Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis is a chronic pain condition characterized by sharp pain in the back that can range from moderate to severe. The pain can be located anywhere along the back, though it typically occurs in the lower (lumbar) back. This is why the condition is commonly known as lumbar spinal stenosis, or LSS.
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What causes spinal stenosis?
The word stenosis is a medical term that means narrowing. Spinal stenosis occurs when the spinal canal narrows and compresses the nerves that run through it.
The most common cause of spinal canal narrowing is gradual wear and tear over time, called degeneration. This is why spinal stenosis is primarily found in people over 50.
Less common causes of stenosis can include:
- Spinal injury
- Spinal tumors
- Previous spinal surgeries
- Certain diseases of the bones
What are symptoms of spinal stenosis?
Spinal stenosis symptoms often start off mild and grow more severe over time. The most common symptoms of spinal stenosis include:
- Pain in the back
- Numbness, cramping, tingling, or weakness in the legs
- Loss of sensation in the feet
A telltale sign that back pain is caused by spinal stenosis is if the pain is relieved by bending forward. Many spinal stenosis patients have commented that they experience some relief when leaning over a shopping cart at the supermarket. Known as the “shopping cart sign,” this forward leaning motion flexes the spine, which opens the spinal canal a bit and relieves pressure on nerves.
How is spinal stenosis treated?
There are a variety of way to help relieve the pain caused by spinal stenosis, ranging from conservative treatments such as physical therapy and pain medications, to highly specialized, advanced techniques like injections, spinal cord stimulation, and the Vertiflex® interspinous spacer implant.
Twin Cities Pain Clinic specializes in a variety of treatments for treating spinal stenosis pain, including:
Schedule an appointment with Twin Cities Pain Clinic to learn how we can help relieve your spinal stenosis pain.
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