Does anybody know what spinal stenosis is in the lower back?
Answers:
Spinal stenosis is narrowing of the spinal canal that occurs when excessive growth of bone and/or tissue reduces the size of the openings in the spinal bones. This narrowing can squeeze and irritate the nerve roots that branch out from the spinal cord, or it can squeeze and irritate the spinal cord itself. This may cause pain, numbness, or weakness, most often in the legs, feet, and buttocks. Severe disability is not common.
Spinal stenosis occurs most often in the lower back (lumbar) area. When it does occur in the neck (cervical) area, the spinal cord may become squeezed, which if untreated can lead to nerve damage and paralysis. This topic is about lumbar spinal stenosis. If you need information on spinal stenosis of the neck, see the topic Cervical Spinal Stenosis.
Lumbar spinal stenosis is a result of aging and everyday wear and tear on the spine. Though these changes happen to all of us, not everyone will experience the symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). Features of LSS include persistent, progressive low back pain with or without radiation, numbness or weakness in the buttocks and legs, and symptoms that improve with resting, lying down or bending forward. Unfortunately, many patients with symptoms of spinal stenosis often suffer for a long period of time before seeking medical advice and, even then, can often be misdiagnosed and treated inappropriately. As such, many older people with LSS have had to give up active lifestyles despite conservative treatment with rest, medication, and physical therapy
It's a narrowing of the lumbar spinal canal that pinches the nerves that control muscle power and sensation in the legs. Sometimes the pinched nerves become inflamed and cause pain in the buttocks and/or legs. These changes also can diminish the ability of the spine to carry the load of the upper body. They can lead to the forward slippage of one vertebra on another. This slippage, called "degenerative spondylolisthesis," can cause both back and leg pain.
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