Spinal Stenosis in Adults: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

 A condition in which the size of the spinal canal or intervertebral foramen decreases is called stenosis of the intervertebral canal. As a result of this process, the roots of the canal and the spinal cord are strongly compressed. This disease is most often diagnosed in the location of the lower lumbar vertebrae. But no exception is cases when stenosis of the intervertebral canal makes itself felt in the thoracic and cervical spine.

The spinal canal also has a second name - the spinal canal. It represents a certain space that is located inside the spinal column. It forms:

·         In front - vertebral body.

·         Intervertebral discs.

·         Behind and on both sides - the arches of the vertebrae (they are interconnected by a special biological yellow ligament).

·         Looking at it in a cross-section, you can see that it can be either round or oval.

The spinal channel includes:

The back of the brain with paired nerve roots that depart from it and go beyond this canal through their specific openings (they are surrounded by a Dura mater).

Loose and adipose connective tissue, consists of nerves, arteries, and veins.

The spinal cord in turn performs two main functions:

Conductive (sends and transmits a nerve impulse from the center of its location to the periphery, and then returns this signal back);

Reflex (forms a response to all kinds of irritations from the nervous system).

Stenosis of the spinal canal of the lumbar, as well as the thoracic and cervical canal, can be both congenital and acquired.

Symptoms and signs of spinal stenosis

Stenosis of the spinal canal develops at the level of the lumbar, thoracic, or cervical region rather slowly. This process can take several years of a person's life. The main symptoms are gradually increasing pain in a certain location. Moreover, discomfort makes them felt not only in the back but also in the legs. At first, the disease manifests itself only when walking, and then the pain is present at rest.

Pain does not have a clear localization. When walking, weakness in the legs increases. The person wants to sit down or even lie down. Light bending of the legs or slight forward leaning of the torso can relieve symptoms. Characteristic sensory disorders in stenosis of the spinal canal of the lumbar spine are numbness, decreased sensitivity in the legs, and a feeling of "Goosebumps".

Often, the function of the pelvic organs can also be impaired. This is manifested in a decrease in potency in men, defecation, delay, or vice versa - a sudden urge to urinate. With prolonged compression of the nerve roots of the spinal cord, one can notice that the lower limbs began to gradually lose weight. Symptoms of stenosis of the spinal canal of the cervical or thoracic are also manifested in the growing spastic phenomenon in the legs.

Often this disease goes unnoticed. It is usually diagnosed at later stages of development. Especially in the case when it comes to the defeat of the cervical region. The pain may gradually appear in the neck. It can be either one-sided or two-sided. Unpleasant and painful sensations appear in the shoulder blades, shoulders, neck, and arms. With certain movements of the neck, these pains begin to intensify. In the legs, there is a feeling of "cotinine’s". Stenosis of the cervical spinal canal is characterized by constipation and urinary retention.

If compression occurs at the level of 3-4 vertebrae, then respiratory dysfunction is noticeable. Spastic phenomena are manifested both in the legs and in the hands.

Diagnosis of spinal stenosis

Any signs of spinal stenosis require an urgent diagnosis of the disease. This allows you to either identify the disease or refute its presence. But upon detection, it is possible to begin treatment in order to prevent the active development and progressive spread of relative spinal canal stenosis at any level.

If there are certain symptoms of stenosis of the lumbar spinal canal, additional examination methods are carried out to measure the size of the spinal canal, to identify the main causes that cause compression of all nerve elements included in the system. This allows you to understand how to treat spinal stenosis.

Diagnostics can be carried out using:

·         Radiography.

·         Computed tomography (CT).

·         Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

To assess the state of nerve conduction and the spinal cord, the methods are used:

·         Electroneuromyography.

·         Myelography.

·         Scintigraphy.

Stenosis of the spinal canal l5 s1 and other levels is diagnosed according to the totality of the identified signs of pathological narrowing. Specialists can identify both relative spinal stenosis and degenerative spinal stenosis.

Treatment

Some cases allow resorting to treatment without surgery for spinal stenosis. In the early stages of the disease, conservative methods are available. But this is possible only when there are no pronounced neurological disorders, and the patient is only concerned about pain in the lower back and legs.

Medical treatment of stenosis of the spinal canal l4 s1 and other levels is used.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They help relieve inflammation and relieve pain.

Muscle relaxants. Relieve muscle tension.

B vitamins.

Vascular and diuretics.

Drug blockade with local anesthetics and hormones. Remove pain and swelling.

Also, with stenosis of the spinal canal at the l4 l5 level, physiotherapeutic procedures are prescribed. This includes:

·         Electrophoresis.

·         Amplipulse.

·         Physiotherapy exercises (LFK).

·         Magnetic therapy.

·         Light massage.

Water and mud treatment.

Exercises that do not give a large load on the back, but at the same time perfectly develop the vertebrae, help with stenosis of the spinal canal.