Answers to Common Spine Health Questions
Premier Physician Network’s doctors answer frequently asked questions about spine health.
What is spinal stenosis?
Dr. Verdon discusses spinal stenosis. Click play to watch the video or read the transcript.
What is spinal stenosis?
Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal, joints and bones that's surround the spinal cord nerve roots. It can be, you can be born with it, which is called congenital spinal stenosis or it can be acquired, usually a result of arthritis over time.
Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spine in one or more of three places, according to the National Institutes of Health
(NIH).
As people age, the spine changes from normal wear-and-tear, which leads to the painful condition, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
(AAOS).
Spinal stenosis usually occurs in the lower back or neck, and is the cause of osteoarthritis, according to the AAOS.
Learn more about spinal stenosis by talking to your doctor.
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What are the symptoms of spinal stenosis?
Dr. Verdon discusses symptoms of spinal stenosis. Click play to watch the video or read the transcript.
What are the symptoms of spinal stenosis?
The symptoms in the cervical spine would consist of numbness and tingling of the arms, maybe pain down the arms into the hands. It may be symptoms that kind of indicate the spinal cords being compressed, difficulty with fine movements. In the legs the symptoms are usually related to back or buttock pain, which radiates down both legs when someone’s standing or prolonged walking. The back leg pain goes away when they lean forward or sit down.
Common symptoms of spinal stenosis, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), can include:
- Back pain
- Burning pain through the butt or legs, known as sciatica
- Numbness or tingling in the butt or legs
- Pain the lessens when leaning forward or sitting
- Weakness in the legs
Only one type of spinal stenosis – called cauda equine syndrome – causes other symptoms and can be serious, according to the NIH. If you have the following symptoms, call your doctor right away:
- Inability to control the bladder or bowel
- Pain, weakness or loss of feeling in one or both legs
- Problems having sex
Talk to your doctor for more information about symptoms of spinal stenosis.
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Who is at risk of developing spinal stenosis?
Dr. Verdon discusses who is at risk of developing spinal stenosis. Click play to watch the video or read the transcript.
Who is at risk for developing spinal stenosis?
All of us are at risk for developing spinal stenosis. And typically most people do get narrowing of the spinal canal. But only those who have underlying congenital canal stenosis or born with it tend to become symptomatic. Symptoms would usually be, if it’s in their arms, they get numbness and tingling of the arms, or maybe difficulty with fine movements like writing. Or people who get it in their legs have difficulty walking or standing for a long period of time. The symptoms usually go away when they sit down and they become functionally impaired. They can’t go that far, they have to grab a shopping cart when they go to the supermarket or they just tend to feel better when sitting.
While anyone can get spinal stenosis, some people are at a higher risk for the condition.
The risk of developing spinal stenosis, according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), is increased in:
- People born with a narrow spinal cord
- Females
- People 50 and older
- People who have had a spinal injury or spine surgery
Spinal stenosis also can be caused by some medical conditions. According to the ACR, those include:
- Inflammatory spondyloarthritis
- Osteoarthritis
- Paget’s disease
- Spinal tumors
For more information about who is at risk of developing spinal stenosis, talk with your doctor.
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What are surgical and non-surgical treatment options for spinal stenosis?
Dr. Verdon discusses treatment options for spinal stenosis. Click play to watch the video or read the transcript.
What are the treatments for spinal stenosis?
Treatments for spinal stenosis consists of typically three areas. One would be conservative therapy where one would undergo physical therapy, chiropractic manipulation. More invasive therapies would consist of injections or epidural steroids. And third would consist of surgery where we would go and open up the areas where the spinal cord or nerve roots are being compressed. By taking away bone or ligaments or widening the spinal canal to allow the nerves and spinal cord to move freely
A variety of treatment options are available for spinal stenosis.
The following are non-surgical treatment options, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH):
- Wearing back brace
- Limiting your activity
- Exercising through physical therapy
- Using medicines to reduce or relieve pain
Most doctors will try some of these non-surgical options as a first step to treating spinal stenosis. Some doctors also might recommend alternative treatment options, including chiropractic treatment or acupuncture, according to the NIH.
Surgical treatment might be recommended to treat spinal stenosis, according to the NIH, if you have:
- Bowel and bladder function problems
- Nervous symptom problems
- Symptoms that cause problems walking
If surgery is needed, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) states there are two main surgical options to treat spinal stenosis:
- Laminectomy – This removes the bone, bone spurs and ligaments that are compressing the nerves in the spine.
- Spinal fusion – this treatment will decompress and stabilize the spine if arthritis has caused spinal instability
Talk to your doctor for more information about treatment options for spinal stenosis.
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Thanks to Premier Physician Network’s doctors for answering these common questions about spine health:
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This website provides general medical information that should be used for informative and educational purposes only. Information found here should not be used as a substitute for the personal, professional medical advice of your physician. Do not begin any course of treatment without consulting a physician.