Stamford
Your spine offers support and stability to your upper body. This enables you to turn and twist. You also have spinal nerves in your spinal cord which conduct signals to the rest of your body from your brain. They’re typically protected by the surrounding tissues and bones. If these become impaired or damaged, however, it can impact functions like sensation, balance, and walking.
Spinal stenosis is a type of condition where there’s narrowing in the spaces in your spine, which compresses your spinal cord. It’s typically a gradual process that can happen anywhere along your spine. If there’s minimal narrowing, you may not experience any symptoms. However, if you experience more narrowing, it can compress your nerves. If you’re experiencing any type of symptoms, contact an experienced Stamford, CT spinal stenosis specialist at CT Spine & Orthopedic to have them evaluated.
There are various factors that can contribute to spinal canal narrowing and lead to spinal stenosis. Generally, the vertebral canal offers sufficient room for your spinal cord. However, injury, age-related spinal changes, inherited conditions, and other diseases can lead to the narrowing of the spaces.
When you age, you experience age-related spinal changes that may slowly cause loss of normal spine structure. These age-related changes tend to be the most common causes of spinal stenosis. As individuals age, they may experience calcification and thickening of the ligaments holding their spinal vertebrae in place. Joints and bones can also enlarge.
Another common cause of spinal stenosis is arthritis. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease where the joint tissues break down over time. It’s a very common form of arthritis and is more common in older individuals. It can cause overgrowth or enlargement of bone that narrows the nerve root and central canals, leading to spinal stenosis.
Also, rheumatoid arthritis may lead to spinal stenosis. It causes stiffness, swelling, pain, and loss of function in joints. While it’s not a common cause of spinal stenosis, rheumatoid arthritis damage can lead to substantial issues with spinal joints, and this can lead to spinal stenosis.
There are other conditions that can cause spinal stenosis as well, such as spinal tumors and trauma-related fractures. Consult with an experienced Stamford, CT spinal specialist if you think you may have a condition that can lead to spinal stenosis.
Common spinal stenosis symptoms include:
You can still experience these types of symptoms but not have spinal stenosis. This is why it’s important to meet with a specialist at CT Spine & Orthopedic to determine what your symptoms mean.
There are two common routes for treatment for spinal stenosis in Stamford, CT: non-surgical and surgical options.
Non-surgical treatment options primarily help to manage spinal stenosis symptoms. They may include:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) can help ease pain and inflammation from spinal stenosis. They’re not meant to be used for long-term treatment, as they could cause other problems. Your doctor can educate you on these potential problems and potentially prescribe other medications that provide pain relief properties if needed.
A physical therapist can work with you to develop some back-healthy exercises to help you improve your flexibility, balance, and spine stability, and to gain strength. Strengthening your abdominal muscles and back will help your spine become more resilient.
To decrease pain, inflammation, and irritation, your doctor may provide you with a corticosteroid injection in the space around your pinched spine nerves.
Individuals experiencing severe weakness and pain might require surgery. Your doctor may also refer you to a spine surgeon for potential surgery if your condition is impacting your ability to:
A few types of spine surgery surgeons use to treat spinal stenosis include:
If you’re dealing with symptoms that cause you to believe you might have spinal stenosis, you should reach out to our spinal specialists at CT Spine & Orthopedic right away. We can provide you with an accurate diagnosis and tailor an effective treatment plan that can provide you with symptom relief and enhance your quality of life. Our Concierge Team can also help streamline your appointments to reduce stress.
We provide all of our patients with comprehensive spine care. Call us today at (866) 553-0612 or fill out our online form to schedule an appointment with one of our Stamford, CT spine specialists about your potential spinal stenosis symptoms in Stamford, CT.
