Spinal stenosis

Spinal stenosis:

It is narrowing of the spinal column that causes pressure on the spinal cord, or narrowing of the openings (called neural foramina) where spinal nerves leave the spinal column.
Causes:
Spinal stenosis usually occurs as a person ages and the disks become drier and start to shrink. At the same time, the bones and ligaments of the spine swell or grow larger due to arthritis or long-term swelling (inflammation).

Spinal stenosis may also be caused by:
-Arthritis of the spine, usually in middle-aged or elderly people.
-Defect or growth in the spine that was present from birth (congenital defect).
-Herniated or slipped disk, which often happened in the past.
-Injury that causes pressure on the nerve roots or the spinal cord.
-Tumors in the spine.

Symptoms
Often, symptoms will get worse slowly over time. Most often, symptoms will be on one side of the body or the other.

Symptoms include:
-Numbness, cramping, or pain in the back, buttocks, thighs, or calves, or in the neck, shoulders, or arms
-Weakness of part of a leg or arm
-Symptoms are more likely to be present or get worse when you stand or walk. -They will often lessen or disappear when you sit down or lean forward.
-Most people with spinal stenosis cannot walk for a long period of time.

Treatment:
-The physical therapist will help try to reduce pain using stretches.
-Cold packs and heat therapy may help pain during flare-ups.
-Medications for chronic pain are helpful.
SURGERY
-If the pain does not respond to these treatments, or lose of movement or feeling occur,surgery is needed. Surgery is done to relieve pressure on the nerves or spinal cord.

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