal canal—is a common cause of this problem, and can occur as a part of the aging process. 

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Symptoms

Nearly all of us will experience some type of spinal condition, as we get older.  The level of deterioration and associated symptoms of spinal stenosis varies greatly from one person to the next. For example, some won’t notice any discomfort or back pain at all.  Others may complain of mild to moderate pain in the legs and/or buttocks, and some people afflicted with the condition won’t be able to stand or walk. Those whom suffer from severe spinal stenosis often notice leg, buttock and/or foot pain or weakness. Clumsiness may also be experienced while standing or walking. Numbness, tingling and loss of bowel or bladder control may also be telltale signs of more advanced spinal stenosis.

Spinal Stenosis Causes

There are many culprits that may lead to spinal stenosis including, but not limited to:

Watch this lumbar spinal stenosis causes, symptoms and treatment video:

• Arthritis
  As people age, changes occur in the soft tissues and bony structures of the lower back. The intervertebral discs, once hydrated to help absorb shock and support the vertebrae, can become dry and weak. These changes place undue stress on the joints of the spine, which can in turn lead to a degenerative condition known as osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease that occurs when the protective cartilage of a joint wears down and leaves the bony surfaces to rub painfully against one another. To help resolve this problem and support the weakening spine, new bony outgrowths may develop. These bone spurs can eventually grow into the spinal canal and cause the narrowing seen in spinal stenosis.

• Disc Herniation
  In addition to playing a role in the development of arthritis, the intervertebral discs may also be involved in spinal stenosis through herniation. Disc herniation occurs when a crack or other vulnerable spot in the disc allows the jelly-like interior to escape. This substance can place pressure on the spinal cord or the spinal nerves.  Disc herniation may occur from an injury or blunt trauma to the spine.

• Congenital Causes
  Then, there are those of us whom are just lucky. Some people are just born with a smaller spinal canal, have bone diseases, thickened spinal ligaments or excess bone growth around the nerves of the spine which cause stenosis.

Treatments

There are a variety of nonsurgical treatments available to help relieve the symptoms associated with lumbar spinal stenosis. To learn more about your treatment options, consider scheduling a consultation with the experts at SpineOne. Our medical team wants to help you improve your quality of life through advanced-nonsurgical options. 

Call our Denver-area practice at (303) 500-8611 or click www.spineone.com to schedule your appointment today!

About SpineOne

• SpineOne offers same-day appointments.
• SpineOne provides consultation from a board-certified physician, imaging and treatment all in one location.