Lumbar spinal stenosis: symptoms, causes, drugs, etc. • hello healthy

Definition

What is lumbar spinal stenosis?

Lumbar spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal tract in the lower back or what is commonly called the lumbar area. This usually occurs when bone or tissue (or both) grows in the openings of the spinal bones. These growths can compress and irritate the nerves that exit the spinal cord. The result is pain, numbness, or weakness in the legs, feet, and buttocks.

Symptoms

What are the symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis?

The features and symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis are:

• Numbness, weakness, cramps, or pain in the legs, feet, or buttocks.This symptom is worse when walking, standing straight, or leaning back, but feels better when sitting or leaning forward.
• Stiff legs and thighs.
• Lower back pain.
• In severe cases you can lose control of holding back bowel movements.

Symptoms can be very bad at times, but sometimes they can feel so mild that they are often ignored. In fact, many people with lumbar spinal stenosis don't feel any symptoms.

There may be symptoms not listed above. Consult your doctor for information about other symptoms.

Cause

What causes lumbar spinal stenosis?

Causes of lumbar spinal stenosis can include:

Excessive bone growth

Damage due to osteoarthritis in the spinal bones triggers bone growth into the spinal tract. Overgrowth of bones can also be caused by Paget's disease, which usually affects the bones of adults.

Disc herniation

The pads that function to reduce the collision between your vertebrae will usually get drier over time. The presence of cracks on the outside of the disc can cause the soft substances inside to leak out and put pressure on the spinal cord.

Thickening of ligaments

The strong knot, which ties and holds the bones at the back of your body, can become stiff and thicken with age. This thickened ligament can bulge into the spinal tract.

Tumor

Abnormal growths can form on the spine, in the membrane that covers the spinal cord or in the space between the spinal cord and the spine. This condition is rare, but can be detected with an MRI or CT scan of the spine.

Spinal cord injury

A car accident or other incident can cause a shifting or fracture of the spine. Bone that is displaced by fracture can damage the contents of the spinal tract.

Swelling of the tissue from back surgery can also put pressure on the spinal cord.

Triggers

Who is at risk for lumbar spinal stenosis?

Most of the sufferers of spinal stenosis are 50 years old. However, this condition can also occur in young people due to accidents, spinal disorders from birth (such as scoliosis), and hereditary diseases that affect the development of bones and muscles.

Diagnosis

How do doctors diagnose lumbar spinal stenosis?

To diagnose spinal stenosis, your doctor will take your medical history and perform a physical examination followed by imaging tests to determine the cause of your symptoms.

Some of the tests that may be done are:

• X-rays, aka X-rays. X-rays of the back can show if there are changes in the spine, for example bone growths that make the spinal tract space narrow. You will be exposed to radiation every time you have an x-ray.
• MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging). Using magnetic and radio waves, an MRI will produce images of your spine from different sides. This test can detect damage to the disks and ligaments, including if there is a tumor. More importantly, the MRI can also show where the spinal cord is compressed.
• CT or CT myelogram. If you can't have an MRI, your doctor will recommend a CT scan, which is a test that combines several x-rays from different angles, to produce more detailed images of your body. Meanwhile, CT myelogram is a CT scan that is done after the doctor injects a contrast dye which can show disc herniation, bone growth, or tumor.

Treatment

The information below cannot be used as a substitute for a medical consultation. ALWAYS consult your doctor for information about medications.

How to treat lumbar spinal stenosis?

Treatment of spinal stenosis depends on the location of the stenosis and the severity of your condition.

Drugs

Your doctor may prescribe:

• Pain relievers such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or acetaminophen to relieve pain due to spinal stenosis. However, these drugs should not be used long term.
• Tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline are taken daily to reduce pain.
• Anticonvulsants, such as gabapentin and pregabalin, to reduce pain from damaged nerves.
• Medicines that contain codeine and its family, such as oxycodone and hydrocodone, can be used as short-term pain relievers. For long-term treatment you can use opioids with caution, but these drugs have a risk of serious side effects, including addiction.

Physical therapy

It's natural for people with lumbar spinal stenosis to become less physically active because they feel pain when they move a lot. However, lack of movement can make your muscles weak, which can lead to increased pain.

A physical therapist can help you exercise to:

• Builds muscle strength and endurance
• Maintain flexibility and stability of the spine
• Improve body balance

Steroid injections

Your nerve roots can become irritated and swell in the pinched area. Injecting steroid drugs (corticosteroids) into the space around the pinched area will not improve stenosis, but it can reduce inflammation and relieve pain.

Not everyone is suitable for steroid injections. Repeated steroid injections can also weaken the bone and surrounding tissue, so you should only receive these injections a few times a year.

Decompression procedure

A needle-like instrument will be used to sample the thickened ligament at the back of the spinal column, to increase space in the spinal tract and repair the pinched nerve. However, this procedure can only be used by patients with lumbar spinal stenosis who have thickened ligaments.

This procedure is performed without general anesthesia.

Operation

if other treatments have failed, or if you develop paralysis as a result of this condition, surgery may be performed. The goal of surgery is to relieve pressure from the spinal nerve by enlarging the space inside the spinal tract. Surgery to free this area of ​​stenosis is the most effective way to treat spinal stenosis.

Research shows that spinal surgery has a minimal risk of complications, when performed by an experienced surgeon. Don't hesitate to ask about your doctor's experience, and if in doubt, seek the opinion of another doctor.

Alternative medicine

The following therapies and alternative treatments can be used to treat pain due to lumbar spinal stenosis, but must be done with your doctor's permission:

• Massage therapy
• Chiropractic
• Acupuncture

Lifestyle changes

What are some lifestyle changes to make life easier for people with lumbar spinal stenosis?

The following lifestyle and tips can help treat everyday lumbar spinal stenosis:

• Take pain relievers such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, or acetaminophen to reduce pain and inflammation.
• Using hot or cold compresses on the affected area.
• Maintain ideal body weight. Losing excess weight can relieve pain because it will reduce the pressure on your lower back.
• Exercises for stretching and muscle strength can help open the spine. Talk to your doctor about what types of exercise are safe for you.
• Use a cane when walking. In addition to helping balance, you can also bend forward while leaning on a cane while walking, to reduce pain.

Please consult your doctor for more information.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical consultation, diagnosis or treatment.