Spinal Stenosis
Spinal Stenosis can put pressure into your spinal cord or the nerves that connect it with your muscles, causing pain and discomfort.
If you are suffering from spinal stenosis or associated symptoms, at Arch Orthopedic & Spine we offer personalized treatments to alleviate the pain and get you back to function. Reach us at our Watkinsville or Loganville, Georgia, locations or book an appointment online today.
What Causes Spinal Stenosis?
The column is made out of the spinal bones, which are stacked from the skull to the tailbone. These bones protect the spinal cord that runs through the spinal canal. There’s patients that are born with a short spinal canal, but there are also external influences that can reduce the space found within the spine, and some of them are:
- Bone spurs: The damage caused by arthritis can start to form an extra bone on the spine, creating bone spurs that get into the canal.
- Herniated disks: The disks are the soft cushions that protect you from any shock caused between the spinal bones, but if these parts leak out, the pain can impact the nerves or the spinal cord.
- Thick ligaments: The bones in your spine are held together by a group of cords, but these can become stiff and weak as time passes, and can get in the way of the spinal canal.
- Tumors: Although it’s not common, tumors can grow inside the spinal canal.
- Spinal injuries: Traumatic injuries can make your spinal bones break or move out of place, and the swelling in your tissues after treating your injury with a surgery can also display pressure onto the spinal cord or the nerves.
Types of Symptoms
Spinal stenosis symptoms don’t develop quickly as you may think, but they start showing up when your spine narrow puts pressure on your bone structure. These symptoms you get depend on the location of the narrowing in your spine.
Lower Back Symptoms
- Pain in the lower back.
- Burning pain or ache that goes down the buttocks and inside the legs, that typically worsens with standing or walking and slightly alleviates when leaning forward.
- Numbness, tingling, or cramping in the legs and feet. These can be more felt while standing or walking.
- Weakness in the legs and feet.
Neck Symptoms
- Numbness or tingling that radiates down the arms into the hands.
- Weakness in a hand, arm, or fingers.
- Walking, standing, or extending the lumbar area of the spine can cause symptoms to worsen. Sitting or flexing the lower back or neck may relieve symptoms. The flexed position “opens up” the spinal column, enlarging the spaces between vertebrae at the back of the spine.
“”The thing I like best about Dr. Callaway is his knowledge and expertise in the latest procedures and treatments for my conditions. And he explains everything very well!”
Treatments for Spinal Stenosis
If you’ve been diagnosed with spinal stenosis, you can choose a variety of treatments to heal you, depending on conditions like the cause, the location of your injury, how severe your symptoms are, etc.
At-home care
Treating your spinal stenosis at home is recommended for those who are experiencing mild symptoms that can be easily managed. The most common practices are applying heat or a cold compress on the affected area, and flexibility exercises.
Non-Surgical Treatments
If your spinal stenosis is getting worse over time, you can opt for non-surgical treatments, such as:
Oral medications: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications relieve inflammation and the pain caused by spinal stenosis. You may be prescribed medications that are antiseizure, or tricyclic antidepressants. If you’re suffering from muscle cramps, relaxants are also recommended.
Physical therapy: Designed to help you gain strength and regain your balance, flexibility and spine stability. By doing core-focused exercises and correcting your posture, your spine will become stronger.
Steroid injections: Corticosteroid injections can reduce the inflammation, pain and irritation felt in the space around the pinched spinal nerves.
How Our Treatments Can Help You
Dr. Callaway will make sure to treat your lower back pain in the safest, less invasive way possible. With his personalized care, he makes sure that his patients can get back on track easily, without risking their safety and health. Whether or not your case requires surgery or a nonsurgical procedure, his ultimate goal is to improve your overall health and wellbeing.
If you would like more information about our approach on spinal stenosis, call Arch Orthopedic & Spine or book a personalized appointment online today.