Back and Spine Health
Spinal stenosis refers to the constriction of the bony openings in the spine. This causes the spacing to cramp to the point it affects the nerves. When this occurs, the spinal canal makes it difficult for the spinal nerves to function as they are supposed to. As the narrowing happens, it can start to activate the spinal nerves leading to tingling, numbness, and pain.
If you think you may be suffering from spinal stenosis, be sure to consult local surgeon for spine treatment in Las Vegas, NV.
Symptoms of Spinal Stenosis
1. Pain
The most common symptom is going to come in the form of pain that radiates from the lower back to the neck. In some cases, it’s going to feel like an electric shock that can spread to the arms or legs while others will note a duller pain.
It is also possible for the pain to be described as a tingling sensation that refuses to go away.
2. Spinal Osteoarthritis
This is when the cartilage around the facet joints will begin to depreciate. This means the bones are going to be fully exposed to each other and begin to rub together. This can lead to significant pain and the development of bone spurs.
3. Degenerative Disc Disease
This will involve the discs in a person’s back beginning to lose their shape and structure. It will cause what is known as a disc bulge and this can be quite uncomfortable for those who are facing this type of degeneration.
How Does Spinal Stenosis Occur?
The one question most people are going to have involves the occurrence of spinal stenosis and what causes it to happen in the first place.
For the most part, it is associated with aging and it can happen gradually in people as they start to cross the age of 50. It can also occur earlier if a person has a genetic predisposition that causes their spine to lose its shape quickly.
Spinal stenosis will get worse with time and its progression is quite uncomfortable. In the beginning, the symptoms are not going to be aggressive and you might not notice them. These symptoms can be treated with medication, physical therapy, and rest.
As the symptoms continue to get worse, it will become obvious that something is wrong. This can include additional symptoms such as numbness, weakness, and of course radiating pain. To treat this condition, it is possible surgery is going to be needed. This will help increase the spacing in the spine to ensure the nerves are not getting compressed when you move around.
A qualified surgeon can help with this part of the process.
It’s important to speak to a specialist to get a better read on the situation and what the side effects might be of getting surgery done.
The Severity of Spinal Stenosis
The real concern associated with any type of spinal condition has to do with the impact it has on your neurological health. This can include cauda equina syndrome or radiculopathy. When this occurs, the compression of the spinal nerve will lead to numbness all the time or potential paralysis if the case is severe.
As a result, ignoring the symptoms is not an option at all. You have to get out in front of the issue as soon as possible to make sure it does not lead to further complications and a spine surgeon in Las Vegas, NV is the best option.
