Is Spinal Stenosis the Cause of Your Back Pain?

Spinal stenosis is a spinal trouble usually discovered in people older than 50 years of age. The disease causes tapering of spaces within the patient's spine, thus, pressurizing underlying cardinal nerves. This force causes pain and worsens over time. One may not sense the upshot of narrowing spine initially, however, with age, many people endure radiating pain, numbness of nerves and fragility. The narrowing can supervene either at the center of the spine or in the branches of the vertebrae. The spinal cord is the rationale why humans can bend or stand, and one must not ignore any abnormalities happening to the backbone.

What are the types of spinal stenosis?

There are two classifications of this disease whose source area, where narrowing takes place, is the basis of differentiation:

1.       Cervical Stenosis- The contraction of bones and pressurizing of nerves happens in the neck of a person.

2.       Lumbar Stenosis- This is the most prevalent form of stenosis which occurs in the lower back.

What are its symptoms?

Are you facing severe pain or numbness in the lower back or around your neck? This abnormality can trigger doubt for stenosis to your specialist. Your specialist can ratify the dubiety by prescribing an MRI or CT scan for you if you observe the following prodromes:

In cervical spine (neck):

·         Numbness or prickling in foot, leg, hand or arm

·         Inability to walk

·         Body imbalance

·         Hand, arm, foot or leg turning weak

·         Bowel or bladder dysfunction in dreadful cases

In lumbar spine (lower back):

·         Numbness or prickling in foot or leg

·         Cramps in one or both legs

·         Foot or leg turning weak

·         Severe back pain

What are the primary causes?

·         Excess growing bone- A bone usually overgrows into spinal canal due to damage resulting from osteoarthritis. Another cause of bone overgrowth can be Paget's disease, a disease ordinarily borne by adults.

·         Herniated disks- In humans, there is an interweaving of the spinal cord with shock absorbers which veer to brittle with age. Any crack in disk's external surface may allow the inner material to force the nerves, thus, causing stenosis.

·         Ligament thickening- The ligaments that hold spine can congeal with age, thus bulging into the spinal canal.

·         Tumors- Unwanted growths in the spinal cord can pressurize nerves and cause nerve dysfunction.

·         Spinal injuries- Stenosis is an old age disease. However, accidents or trauma can transpire this condition in early ages as well. Displaced bone, swelling tissues or any fracture can cause this disease.

Spine Specialists in San Antonio

If you are looking for a spine doctor in San Antonio, then consult doctors at South Texas Spinal Clinic. Their specialists are dedicated to personalized care and are proficient in curing back pain and related diseases. If you take good care of your health and don't want your back pain disorders to overwhelm your lifestyle then consult one of the best spine doctors in San Antonio at South Texas Spinal Clinic.