How do you know if you have spinal stenosis or not? The first suspicions will be if you feel certain symptoms that this condition brings with it. Sometimes, the neck and the back hurt. Very often, the person might feel numbness along the back, sometimes the pain radiates around the back and down the leg. There could also be cramping and a feeling of weakness.
Certain symptoms could be a lot more serious than these. There could be bladder and bowel movement problems and this happens if there is a compression of the root nerves at the base of the spine. These nerves are called cauda equine and if they are affected, you could experience these symptoms as well as sexual dysfunction, loss of feeling in the legs and a lot of pain.
How do doctors come to the conclusion that what you have is spinal stenosis? The doctor might suspect when you tell him the symptoms but he will ask you to take an X-ray after testing your movements and how much you can use your spine. The checks that the doctor will do are tests on how much you can move, testing for pain during movement and for reflexes as well as strength in the limbs. The X-rays are to rule out any other problems like growth, injuries to the spine, etc. You might also have to undergo an MRI in case the doctor thinks is it is necessary. A CAT scan will also be advised if the doctor feels that a more thorough examination is needed. Some doctors will ask for a myelogram as well where a dye is injected into the spine so the nerves and the spinal cord show up.
How is spinal stenosis treated? Most doctors will prescribe pain medication so the patient isn’t in discomfort all the time. If the pain is bad, cortisone injections will be prescribed – this is to reduce the inflammation caused by the pressure on any of the nerves or the spinal cord. Anesthetic injections might also have to be given to numb the pain in the area temporarily. If the condition is very bad, surgery might be suggested but surgery involves considerable risk as it involves the very delicate and sensitive area in and around the spinal cord.
This will be supported by exercises – some very mild, some more vigorous but nothing so strenuous that it causes further damage. These exercises are to try and put anything that is out of place gently back into place and to minimize the amount of pressure that the narrowing might have caused. Swimming and walking are usually recommended for most and cycling too for a few. There will be certain ‘don’ts’ as well that the patient will have to follow if he does not want to aggravate the condition. Many patients will have to wear some kind of support like a corset or a lumbar brace to ensure that the spine stays in place.
Spinal stenosis can be treated with alternative methods of healing as well and chiropractic treatment is one where people have said they have found a lot of relief. This involves physical manipulation of the spine to get it back into position and to reduce any pressure that might have been caused. Acupressure and acupuncture are also methods that are resorted to by people who suffer from this condition and there have been cases where there has been relief.