What are the symptoms of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis?
What are the symptoms of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis?
What are the non-surgical treatment options?
What are the surgical treatment options?
People with lumbar spinal stenosis often feel lower back pain, general body pain, numbness, weakness, and loss of sensation in the legs. If the sufferer walks for a long period of time, painful shooting sensations can be felt down the legs, this can be alleviated by resting. Sitting or leaning forward is more comfortable, and there are often reports that the pain is improved when walking with a shopping cart or walker for balance.
Often, the symptoms are minimized or even disappear when the sufferer leans or sits forward. The pain can also be made worse by bending backwards. Bending forward actually releases pressure on the pinched or compressed nerves by giving them more space, while bending backwards further narrows the space for the nerves.
The symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis tend to get worse over time. Mostly, it is due to the degenerative arthritis that caused it. If the stenosis is left untreated, permanent neurological damage can be felt, as well as loss of function of the legs, bowel, and bladder. It can even lead to the loss of sexual function.
There are a number of other conditions with similar symptoms, such as peripheral vascular disease, vascular claudication, and diabetic neuropathy. The doctor will go through several examinations and tests for a correct diagnosis.
The tests will start with a medical history. Patients will be asked how long they’ve felt the symptoms, what makes it better or worse, what treatments and medications were taken. They will also be asked about any other co-existing medical conditions.
During the physical examination, the range of motion of the back will be tested. The doctor may also feel your lower back for tenderness. The knees and hips will be checked as well, to see if the joints there are causing symptoms similar to lumbar spinal stenosis. Legs will be examined for reflexes, strength, pulses, sensation and range of motion.
Imaging tests may also be done, starting with an x-ray of the back, and maybe even the hips. The results of this test can show if there are bone spurs, spinal instability or loss of normal intervertebral disc height. An MRI scan or CT scan may then be done to confirm the diagnosis of lumbar spinal stenosis. These show if there is compression of the nerves in the lower back. If further confirmation is needed, or if the doctor wants to check which nerves are affected, an EMG or nerve conduction studies may be ordered.