Spinal stenosis is a condition where in spinal canal narrows down and results in compression of spinal cord and nerves. This type of narrowing causes extra pressure and initiates a severe pain in the spine. The condition is more prevalent in old age- around 50 to 55 years of age. Those who hurt their spine or born with a narrow spinal cord may experience it in the young age as well.

Our spine (back bone) is virtually the bedrock on which our whole standing and sitting postures depend upon. It consists of 26 bones and protects the spinal cord from getting injured. But at times a sudden jerk, accident or mishap can severely hurt your spine or any of its part. Also, the degeneration of spine is natural process. And with age you may experience it.

Causes of spinal stenosis

Causes of spinal stenosis are varied. Due to the daily wear and tear of the human body, the bones degrade over the time and joints and other crucial body parts also undergo huge changes resulting in pain.

Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are two degenerative disorders, that can become a major cause of spinal stenosis. In some people, the spinal cord gets curved or is smaller from the time of birth which results in spinal stenosis. There are also some miscellaneous causes such as tumors of the spine, some kind of injury or accident, excessive fluoride in the body and alike.

Symptoms of spinal stenosis

Regarding the symptoms of spinal stenosis, you should become careful when your pain appears to be originating in the lower back and slipping to the knees and the foot. The pain can be a tingling one but can also escalate to an unbearable one. Also, in some severe conditions there may be improper functioning of the bladder and bowel and loss of feeling in both the legs.

You should immediately consult a doctor if any of these signs appear in you. The doctors have a variety of tests that can further verify your condition. These tests generally include X-ray, MRI or CT scan, Myelogram and bone test.

Treatment of spinal scoliosis

For the treatment methods, you have a lot of options. If your stenosis is not a major one, a few prescribed painkillers and anti-inflammatory medicines can definitely help you. But, for severe cases, you definitely need to go for a surgery. Apart from this, you can also try some off track treatments like exercising, acupuncture and chiropractic care.

But, while exercising, do not do too much weight training and strictly avoid jerking or twisting anything. It is advisable to take the help of a physical trainer if you seriously want to cure your stenosis through exercise.