Spinal nerves run through pathways that emerge through small openings in the spine called foramen. When these spaces become compressed due to the narrowing of the spine, the nerves can become pinched, resulting in a condition known as spinal stenosis. Pain management physicians typically see cases of spinal stenosis in the cervical spine (neck) and lumbar spine (lower back).
Spinal stenosis typically occurs when the spine narrows and pinches surrounding nerves. The narrowing of the spine can develop when the spinal bone grows in excess. This can result from degenerative conditions like osteoarthritis. In some cases, spinal stenosis may occur after an injury. Fractures, dislocations, and herniated discs can press into the nerves causing compression. Although rare, spinal stenosis may be caused by a spinal tumor. Some people have no external injury or condition causing their spinal stenosis. It is possible for people to be born with narrow spines that do not adequately allow the nerves to pass through the foramen.
Because spinal stenosis can occur anywhere in the spine, symptoms may vary depending on which nerves are affected. For example, someone with spinal stenosis in the lumbar spine may experience low back pain that extends into the legs, whereas a patient with stenosis of the cervical spine may feel pain that extends into the arms. Overall, patients may feel pain and numbness or tingling. They may experience weakness or have limited mobility of the affected limbs. Some patients may also experience sciatica, which is pain that runs through the buttocks and legs. In some cases, the patient’s bowels and bladder may be affected by the nerve compression as well.
Many treatment options are available to patients diagnosed with spinal stenosis. A physician may prescribe anti-inflammatory medication or muscle relaxants in order to ease pressure off of the nerves and relieve symptoms. Tulsa Pain Consultants also offers steroid injections, which bathe the irritated nerves with a soothing, anti-inflammatory medication. These injections may provide pain relief for several weeks and may be repeated if advised by a physician. Our pain management experts also believe in a complementary approach to care and may suggest physical therapy in conjunction with steroid injections. If these conservative and minimally invasive treatment options are not enough to relieve spinal stenosis pain, a physician may recommend undergoing surgery to open up space in the spine.
