As you age, your body, including your spine, undergoes physiological changes due to the natural wear and tear of tissues and organs. This results in a variety of ailments and pains for which patients typically come to our pain management clinic for treatment. One of them is lumbar spinal stenosis.
Brief description of lumbar spinal stenosis
The lumbar spine is composed of 5 lumbar vertebrae. It is the area of the lower back that curves toward the abdomen, between the ribs and hips. Stenosis is the medical term for any abnormal narrowing of a tube or passage in the body.
So, lumbar spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal, narrowing the space around the spinal cord. This increases pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots, causing pain, weakness, and numbness in the legs and lower back.
This spinal disorder is a common cause of lower back and leg pain in older adults. Studies show that lumbar spinal stenosis affects 200,000 Americans and is expected to increase to 64 million by 2025.
risk factors
The following factors make you susceptible to this condition:
- Over 50 years old
- History of spinal trauma
- congenital spinal deformity
- Genetic disorders of bones and muscles
reason
The most common cause of lumbar spinal stenosis is arthritis, the degeneration of the body’s joints. Arthritis of the spine occurs after disc degeneration and water loss. Dry and brittle discs can lead to collapse of the disc space and narrowing of the spinal canal.
Signs and symptoms
The signs and symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis depend on the severity of the condition. These include:
Back pain may or may not be present, depending on the severity of arthritis
Sciatica is a burning sensation that starts in the buttocks and radiates down the leg. This happens because of compression of the spinal nerves that supply the legs and hips. As the pressure increases, there may be tingling and numbness.
Foot drop is characterized by weakness in one or both legs when nerve pressure reaches dangerous levels.
- Sitting and leaning forward can relieve pain
This happens because when you lean forward, the space around the nerves (spinal canal) widens, taking some of the pressure off the spinal cord. On the other hand, walking and standing upright can worsen the pain.
If you are experiencing bowel or bladder loss and severe pain or numbness in one or both legs, please contact Aventura’s Pain Clinic immediately as these conditions require immediate medical attention.
prevention tips
Because lumbar spinal stenosis is age-related and osteoarthritis is a common problem over age 50, the condition cannot be completely prevented. However, here are some helpful tips to reduce your risk of developing this disease:
Performing exercises that target your back muscles can make them stronger and provide better support for your lower body. It also makes your spine more flexible.
Maintain good form and use proper body mechanics when lifting heavy objects. It is also recommended to sleep on a firm mattress and use an ergonomic chair with good back support.
Keeping yourself within a normal weight range ensures that you don’t put too much weight and stress on your lower back.
About our pain doctors Florida Pain Care Specialists
Dr. Luis Escobar is a leading provider of interventional pain treatments. Dr. Escobar is board certified by the American Board of Anesthesia and the American Board of Pain Management and has been an expert in his field for over 15 years. Dr. Escobar works with his patients to treat the root cause of their pain so that you can get back to the things you love in life.
Our pain management clinics offer patients more options than their primary care physicians when it comes to comprehensive interventional pain management. Our pain management doctors perform procedures such as nerve blocks, spinal injections and other interventional techniques to help you manage your pain and improve your quality of life.
We offer several convenient locations for patients:
Are you feeling pain? We can help! Contact us today for a consultation and take the step toward a pain-free life.
The information contained on this website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute the provision of medical advice and does not substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your health, always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider.
