Spinal stenosis is a
condition where in spinal canal narrows down and results in
compression of spinal cord and nerves. This type of narrowing causes
extra pressure and initiates a severe pain in the spine. The
condition is more prevalent in old age- around 50 to 55 years of age.
Those who hurt their spine or born with a narrow spinal cord may
experience it in the young age as well.
Our spine (back bone) is virtually the
bedrock on which our whole standing and sitting postures depend upon.
It consists of 26 bones and protects the spinal cord from getting
injured. But at times a sudden jerk, accident or mishap can severely
hurt your spine or any of its part. Also, the degeneration of spine
is natural process. And with age you may experience it.
Causes of spinal stenosis
Causes of spinal stenosis are varied.
Due to the daily wear and tear of the human body, the bones degrade
over the time and joints and other crucial body parts also undergo
huge changes resulting in pain.
Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
are two degenerative disorders, that can become a major cause of
spinal stenosis. In some people, the spinal cord gets curved or is
smaller from the time of birth which results in spinal stenosis.
There are also some miscellaneous causes such as tumors of the spine,
some kind of injury or accident, excessive fluoride in the body and
alike.
Symptoms of spinal stenosis
Regarding the symptoms of spinal
stenosis, you should become careful when your pain appears to be
originating in the lower back and slipping to the knees and the foot.
The pain can be a tingling one but can also escalate to an unbearable
one. Also, in some severe conditions there may be improper
functioning of the bladder and bowel and loss of feeling in both the
legs.
You should immediately consult a doctor
if any of these signs appear in you. The doctors have a variety of
tests that can further verify your condition. These tests generally
include X-ray, MRI or CT scan, Myelogram and bone test.
Treatment of spinal scoliosis
For the treatment methods, you have a
lot of options. If your stenosis is not a major one, a few prescribed
painkillers and anti-inflammatory medicines can definitely help you.
But, for severe cases, you definitely need to go for a surgery. Apart
from this, you can also try some off track treatments like
exercising, acupuncture and chiropractic care.
But, while exercising, do not do too
much weight training and strictly avoid jerking or twisting anything.
It is advisable to take the help of a physical trainer if you
seriously want to cure your stenosis through exercise.
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