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The narrowing of the
spinal canal because of excessive growth of bones and tissues often
disturbs and pinches the nerves of the spinal cord which can cause
pain ,numbness, weakness in the legs, back and feet . This condition
is generally referred to as the Spinal stenosis. And when this
phenomenon occurs in the lower back or the lumbar area, it is known
as lumbar spinal stenosis. Old age plays an important role in the
degeneration of the spine and sometimes osteoarthritis damages the
cushioning of the joints which augments the process of deterioration
of the spinal discs.
Usually, lumbar
stenosis is an age-related problem as it usually occurs in people
over the age of 50. The symptoms of this disease include weakness,
numbness, pain or a camping feeling in the legs, back, buttocks or
sometimes the feet. You may experience pain when you walk, stand or
lean on your back. In the most severe cases, you can even experience
malfunctioning of your bladder and the bowel.
To test whether you are suffering from
lumbar stenosis or not, physicians would first about the symptoms you
have experienced. This will be followed by a physical examination to
confirm your status. The doctor would then suggest either a CT scan
or an MRI scan. Regarding the treatments, it depends on the severity
of the condition.
In the moderate cases, treatment is
basically done through simple prescription medications like
analgesics, non-steroidal and anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs.
Injections like corticosteroids are helpful in reducing the
inflammation. You can try some form of physical therapies like
walking, jogging, aerobics and yoga. In more complicated cases of
lumbar spinal stenosis, surgery is recommended to remove the bone and
tissue that cases the stenosis in your spinal nerves.
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