From WWW.BackPainPanacea.com, post Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis is a medical condition in which the spinal canal narrows and compresses the spinal cord and nerves. This is usually due to the common occurrence of spinal degeneration that occurs with aging. It can also sometimes be caused by spinal disc herniation, osteoporosis or a tumor. In the cervical (neck) and lumbar (low back) region it can be a congenital condition to varying degrees.
Spinal stenosis may affect the cervical, thoracic or lumbar spine. In some cases, it may be present in all three places in the same patient. Lumbar spinal stenosis results in low back pain as well as pain or abnormal sensations in the legs, thighs, feet or buttocks, or loss of bladder and bowel control.
Spinal stenosis can be a pain in the neck, literally! This condition is the result of a gradual narrowing of the spinal canal, which may place pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. This most commonly affects the lumbar (low back) and cervical (neck) areas of the spine. The most common cause of spinal stenosis is aging. The rate of progression of the disease varies as people age and the changes are often quite gradual.
Spinal Stenosis Symptoms
The symptoms of spinal stenosis depend on where the narrowing is. Most spinal stenosis affects the lumbar, or lower back, area. You experience pain radiating down your leg that is relieved if you sit or bend forward. In severe cases, you could lose bowel, bladder or sexual function and have difficulty walking.
The second most common area for spinal stenosis to occur is in your neck, or cervical spine. People with cervical stenosis may feel pain radiating down an arm, or aching, numbness or tingling in the arm or leg. They may have difficulty with fine motor skills, such as picking things up with their fingers or writing, problems walking or loss of bladder and bowel control.
Types:
Cervical spinal stenosis occurs in the neck and can involve either the cord or spinal nerves. If spinal nerves are involved, you will have pain, numbness, tingling and/or weakness of the neck, shoulders and/or arms. If the cord is involved, you may also have symptoms affecting your legs, usually uncoordinated movement
and difficulty walking.Thoracic stenosis is rare because there is less curvature in the thoracic spine, and therefore less stress on the joints between vertebrae. The spinal canal is normally narrower in the thoracic spine, however, so it takes less obstruction to cause symptoms.
Lumbar stenosis is common, and involves the lower back. Lumbar stenosis causes pain in the lower back and leg and may also cause weakness in one or both legs.
Whether you suffer from upper back pain, lower back pain, or middle back pain, neck pain, sciatic nerve problems, herniated discs, neck tension, chronic pain, or just general backache, there is hope for you that does not involve expensive and painful surgery, and does not involve the use of dangerous NSAID medications.
From WWW.BackPainPanacea.com, post Spinal Stenosis
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