Symptoms & Treatment of Spinal Stenosis
Narrowing of open spaces within spine that put pressure on spinal cord & nerves traveling through spine to arms & legs is called Spinal Stenosis. This condition occurs mostly in the lower back & neck region. Quite often spinal stenosis may cause no symptoms or signs in patients while others experience pain, numbness, tingling & weakness of muscles alongside problems with bowel or bladder function. This is one of the most commonly caused wear-and-tear changes in spine relating to osteoarthritis. Physicians often recommend surgery in severe cases so as to create additional space for nerves & the spinal cord.
Symptoms of Spinal Stenosis
For many people evidence of spinal stenosis can be seen through X-rays without any display of signs & symptoms. When symptoms occur, they start gradually & worsen over time. These symptoms also vary according to location of spinal stenosis.
1.Cervical Stenosis often causes weakness, numbness or tingling in hands, arms, feet or legs. Tingling within hand is the most common symptom, while many people also report problems with balance & walking. Nerves to bowel & bladder areas may also get affected leading to incontinence.
2.Lumbar Spinal Stenosis — Affecting the lower back due to compressed nerves in the lumbar region cause pain & cramping in legs while standing for long periods of time. While walking is also painful, discomfort generally eases when bending forward or sitting down.
Make it a point to consult a doctor if you are having numbness, persistent pain or weakness in back, arms or legs.
Causes of Spinal Stenosis
Quite a few persons are born with smaller spinal canal, while most cases occur when amount of space available within spine is reduced due to some reason. Some of these reasons causing spinal stenosis include overgrowth of bone, herniated discs, tumors, thickened ligaments & spinal injuries. Paget’s is a bone disease usually affecting adults causing bone overgrowth in spine. Car accidents & other major trauma are responsible for causing fractures & dislocations of one or more vertebrae. Displaced bone from spinal fractures invariably damage contents of spinal canal while swelling of adjacent tissues can put pressure on nerves & spinal cord.
Treatments for Spinal Stenosis
Treatments include medications & surgery, however vary, depending upon the severity & location of spinal stenosis. Common medications used to control pain in spinal stenosis include NSAIDs, muscle relaxants, antidepressants, anti-seizure drugs & opioids. While some exercises suggested by physical therapists can be useful, steroid injections are also suggested to relieve pain.
Surgery is usually considered when conservative treatments have failed to bring results.
• Laminectomy procedure is designed to remove back part of the affected vertebra
• Laminotomy procedure removes a portion of lamina by carving a hole to relieve pressure
• Laminoplasty opens up space in spinal canal by creating a hinge on lamina using metal hardware; but this procedure is only utilized in cases of Cervical Stenosis
While these surgical operations help reduce symptoms, some cases are found to stay the same of worsen after surgery. Surgical risks include tear in membrane covering spinal cord, infections, neurological deterioration & blood clot in leg vein.
Spinal Stenosis Treatments in India
India is a favorite global destination for spinal stenosis treatments. Travcure healthcare consultants are closely associated with the best spine surgeons & healthcare facilities in the country. As the fastest growing medical tourism company in South Asia, they are in a commanding position to offer best affordable low-cost treatments for spinal stenosis for patients from all around the world.
You can also send your queries at: info@travcure.com . You can also make a phone call to us at: +918600044116.
