Spinal space is crucial for accommodating the spinal cord, blood vessels, and nerves. Spinal stenosis involves narrowing the spinal space, causing pressure that might affect the nerves, especially those of the lower back and nerves. Many patients do not exhibit any early symptoms of spinal stenosis until later when the condition is worse. Physician intervention for spinal stenosis is key to ensuring optimal performance by minimizing symptoms like lower back pain New York City that hinder the quality of life.
What are the types of spinal stenosis?
The different types of spinal stenosis acquire their names from the location of the pain. For example:
- Cervical stenosis: Patients with this type of spinal stenosis experience spinal stenosis narrowing in areas around the neck.
- Lumbar stenosis: Any pain resulting from inadequate spinal space in the lower back is lumbar stenosis.
What are the symptoms of spinal stenosis?
Most patients do not have any symptoms until their spinal stenosis worsens. For this reason, physicians encourage wellness visits that involve diagnostic imaging tests like MRI or CT scans to detect any abnormalities in the spine. When symptoms occur, they are specific to the location of concern. For example, symptoms of cervical spinal stenosis include:
- Numbness, tingling, and weakness in the arms and feet.
- Neck pain
- Bladder and bowel dysfunction
Patients with lumbar spinal stenosis usually report:
- Back pain that worsens with activity
- Numbness, tingling, and weakness of the legs and feet.
What are the causes of spinal stenosis?
Some of the main reasons patients develop narrowing of the spinal canal include:
- Trauma: patients involved in motor vehicles experience intense trauma to the spinal structures causing dislocation and fractures of the vertebra that may interfere with the integrity of the spinal canal causing damage and increased pressure on the spinal cord.
- Spinal tumors: Abnormal cell growth can occur anywhere along the spinal canal, causing a reduction in space, causing pressure to increase, and causing pain to nerves.
- Herniated discs: The vertebra’s cartilage cushioning can dry up due to risk factors like aging causing spinal stenosis symptoms.
What are the risk factors for spinal stenosis?
Certain risk factors can make a patient Kore vulnerable to developing the condition, for example:
- Genetics: A child can inherit specific spinal stenosis genes from a parent, thus predisposing them to the condition.
- Being over 50 years: Spinal structures decline in integrity as a patient grows older. For this reason, it would be best to visit a physician to begin effective management techniques that will preserve spinal health.
- Sedentary living: Patients who do not work out regularly or consume healthy balanced meals do not have a healthy spine and are thus more likely to develop spinal canal narrowing.
How do physicians treat spinal stenosis?
The ideal treatment for spinal stenosis depends on the severity of the patient’s condition. A physician will also consider the type and location of symptoms to develop a practical approach to restoring spinal health. The initial treatment plan your spinal stenosis doctors in Laurel, MS will recommend involves conservative options like physical therapy and pain-relieving medications. Invasive techniques are necessary to correct any structural abnormalities in the spine. Contact NYPT Health & Rehab to learn about the available treatment options to cure your spinal stenosis and strengthen your spine.