The symptoms of spinal stenosis can vary from patient to patient in terms of location and severity. Fortunately, most individuals who are diagnosed with spinal stenosis are able to relieve their symptoms through the use of conservative, nonsurgical treatments. Many patients benefit from learning about spinal stenosis and its causes, symptoms, and treatments, as this can enable them to have informed conversations with their physician. In turn, this can ultimately result in the patient receiving a more thorough treatment plan.

An Overview of Spinal Stenosis

The word “stenosis” is derived from the Ancient Greek word meaning “narrowing.” Spinal stenosis, then, refers to the narrowing of the spinal canal, or the passage through which the spinal cord travels. The spinal cord is housed and protected by the vertebrae, which are the stacked bone structures in the neck and back. To completely understand what spinal stenosis is and how it develops, it may prove beneficial to learn about the various components of the vertebrae:

– Vertebral foramina – The hollow cores at the center of each vertebra. This is the passageway through which the spinal cord travels. It is also the passageway that is affected when an individual has spinal stenosis.

– Laminae – The plates that compose the back wall of the vertebrae. The ligaments that connect adjacent vertebrae (called the ligamenta flava) are attached to the laminae.

-Facet joints – The synovial joints that connect adjacent vertebrae. The facet joints enable the neck and back to bend forward, backward, and to twist from side to side.

– Intervertebral foramina – The passageways through which the spinal nerve roots branch off the spinal cord before they travel throughout the body. The intervertebral foramina are positioned between each spinal motion segment (or pair of articulating vertebrae), with one on each side.

– Intervertebral discs – The “shock absorbers” that sit on the front portion of the vertebrae (called the vertebral bodies). Discs are tasked with absorbing the strain and pressure that is placed on the vertebrae as the spine facilitates movement or bears weight.

It’s important to have basic knowledge of the anatomy of the vertebrae since spinal stenosis can occur when some of the related components are damaged. This information can also make it easier to clearly understand how treatment for spinal stenosis is achieved.

In most cases, the damage to spinal components occurs as a result of the degenerative changes that accompany the natural aging process. Years of supporting the body as it makes countless movements can eventually take a toll, causing certain components of the spine to break down. For instance, the facet joints can become arthritic, leading to the development of bone spurs, which the body creates in an effort to stabilize the arthritic joints. Bone spurs can invade the spinal column, thus causing spinal stenosis. Likewise, intervertebral discs can weaken, dehydrate, and become brittle, making them prone to bulging and herniating. A bulging disc occurs when a disc becomes misshapen and balloons to one side, while a herniated disc involves the extrusion of inner disc material through a tear in the disc’s outer wall; either condition can cause a narrowing of the spinal canal.

Spinal Stenosis Symptoms

Some of the patients who have spinal stenosis may not experience any symptoms at all. This is typically the case when the narrowing of the spinal canal does not lead to compression of the spinal cord or any spinal nerve roots. However, when neural compression does result from a narrowing of the spinal canal, patients may experience pain, numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness.

The location of a patient’s spinal stenosis symptoms will vary based on which region of the spine is affected:

– Cervical spine – A pinched nerve in the cervical spine can cause symptoms to appear in the neck, upper back, shoulders, arms, and/or hands.

– Thoracic spine – Neural compression in the thoracic spine can lead to discomfort in the middle back, ribs, torso, and inner organs.

– Lumbar spine – When a nerve in the lumbar spine is compressed, patients may experience symptoms in the lower back, hips, buttocks, legs, and/or feet.

In some cases, spinal stenosis can cause sciatica, which is a term used to describe the symptoms that occur when the sciatic nerve is compressed. The sciatic nerve is the body’s largest nerve, and it travels from the lower back all the way to the toes. Compression of this nerve can lead to severe pain and a pins and needles feeling in the lower back, hips, buttock, and leg, as well as difficulty moving the leg. Sciatica typically only affects one side of the body, though bilateral discomfort is not unheard of.

Treating Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis symptoms can usually be alleviated by following a treatment regimen that consists of conservative, nonsurgical treatments. This may include one or more of the following:

– Medication – over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and naproxen; over-the-counter analgesics such as acetaminophen; prescription muscle relaxants; prescription opioids

– Physical therapy – strengthening exercises; posture modification exercises; transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS); massage therapy; cryotherapy; thermotherapy

– Lifestyle modifications – losing weight; quitting smoking; following a regular exercise plan; reducing alcohol consumption

If symptoms do not abate after following a conservative treatment regimen for several weeks or months, a patient may be advised to consider surgical treatment.

Endoscopic Surgery

In the event that nonsurgical treatments prove insufficient, a patient may have the option to undergo an outpatient, minimally invasive spine procedure called a laminotomy. These procedures are performed as follows:

– The patient is placed under deep IV sedation and a local anesthetic is injected around the surgical site.

– A small incision that is typically less than one inch long is made either in the patient’s back or neck.

– A series of tubes is inserted through the incision, each slightly larger than the last.

– Once the final tube is in place, an endoscope (a small camera), suction, irrigation, and other surgical tools are funneled through the tube.

– The surgeon carefully removes a small portion of the lamina to enlarge the spinal canal in the particular area that neural compression is occurring.

– The surgical tools and tube are carefully removed and the incision is closed either with a few dissolving stitches or surgical staples.

Most patients recover from an endoscopic laminotomy in a matter of weeks and some even experience immediate relief. Following the procedure, most patients are advised to work with a physical therapist to strengthen the muscles that support the spine.

Those who have been advised by their physicians to consider an open spine surgery may want to ask if they are a candidate for a minimally invasive procedure instead. Open spine surgery can require weeks, if not months, of rehabilitation and can sometimes lead to additional surgeries down the road. Before consenting to either operation, patients are encouraged to perform their own research and to make sure they are 100 percent comfortable with all associated risks. It may also be advisable to receive a second opinion to ensure surgical treatment is necessary.

Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures for spinal stenosis and several other spinal conditions.

Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures for spinal stenosis and other spinal conditions. http://www.laserspineinstitute.com/back_problems/spinal_stenosis

Author Bio: Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures for spinal stenosis and several other spinal conditions.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: Spinal Stenosis Symptoms