What is spinal stenosis

Spinal narrowing: Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal (which contains the spinal cord and nerves) caused by enlargement of the surrounding ligaments and bones. This enlargement creates pressure on the nerves and/or spinal cord and their blood supply resulting usually in back and/or leg pain, especially when the patient is walking upright. The condition usually occurs in older people.

Narrowing...: It's a narrowing of the central canal that your spinal cord travels through.

Too small a canal: Spinal stenosis is a spinal canal too small for its nerve tissue contents. This can be on a congenital basis or an acquired basis due to age related degenerative changes or even result from disc issues or from spinal deformities or instabilities or even from spinal fractures or possibly from prior spine surgery. This last reason is not fully conclusive.

Spinal stenosis.: Spinal stenosis in a condition wherein tissue grows around the spinal cord, causing gradual compression and pain. It's progressive and unrelenting. Unfortunately leading to debility and pain. Surgical options are available which may help, but left alone it'll cause progressive limitations. The rate of progression is unpredictable.

Narrowing: Spinal stenosis is a narrowing or "pinching" of the spinal canal.

Pressure on cord: Imagine an hour glass with wide base and narrow center. Now consider that the spinal cord rests in a wide canal with ample room. But bulging discs, bony overgrowth and thicker ligaments can fill the canal, causing pressure on this sensitive structure and its connecting nerve roots, and leading to painful conditions

Varies: Treatment options very. I would first recommend conservative treatment. This may include physical therapy along with anti-inflammatory medications. Epidural steroid injections can also help. Ultimately if all fails surgery maybe warranted. See your orthopedic spinal specialist for a true evaluation.

Many options: Sometimes just observation if just mild symptoms. Medication, exercises and physical therapy are options as well as pain management with epidural steroid injections . If nonop care fails and symptoms are severe enough, surgery is an option.

Many options: Spinal stenosis can be treated conservatively with physical therapy and lumbar epidural steroid injections. Your spine specialist can thoroughly evaluate you and help coordinate conservative care if appropriate. Surgery is usually helpful if all else fails. Check out spine-health.Com.

Multiple: There are multiple treatments available for spinal stenosis to varying degrees of success. The most common nonoperative treatment for spinal stenosis is typically an epidural steroid injection.