Spinal Stenosis – Reasons and Treatment Options

By Ron M Smith

Spinal Stenosis is a medical condition that is found mostly in elderly people. The spinal canal, which stretches from the bottom of the head to the top of the pelvis, might become narrow and the spinal cord and nerves get compressed. This causes low back pain, pain or numbness in legs, thighs and buttocks, and sometimes loss of bladder and bowel control in severe cases.

The spinal canal consists of a number of vertebrae aligned together like a stack. The spinal canal may be divided into cervical spine (in the neck), thoracic spine (the mid back) and lumbar spine (the lower back). The spinal cord passes though the spinal canal. There are nerves coming out from the spinal cord and between the openings (known as foramen) in vertebrae, spreading out to the whole body. The nerves from spinal cord in the cervical region control the arms the nerves from spinal cord in the lumbar region control the legs. Spinal Stenosis is more common in cervical and lumbar spine. Lumbar spinal stenosis causes pain and numbness in legs whereas cervical spinal stenosis can cause pain and numbness in arms, shoulders and legs.

The foremost reason for narrowing of the spinal canal is a gradual degeneration of the spine with age. The gradual changes in bony and soft tissues of the spine may result in spinal stenosis. Osteoporosis or a tumor can also put pressure on the spinal cord and nerves. Arthritis can settle in with age and also affect the spine. This can cause cartilage wear and tear between the bones on the joints of the vertebral column. The discs between the vertebrae might bulge out or ligaments can also thicken in some cases. This cramps the space available for spinal nerves and spinal tissues, resulting in pain and numbness in lower back or legs. Such arthritis only worsens with time and if not treated promptly, can result in loss of bladder and bowel control. If one vertebra slips forward on another, that can also cause spinal stenosis.

Treatment for spinal stenosis depends on the severity of the condition. It is always advisable to start with a non operative course. Medication needs to be taken to reduce inflammation and pain. Some medications meant for nerve pain are particularly helpful. Physiotherapy can also be tried as a treatment option. Application of hot and cold packs can also help. Steroid injections for the lumbar spine can provide relief but should be taken in moderation. A corset can be worn to support the abdominal muscles.

If there is no improvement with these treatments or if the patient experiences loss of bladder and bowel control, it is better to opt for surgery to avoid damaging the spinal tissues permanently. Generally, Lumbar Decompression Surgery is needed to remove whatever might be cramping the nerves in the spinal canal or vertebral foramen. A small portion of vertebra may be removed so that spinal tissues are freed. If the number of restrictive structures to be removed is much, it can cause spinal instability. In such a case, a spinal fusion is required to attach the vertebrae together. This surgery can successfully eliminate the pain and numbness in legs.

Ron Smith is a free lance writer and a health & fitness expert who has been associated with several health care providers across various specialties. Through his articles, smith wishes to inform and educate public about laser spine surgery which will benefit those who are looking for resourceful information regarding health.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ron_M_Smith

This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Seek the guidance of a licensed physician if you need medical advice.

Spinal Stenosis Information

Spinal Stenosis Information
More Spinal Stenosis Info

Scoliosis and Back Pain – Symptoms and Treatments

By Sally Ann Quirke

Scoliosis can be simply defined as a curve within the spine – whenever there is a deviation in your spine to the right or left, it is called a scoliosis.

There are 2 types of Scoliosis: Congenital and Idiopathic Scoliosis.

Congenital scoliosis is when you are born with a structural deviation in the spine. Your back will twist either left or right from birth. However, it often only starts to become visible at the ages of 2-5 or sometimes as late as the early teenage years. The cause of congenital scoliosis is not clear. It is basically hereditary and causes bones (vertebrae ) within your back to sometimes fuse together and then further grow in a crooked manner.

When identified early on, congenital scoliosis can be operated on with a positive effect on the growth of your spine. This is, however, a complex procedure and serious thought should be given as this surgical intervention can influence the whole quality of your life. Always look for more than one medical opinion.

Congenital scoliosis also leads to imbalances in the muscles surrounding the spine. Any physical treatment is directed at relieving the symptoms in the majority of cases (management), unless surgical intervention has been successful with structural correction. I find that early physiotherapy post-operation is a necessity in to manage congenital scoliosis effectively.

Idiopathic scoliosis on the other hand is where you develop a twist in the spine after an injury, or a following a medical condition. Examples that I see involve clients over sixty who have osteoporosis or clients who have disc injuries in the back (a deviation happens in the spine to reduce pressure on the disc affected.)

Most idiopathic scoliosis may be corrected with physiotherapy management and other related scoliosis treatments. However, when a scoliosis is left untreated for longer than a couple of weeks a full recovery can become increasingly difficult. There are many causes of scoliosis, diagnosing the cause of scoliosis is most important in the relief of this spine condition. Make sure you get specialist medical and physiotherapy help as soon as possible.

Scoliosis and Related Back Pain.

In my own experience with scoliosis over the past 20 years – muscle and ligament pain are the most common associated back pain. On one side of the spinal twist the ligaments, muscles, joints, discs and nerves are all compressed. By comparison, the other side these structures are increasingly being over-stretched. As a result – you will probably feel pain and symptoms linked with the compressed and overstretched structures. Pain comes about from these soft tissues being overstretched and gradually damaged – resulting in inflammation and degradation with each of these structures. Each one of these can produce the symptoms of back pain you will probably experience over time.

Idiopathic scoliosis can be frequently reversed when tackled early. Mobilisation therapy and exercise and are my own treatments of choice. However, should ignore your scoliosis and its related pain for extended periods, reversing the damage can become more difficult. Eventual joint damage may develop which leads to potentially far more trouble for your back. Congenital scoliosis also demands an early intervention – surgery alongside exercise therapy is the most used treatment of choice with this condition.

In conclusion, it is important to obtain diagnosis as early on as possible. In my opinion, this early intervention will greatly reduce the occurrence of back pain in relation to scoliosis.

Sally Ann Quirke is a Chartered PhysioTherapist based in Fermoy, Cork, Ireland. She specialises in the relief of Back Pain – and also runs a website: http://www.managebackpain.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sally_Ann_Quirke

This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Seek the guidance of a licensed physician if you need medical advice.

Scoliosis Resources

Scoliosis Information
Scoliosis – Mayo Clinic