Spinal stenosis is a condition that causes your spinal cord to become narrowed, which can cause pain, numbness, and tingling in your limbs. However, it might require surgery if you’re experiencing severe lower back pain related to sciatica or numbness. This guide will go through the signs and symptoms of this condition and the non-surgical treatments available for those struggling with this condition. Continue on for Spinal Stenosis: What Should You Know About It?
What is Spinal Stenosis?
When your spinal canal narrows, causing swelling, irritation of the nerve roots in the lower back takes place leading to spinal stenosis. This canal narrowing might be due to bone spurs, disc degeneration, or other causes.
Stenosis is often accompanied by severe and persistent pain, affecting your daily life. It is due to muscle cramps caused by the pinching of the nerve roots at the point where they leave your spinal canal. The pain may vary in intensity but is constant, often running down your buttock and radiating down one or both legs.
Symptoms of Spinal Stenosis
There are many symptoms of spinal stenosis, including pain, numbness, tingling in your extremities, fatigue, weakness, and muscle spasms. If left untreated, it may lead to more severe conditions such as bowel or bladder dysfunction or paralysis of your legs or arms.
1. Pain in Stenosis
There are many causes of pain, and pain in this condition is not necessarily a symptom of spinal stenosis. However, spinal stenosis can cause severe stabbing, or burning pain in the lower back.
2. Numbness and Tingling
Numbness is another common symptom associated with spasms caused by narrowing your spinal canal, which worsens when you exercise.
Tingling is another common symptom that occurs as a result of nerve compression or nerve damage. For example, your legs may feel like they have pins and needles, and you may feel a prickly or burning sensation in your toes, hands, or feet.
3. Pain that Radiates Down Your Buttock
Spinal stenosis can cause severe pain radiating down both legs, coupled with numbness. However, the pain might vary from dull, continuous discomfort to stabbing pain in your buttocks.
Other symptoms include muscle cramps, extreme pain that begins after resting, pain in the lower back, buttocks, or legs when walking, and many more.
Non-Surgical Treatment
Pain management is often the first line of treatment in spinal stenosis and can be as simple as treating the source of your pain.
For example, if you have persistent muscle cramps or nerve pain, this will need to be treated with medication or other treatments. Numbness and tingling may also require treatment with medicines like lidocaine.
It is best to discuss any numbness and tingling issues with your doctor. To get the best, non-surgical treatment for spinal stenosis, visit Advanced Spine & Disc of Murray.
It is essential to manage your pain levels during the day so that you do not have symptoms limiting your physical activity. Avoiding activities that increase pain levels can also help reduce symptoms and ensure that you can continue with your daily routine.
By treating the underlying causes of spinal stenosis and managing your pain levels, you can manage your symptoms and keep your spine healthy.
Physical therapy can help those who have poor exercise tolerance due to their condition. Exercises like swimming, swimming laps, cycling, and walking or lightweight training can improve leg strength and endurance.
Do you suffer from any back pain issues? What have you tried to improve your symptoms? Join in the discussion in the comments below and on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram!
