The term “stenosis” comes from a greek word meaning “choking”, and is usually the result of degenerative conditions such as osteoarthritis or degenerative spondylolisthesis. Lumbar Canal Stenosis is t..
The term “stenosis” comes from a greek word meaning “choking”, and is usually the result of degenerative conditions such as osteoarthritis or degenerative spondylolisthesis. Lumbar Canal Stenosis is the narrowing of the spinal canal which in turn compresses the spinal cord and nerves of the lumbar vertebra. Narrowing of the spinal canal usually occurs because of the changes associated with aging which decreases the size of the canal including the movement of one of the vertebrae out of alignment. Some distortion of the spinal canal will occur in virtually every person as they age, however, the severity of the symptoms will depend on the size of a person’s spinal canal and the intrusion on the nerves. The rate of decline varies greatly from person to person, and not everyone would sense weakness or pain. The cause of it may be a number of processes that decrease the amount of space in the spinal canal available for the nerves. Degenerative causes are the most common, but stenosis mostly occurs in individuals who are born with a spinal canal smaller than normal or have rare conditions such as tumors and metabolic conditions.
Symptoms of this disorder usually worsen when walking or standing and might decrease while lying down, sitting, or leaning forward. Its symptoms may also be associated with the compression of the microvascular structures carrying blood flow to the nerve roots. Some of the common symptoms are:
- Bouts of low back or neck pain.
- Mild discomfort in the lower back.
- Leg pain and weakness without having any back pain.
- Numbness, tingling, and weakness in the lower body.
Some of the most probable causes of the disease include:
- Overgrowth of the bones.
- Spinal injuries.
- Tumors.
- Herniated disks.
- Thick ligaments.
The prime risk factors include:
- Weakness.
- Numbness.
- Problems of balance.
- Paralysis.
To prevent the occurrence of this disease, one should take care of these things:
- Exercising on a daily basis.
- Taking a healthy diet.
- Avoiding stress.
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Our superspecialist doctors provide the highest quality of care through a team-based, doctor-led model. Trained at some of the world's most renowned i..... Continue Reading
