Spinal Stenosis is Severe, Go for Several Tests
Spinal stenosis is the ailment of the spinal chord which is mainly caused when the spinal canal get narrowed. Due to this narrowing, the spinal chord suffers pressure and is under the danger of collapse. If the stenosis is located on the lower section of the spine, it is termed as lumbar stenosis. In case the narrowing is too much, the pressure on the spine can cause a lot of pain in the movements. This may lead to severe spinal stenosis.

The spinal stenosis can be either inherited or acquired and the problem can be rooted from one generation to another. This may cause you severe pain and restriction in movement. Anyway, there are lot of people who are suffering from this problem as a result of wear and tear which commonly occurs at the age of 45- 50. In this age group, the chances of getting severe spinal stenosis are higher. The gradual aging results in the spinal stenosis and genetic nature may cause this trouble as well.

Symptoms of severe spinal stenosis:

Spinal stenosis is hard to detect and mere narrowing of the spinal canal does not allow you to detect the presence of this ailment. The most common symptom of this disease is inflammation of the nerves which is generally caused due to the pressure hat is caused when the spinal canal gets narrowed. In some cases, the inflammation may become severe and patient may feel pain, weakness, and numbness in legs, calves, and buttocks. The patient may also experience pain while bending, walking or stretching the legs. In severe cases, patient may also experience pain and numbness in arms and shoulders. The pain may radiate in the whole body, causing a lot of uneasiness in the patient.

Diagnose of severe spinal stenosis:

A physician can easily diagnose if you are suffering from spinal stenosis and go ahead with certain tests that help you determine whether you are suffering from this disease or not.

* X-ray: With the help of x-ray, the curvature in your spinal canal can be determined easily. This test helps you observe the structure of the vertebrae and the joints. If there is any curvature or narrowing, it can be detected easily.
* MRI: For better efficiency and clarity, MRI test is the best. With the help of this test, you get three-dimensional illustration of the back and the joints. This test can show you the spinal chord, nerves roots and other peripheral parts.
* CAT: CAT or computerized axial tomography enables you determine the shape and the size of the spinal canal. With this information, you can determine the severity of the narrowing.
* Myelogram: In this test, a liquid dye is injected into the spinal column. When the test is conducted, you get a whiten of the dye wherever there is a narrowing.
* Bone scan: In this test, radioactive material is attached with the bone. With the help of this test, the fractures and the tumors can be easily detected.

So, if you ever experience these symptoms, hurry up to your physician so that he can perform the aforementioned tests and provide you with a suitable treatment as soon as possible.