Spinal stenosis is a condition that causes pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots. Symptoms of spinal stenosis vary widely from person to person and range from no symptoms to pain in the back or neck and numbness, tingling, and weakness in the arms and legs.
This disease can put pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots, which may cause pain and other symptoms. If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible because early treatment can help prevent further damage to your spine.
You can determine if your symptoms are caused by spinal stenosis with a simple test called the straight leg raise (SLR) test. The SLR test is performed by raising your leg while lying down until it becomes uncomfortable. If there is compression of the spine, it could indicate that you have some form of spinal stenosis.
There are many different types of treatment available for those who suffer from this disease, including
- Injections into the affected area of the spine
- Physical therapy exercises such as stretching exercises
- Medication such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Yoga poses to help strengthen muscles around the spine area to reduce stress on joints within the spine area.
- Decompression surgery where part of bone overlying nerves at risk for damage due to narrowing space between vertebrae is removed, allowing room for nerves to pass through without being compressed.
- Another type of surgery option includes laminectomy, where a small portion of bones overlying affected nerve root(s) are removed, allowing room for nerves to pass through without being compressed.
Spinal stenosis can be caused by arthritis, a herniated disc, or other conditions that cause the spine to narrow, like osteoarthritis. It’s also possible for spinal stenosis to develop without any known cause. You may have trouble walking or performing daily activities if you have this condition.
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