Signs of Spinal Stenosis
What is Spinal Stenosis?
Do you experience pain in your leg, arm, or back? Does it come and go depending on what you are doing? Then, you may be experiencing signs of spinal stenosis.
Your spine has bony openings known as foramen for the nerves. Spinal stenosis is a condition causing these foramen to narrow. The spinal cord and the nerves become compressed. This condition is common after the age of 60. And, it gets worse as time goes on.
Signs of Spinal Stenosis
It’s important to identify and understand the signs of spinal stenosis. So, you can seek effective treatment. There are six typical signs to look for, though. If you suspect this condition, look for signs, such as:
Neurogenic claudication
As the nerves get decompressed, a sensation can occur in the legs known as neurogenic claudication. The following symptoms may occur:
- Pain or numbness when standing.
- Increased pain/numbness when walking long distances.
- Difficulty performing upright activities/movements.
- Pain improvement with rest.
Pain from this condition can typically be relieved. Bending the spine forward helps. If needed, the use of a walker or squatting and sitting forward can help too. A condition called vascular claudication can imitate this. However, your doctor can differentiate the pain for you.
Sciatica
You can develop sciatica depending on the affected nerve. This pain can be felt in the buttocks, leg, lower back, and feet. You will feel a tingling sensation and numbness if you are experiencing sciatica.
Drop Foot
When the L4 and L5 nerve in the lower spine is compressed, drop foot occurs. Motor weakness in your foot develops causing this condition. Therefore, you will notice weakness when you try to lift your foot. The result, you end up dragging your foot. Then you may trip when you try and walk. Additionally, compression of nerve S1 causes weakness when walking on tip-toes.
Gait Problems
Spinal stenosis can affect the way you walk. However, this depends on where in the spine the condition is occurring.
In the lumbar region: your gait can be affected by foot drop. You can also feel weakness in the leg muscles.
In the cervical region (neck): you may have difficulty balancing when walking.
Changes in your gait may not be obvious right away. You become more aware of progressively increasing falls.
Radiating Arm Pain
Cervical spinal stenosis can cause shock-like or burning pain in the arms. Tingling, crawling, and numbness sensations are common in the neck and shoulders too. Your arms and hands may also feel weak.
Loss of Fine Motor Skills
When stenosis occurs in the cervical spine region, fine motor skills can be affected. Buttoning a shirt and holding a pen can become challenging. As the condition advances you may not be able to write at all.
If you notice any of these symptoms, reach out to your doctor. Without treatment, spinal stenosis can worsen. Therefore, your movement gets more restricted and painful.
Red-Flag Symptoms to Watch For
Occasionally there are more serious symptoms to look for with spinal stenosis. These can include bowel problems, incontinence, and numbness in the genital area.
You can also experience severe weakness in your limbs. These are signs of serious medical conditions. Cauda equina syndrome is the most common and needs urgent treatment. Without treatment, you can lose the loss of your legs.
Spinal Stenosis Treatment Options
Your doctor can make an accurate diagnosis and identify the underlying cause. There are non-surgical treatment options for less severe cases of spinal stenosis. Physical therapy and pain medications are the most common treatments.
In some cases, however, minimally-invasive procedures may be needed. Epidural steroid injections are used to reduce pain. In severe cases, surgery is an option. And, all first-line measures must be tried first. Surgery is therefore used if there is a possibility of neurologic deficits.
If you are showing signs of spinal stenosis, call us for an exam at 888-409-8006.