What is Spinal Stenosis?

When the spaces within your spine start narrowing, they begin to create pressure on the nerves nearby. This condition of a narrow spine is referred to as spinal stenosis. If you suffer from spinal stenosis, you will experience continuous back pain, difficulty in walking, or even numbness. In this blog, we will explore what spinal stenosis is and whether it is the reason behind your discomfort. 

What is Spinal Stenosis?

The term stenosis is used when a body passage or tube becomes narrow. It often causes issues such as restricted movement or, eventually, builds-up pressure. It gets more specific when we talk about spinal stenosis, as it refers to the narrowing of the spaces in your spine. 

The spine protects the soft spinal cord. When the space between the two becomes smaller, it puts pressure on your spinal cord. The pressure reaches the nerves that branch out from the spine and causes pain, numbness, or tingling sensation.

Spinal stenosis can be of different types based on the location of the narrowing of your spine. While cervical stenosis affects the neck, lumbar impacts the lower back, and thoracic affects the mid part of your back. Among the three types of spinal stenosis, thoracic stenosis is the rarest. There are different reasons why a person suffers from spinal stenosis. So, let us explore the causes to understand how it can occur.

What Are the Causes of Spinal Stenosis?

While some people suffer from spinal stenosis, others do not. It becomes a reason to wonder what the causes of spinal stenosis are. Here are a few reasons why people can develop this condition.

• Aging:

One of the primary causes of spinal stenosis is aging. The human body undergoes many changes due to aging. One of them includes loss of water from the spinal discs. It leads to loss of flexibility and support and can cause narrowing of the spinal canal.

• Bone spurs:

If a person suffers from arthritis, then wear and tear can cause extra bone to grow in the spine. Such extra bones are bone spurs and can push into the spinal cord and narrow the passage of the spine. It can further compress the nerves and cause sharp pain.

• Injuries:

Injuries or trauma due to accidents can break the spinal bones or make them move out of place. Swelling due to such injuries also puts pressure on the spinal cord and compresses the nerves nearby.

• Herniated discs:

Spinal discs are soft-jelly-like cartilages that protect the spinal bones. If these discs push out from their normal position, it causes herniated discs. A herniated disc can reduce the space between the spine and cause spinal stenosis.

• Thick ligaments:

Ligaments are the strong muscular cords that hold the spinal bones together. If the ligament thickens with time, it can push into the spinal canal and cause spinal stenosis.

• Tumors:

It is rare to suffer from spinal stenosis due to tumors, but in some cases, abnormal growths called tumors can take up the space in the spinal canal. It leads to nerve compression and causes pain in the spine.

If you have experienced any discomfort in your spine, then these can be some of the reasons for it. You should also get to know about the symptoms of spinal stenosis to ensure that you are making the right guess. 

What Are the Symptoms of Spinal Stenosis?

The symptoms of spinal stenosis depend on the location and severity of the condition. Pain, numbness, weakness, and tingling sensation are some common symptoms of spinal stenosis. A tingling sensation running down your legs or arms is also a sign of a compressed nerve.

Spinal stenosis symptoms can be different for your neck (cervical stenosis) and your lower back (lumbar stenosis). You will experience issues with balancing, hand coordination, and weakness in your arms when you suffer from cervical stenosis. Lumbar stenosis causes lower back pain, leg weakness, and difficulty in walking.

If this condition has reached an advanced level, it can cause bladder or bowel dysfunction. Even though it is less common, awareness of these symptoms can help you get timely medical attention. 

How to Treat Spinal Stenosis?

There are many treatment options available to manage spinal stenosis, ranging from conservative to surgical. It depends on the severity of the spinal stenosis when it comes to choosing a treatment option. The doctor can recommend the following procedures:

Pain Relief Medicine:

Since spinal stenosis can’t be cured, the doctor aims to manage it. A way to manage the pain induced by spinal stenosis is by taking over-the-counter medicines. These medicines help to get rid of pain and irritation. It will give you relaxation for a day or more, but the pain can get back to its place as soon as the effect of medicine is over. That’s why it is important to consider the other options as well. 

Heat and Cold Therapy:

Heat and cold therapy can help you deal with inflammation and pain. If there’s inflammation around the affected area, you can use a heating pad. You can also use ice to numb the area and deal with pain. 

Minimally Invasive Procedure:

If the case is more severe, then you should look for minimally invasive procedures. It includes regenerative intervention, which can be used in the initial stages, but the doctor may choose other procedures based on the condition, like endoscopic discectomy, ligament decompression, etc.

Laminectomy and Spinal Fusion: 

Doctors can also opt for a laminectomy when the situation does not ease. This procedure involves the replacement of the back part of the spine with plates and screws. 

An urgent spinal fusion can also be done in more severe cases. The chances of this surgery are very rare. The affected vertebrae are fused together for a permanent cure. 

Which Exercises Are Helpful in Spinal Stenosis?

Spinal stenosis can cause pain and weakness in your limbs, so exercises can help manage this condition. It will help in reducing the pain while improving flexibility and making your muscles strong. The right exercises will make a huge difference and enhance your mobility.

Start with stretching exercises as they relieve the pressure by loosening tight muscles around the spine. Strengthening exercises will focus on your core and back muscles and offer more support to your spine. It will also reduce strain and reduce the pain.

Other great options include low-impact activities like swimming and cycling. They are a great way to stay active without putting extra stress on your spine. However, it is important to consult a doctor before starting any exercise routine, as not every exercise is suitable for everyone.

Summing Up

Spinal stenosis causes the spaces in the spine to narrow, and it leads to pain, numbness, and weakness. It is a curable condition, but the treatment depends on the severity of the issue. Besides treatment, you can also perform exercises to strengthen your core and provide support to the spine. The most important part is to consult a doctor for the right diagnosis and personalized treatment plan.