When should you see a doctor for lower back pain?

What is spinal stenosis?

The vertebral canal is the bony cavity running the length of the spinal column, in which the spinal cord is located. Nerves exit the spinal cord between the vertebrae and surround the body, providing movement and sensation. Spinal canal stenosis occurs when the volume of the bony cavity is reduced for some reason , causing the canal to narrow. The narrowing causes pressure on the spinal nerves and can lead to painful symptoms. Depending on the degree of spinal stenosis and the degree of nerve damage, symptoms can be mild or severe.

What are the symptoms of spinal stenosis?

The main symptom of spinal stenosis is a dull ache in the affected part of the spine – most often in the lower back or in the cervical spine. The pain is typically chronic and can increase with exertion (for example, when walking or sitting for long periods), and may even become sharp and shooting. The pain is usually accompanied by numbness that may radiate to the extremities. There may also be muscle weakness, sensory disturbance, difficulty walking, loss of balance and, in more severe cases, incontinence and faecal dysfunction. If the latter are felt, immediate medical attention is required as these are symptoms that indicate surgical intervention.

What causes spinal stenosis?

The spinal canal can narrow for several reasons. Most commonly, it is caused by degeneration of the discs, i.e. wear and tear, but it can also be caused by other spinal problems:

• Disc herniation, disc prolapse.
• Bony calcification of the vertebrae.
• Degeneration and thickening of joints and ligaments.
• Injury to the spinal column, severe impact, trauma.
• A tumour or cyst.

Risk factors

Spinal stenosis usually occurs over the age of 50, but it is not excluded at younger ages.

How can spinal stenosis be treated?

The treatment options for spinal stenosis depend on the location, extent of the stenosis, the underlying cause and, most importantly, the degree of nerve damage caused. The primary aim of treatment is to release the nerve under pressure. To do this, we first use conservative – i.e. non-surgical – treatment methods.

Pain and inflammation relief with medication is part of the complex conservative therapy : this can be done by topical steroid injection, oral prescription and non-prescription medication. In addition to medication, other pain-relieving treatments may be recommended, such as medical collagen injections and physiotherapy (safe laser, ultrasound therapy, electrotherapy). After acute pain relief, regular specific physiotherapy exercises are recommended to stabilize the spine and strengthen the deep muscles. It is worthwhile to include regular exercise and sport in your daily life, for example swimming is very useful for the treatment of spinal pain. In the diet, try to eat as many vegetables and fruits as possible and foods high in calcium, magnesium, chondroitin and vitamin D. Drinking plenty of water is also recommended to prevent degeneration of cartilage and discs.

If conservative therapy is not effective or symptoms require immediate intervention (e.g. urinary/faecal dysfunction, paralysis), surgery is necessary. Surgery for spinal stenosis is performed by a neurosurgeon. Physiotherapy and physiotherapy also play a key role in post-operative rehabilitation.

Most Common Complaints Treated by Spine Medicine Center Specialists

• lower back pain
• lower back pain
• scoliosis
• nerve compression
• back pain
• neck pain
• stiff neck – neck stiffness
• osteoporosis
• spinal pain
• spinal stenosis
• back pain
• lumbar spine pain
• gluteal muscle pain
• poor posture
• sacrum pain
• shoulder blade pain
• morning lower back pain
• neck pain