Lumbar spinal stenosis is a condition in which the foramina of the lumbar spine begin to narrow. This narrowing can occur in several places in the vertebra. In cases where the spinal canal is affected it is known as central stenosis; when the foramen are affected it is called foraminal stenosis. Spinal stenosis is most often caused by degenerative arthritis. Arthritis causes a loss of the cartilage in the joints. This arthritis can cause a loss in the spaces between the vertebra; this is known as degenerative disc disease. The degeneration will also cause an overgrowth of the ligament structures. All of these problems will reduce the pathways that the nerves normally travel through. This narrowing can cause pressure to the spinal nerves. Other causes of lumbar spinal stenosis are tumor, infections and other bone diseases such as Paget’s disease.
There are a number of symptoms that are associated with lumber spinal stenosis. These symptoms include numbness and loss of sensation in the lower legs. Pain in the lower back and legs is also common. It is common for the patient to have pain shoot down their legs when they are walking. This pain will lessen when the patient sits or rests. Patients will have an increase of pain if they bend backward while they are standing, however if they bend forward the pain will lessen. This is due to the fact that the disc spaces are larger when the patient bends forward which will take the pressure off the nerves. These symptoms most often worsen over time because arthritis is a progressive disease.
Diagnosis of lumber spinal stenosis is very important because there are several diseases that can cause similar symptoms. These include peripheral vascular disease, claudication of the blood vessels and diabetic neuropathy. The diagnosis process will begin with a thorough history and physical which will include a test of the patient’s range of motion. After the doctor has determined the duration and severity of the patients’ pain, the doctor will order x-rays that could include a CT or MRI scan. In cases where extensive damage to the nerves is possible the doctor may order an electromyogram (EMG) test. This will test the conductivity of the nerves to ascertain the level of damage that has occurred. This test will also determine the exact location of the nerves that are damaged.
Treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis can be done in a number of ways. Pain medicine and oral steroids are used to relieve the pain and inflammation. Certain medications such as Neurontin and Lyicra can be administered for the nerve pain. Surgery will become the next option of treatment for those patients that do not show improvements with the other treatments. The types of surgery that are typically done typically are laminectomy, foraminotomy, and, laminotomy. These types of surgery are done to remove the areas of the vertebrae that are compressing the nerves. These types of surgery are more commonly known as lumber decompression surgeries. Because lumbar spinal stenosis typically happens as a result of aging, there really isn’t any way to prevent this disease from occurring.
There are a number of symptoms that are associated with lumber spinal stenosis. These symptoms include numbness and loss of sensation in the lower legs. Pain in the lower back and legs is also common. It is common for the patient to have pain shoot down their legs when they are walking. This pain will lessen when the patient sits or rests. Patients will have an increase of pain if they bend backward while they are standing, however if they bend forward the pain will lessen. This is due to the fact that the disc spaces are larger when the patient bends forward which will take the pressure off the nerves. These symptoms most often worsen over time because arthritis is a progressive disease.
Diagnosis of lumber spinal stenosis is very important because there are several diseases that can cause similar symptoms. These include peripheral vascular disease, claudication of the blood vessels and diabetic neuropathy. The diagnosis process will begin with a thorough history and physical which will include a test of the patient’s range of motion. After the doctor has determined the duration and severity of the patients’ pain, the doctor will order x-rays that could include a CT or MRI scan. In cases where extensive damage to the nerves is possible the doctor may order an electromyogram (EMG) test. This will test the conductivity of the nerves to ascertain the level of damage that has occurred. This test will also determine the exact location of the nerves that are damaged.
Treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis can be done in a number of ways. Pain medicine and oral steroids are used to relieve the pain and inflammation. Certain medications such as Neurontin and Lyicra can be administered for the nerve pain. Surgery will become the next option of treatment for those patients that do not show improvements with the other treatments. The types of surgery that are typically done typically are laminectomy, foraminotomy, and, laminotomy. These types of surgery are done to remove the areas of the vertebrae that are compressing the nerves. These types of surgery are more commonly known as lumber decompression surgeries. Because lumbar spinal stenosis typically happens as a result of aging, there really isn’t any way to prevent this disease from occurring.
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