Fact Checked
Spinal stenosis is a condition where the spine becomes narrow in several areas and cause stressing the spinal cord. Generally, it causes muscle weakness in the back and spine and nerve pain. Wear and tear changes in the spine due to osteoarthritis usually cause spinal stenosis.
Symptoms of spinal stenosis
Cervical stenosis
- At first, weakness of the hand, arm and foot or leg
- Numbness and tingling sensation in the hand, arm, foot or leg
- Pain in the neck
- Problems with balance and walking
Cramping in one or both legs with prolonged standing and walking and becomes relieved when bending forward or sitting. - Lastly, bowel or bladder dysfunction or urinary incontinence
Lumbar stenosis
- Weakness of the foot or leg
- Numbness or tingling sensations in the foot or leg
- Back pain
- Cramping in one or both legs with prolonged standing and walking and becomes relieved when bending forward or sitting.
Causes
- Herniated disc
- Overgrowth of bone
- Ligaments that connects the bones to the spine becomes stiff and thick and bulge into the spinal canal.
- Abnormal growths or tumors can form inside the spinal canal
- Spinal injuries such as vehicular accidents
Treatment
- Apply hot compress on the back for at least 10 minutes at a time to lessen the pain and the inflammation. Hot water bottle can also be used. Apply cold pack at the affected area to lessen the swelling and the irritation in the back and spine. Alternating applying hot compress and cold compress at the back is also good for the condition.
- Use a walker or cane to support the area, makes it easy in moving around and lessen the pain.
- Wear the prescribed back brace to support the back and lessen the pain. Use chair with lumbar support such as reclining chairs. Avoid using chairs with back that are straight to prevent worsening of the condition.
- Seek the help of the physical therapist for some rehabilitation exercises for strength, flexibility, improvement of balance and restore normal range of movement of the affected area.
- Prescribed pain medications to lessen the pain and the inflammation.
- Prescribed steroid injections on the spine to lessen the swelling, the irritations and the pain.
- Deep tissue massage on the lower back and legs with the help of the massage therapist to lessen the pain.
FACT CHECK
https://medlineplus.gov/spinalstenosis.html
https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases–conditions/lumbar-spinal-stenosis/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/spinal-stenosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20352961