Are you experiencing numbness in your arms and legs along with back and neck pain? Let's learn about Spinal Stenosis!

Do you sometimes experience a tingling sensation that starts in your back and travels down your legs? Do your legs feel numb when you walk for a short distance? Or do you experience numbness in your arms along with neck pain? You may think that these are just physical problems, but perhaps the cause is a problem in your spine. Today we are talking about Spinal Stenosis, a condition that causes pain in the spine.

What is Spinal Stenosis?

Simply put, Spinal Stenosis is the narrowing of the spinal canal, the tube-like space through which the spinal cord and nerves pass through our spine. Imagine that when dirt gets stuck in a water pipe, the space for water to flow is reduced.

When this space becomes narrow , the nerves inside begin to get squeezed and pinched. That's when we start experiencing symptoms like pain and numbness. This condition often affects two main areas of the spine:

• Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: Occurs in the five vertebrae (L1-L5) at the very bottom of our spine.
• Cervical Spinal Stenosis: Occurs in the seven vertebrae in our neck (C1-C7).

This condition occurs very rarely in the middle part of the spine (Thoracic Spine).

How common is this condition?

This is actually a much more common condition than you might think. Especially after the age of 50, many people experience some changes and deformities in their spine. Spinal stenosis is another common change that occurs with age. The majority of people over the age of 65 who undergo spinal surgery are due to this condition.

What are the symptoms of Spinal Stenosis?

The symptoms of spinal stenosis are not the same for everyone. It depends on where in the spine the nerves are compressed, and how severely they are compressed. Some people may not have any symptoms at first, even though they can see the condition on an X-ray.

Let's see how the characteristics change in the two main parts.

Why does spinal stenosis occur?

The causes of spinal stenosis can be divided into two main categories.

Acquired Causes

This is the most common condition. It occurs after birth, often after the age of 50, due to the "wear and tear" that occurs in our spine.

• Bone Overgrowth: As we age, our joints wear down, which is called Osteoarthritis. When the joints in the spine wear down, the body creates new bone-like structures to replace them. We call these bone spurs . These new bone spurs grow into the space where the nerves pass, reducing the space.
• Bulging or Herniated Disks: The jelly-like disc between two vertebrae in the spine can wear out, bulge out, and press on nerves.
• Thickened Ligaments: As we age, the ligaments, which are like bands that hold the spine together, can thicken and bend inward, reducing space.
• Spinal Fractures and Injuries: If a bone in the spine breaks, such as in an accident, or if you fall, the space can become narrow.
• Spinal Cysts or Tumors: Very rarely, this condition can also be caused by tumors that form around the spinal cord.

Congenital Causes

This is very rare. It means that when a person is born, the path of the nerves in their spinal cord is narrower than normal. This can be caused by genetic conditions like achondroplasia.

How does a doctor find this?

When you go to see a doctor with these symptoms, he will follow these steps.

1. Asking about symptoms: First, they will ask you carefully about how the pain is, how long it has been there, and what makes it worse.

2. Physical examination: Then you will be examined. You will be asked to look at your back, bend forward, backward, and to the side.

3. Imaging Tests: You may then be asked to do several tests to confirm this.

• X-ray: An X-ray can check for changes in the bones, whether the disc height has decreased, and whether there are bone spurs.
• MRI Scan: This is what allows you to see things like nerves, discs, and spinal cord very clearly. This is what helps you find out exactly where and how much they are compressed.
• CT Scan: Sometimes you may be asked to do a CT Scan. Sometimes a CT Myelogram may be done with a special liquid (contrast dye) injected into the area. This allows the nerves to be seen more clearly.

What are the treatments?

Nonsurgical Treatments

Many people can benefit from these treatments.

• Things you can do at home:
• Heat application: Applying heat, such as with a hot water bottle, to the painful area can relax the muscles and reduce pain.
• Cold compress: Sometimes, if there is swelling, it is appropriate to apply an ice pack.
• Exercise: This is something you should definitely ask your doctor or physical therapist about. Appropriate exercises can strengthen the muscles around your back and reduce pain.

• Medical treatment:
• Medications: Your doctor will likely prescribe painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). He or she may also prescribe medications that are specific to nerve pain (e.g., Gabapentin).
• Physical Therapy: This is very important. A physical therapist will teach you exercises that will strengthen your back, increase your flexibility, and even teach you how to walk in a way that reduces nerve compression.
• Steroid Injections: If the pain and swelling are severe, your doctor may decide to inject an injection into the area where the nerve is pinched. This can provide temporary relief.

Surgery

The surgery is done to relieve the pressure on the nerve. A laminectomy is a common type of surgery. It involves removing a piece of bone that is blocking the nerve and creating space. Sometimes, if there is instability in the spine, a spinal fusion surgery can be performed to fuse two vertebrae together.

Can this situation be prevented?

It is impossible to completely prevent this since aging cannot be stopped. However, by following some habits to keep our spine healthy, we can reduce the risk of this occurring and control the worsening of the condition.

• Eat a healthy diet . Eat foods rich in calcium to strengthen bones.
• Maintain a healthy body weight . As you gain weight, the pressure on your back increases.
• Avoid smoking.
• Maintain proper posture. Keep your back straight when sitting and lifting weights.
• Exercise regularly. Exercises that strengthen your back and core muscles are especially important.

When should I see a doctor?

If you experience new symptoms such as back or neck pain, numbness in your arms or legs, weakness, or difficulty controlling your urine or stool , do not ignore it and see a doctor immediately. These could be signs of a serious condition.

If you are already receiving treatment, but the pain is not getting better, talk to your doctor about that as well. He or she can then decide on other treatment options.

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