Spinal stenosis is a condition that can make your legs and back feel numb, painful, and weak. The narrowing of the gaps in the spine causes pressure on the spinal cord and nerves, resulting in the disorder. When you experience spinal stenosis Houston, it is crucial to seek medical treatment to relieve the pressure on your spine and nerves and avoid further damage to your spine.

These are some of the causes of spinal stenosis:

• Arthritis: This is the most common cause of spinal stenosis. Arthritis can cause the bones in the spine to rub against each other, narrowing the spine’s spaces.
• Herniated disc: A herniated disc occurs when the gel-like center of a disc rupture and puts pressure on the nerves in the spine. This can also lead to the narrowing of the spaces in the spine.
• Spinal tumors: Tumors that grow in the spine can press on the spinal cord and nerves and cause stenosis.
• Injury: An injury to the spine can damage the vertebrae and lead to stenosis.

Now that you know of the causes, it is advisable to know the symptoms to look for:

• Leg pain: This is the most common symptom of spinal stenosis. Leg pain is caused by the pressure on the nerves in the spine. The pain can be mild or severe and can worsen with walking or standing.
• Numbness or tingling in the legs: This happens when the nerves are compressed and can’t send signals properly.
• Weakness in the legs: This happens when the nerves are compressed and can’t send signals properly.
• Loss of balance: It happens when the pressure on the nerves causes difficulty in controlling the muscles in the legs.
• Difficulty walking: This happens when leg pain and weakness make walking difficult.

If you experience any of these symptoms, you must see a doctor receive a diagnosis and treatment. The goal of treatment is to relieve the pressure on the spinal cord and nerves. Treatment for spinal stenosis may include:

Medications

Over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help most patients with mild spinal stenosis. If they do not relieve your pain, your doctor may prescribe more potent pain relievers or steroids to reduce inflammation. You must understand that you should never ignore the pain and should get care as soon as feasible.

Physical therapy

Physical therapy can help strengthen the spine’s muscles and improve flexibility. Physical therapy may also include exercises that can help to relieve pain. Your doctor can refer you to a physical therapist.

Surgery

If medications and physical therapy don’t relieve your symptoms, your doctor may recommend surgery. Several types of surgeries can be used to treat spinal stenosis. The type of surgery that is best for you will depend on the severity of your condition and where the narrowing is in your spine.

These are the options for treating spinal stenosis, and you should always seek medical help as soon as possible when you experience any symptoms related to this condition. Contact Hui Kang, MD, for a treatment plan that is best for you and can help relieve your pain.