Young physiotherapist exercises in a bright medical office with his injured patient
Recognizing and understanding common and not so common neck and low back spinal Stenosis symptoms can help in getting an early diagnosis and beginning a preventative treatment plan. Symptoms develop when the spinal canal begins to narrow. The nerve roots become compressed/pinched causing:
The low back and neck are commonly affected by this age-related and progressive disorder. Symptoms can inhibit the ability to move without discomfort, pain, and neurological issues like tingling sensations and numbness that spreads out or radiates into other parts of the body.
The most common symptom of spinal Stenosis is pain in the:
These symptoms are called neurogenic claudication. Some individuals with low back spinal stenosis experience symptoms only when standing or moving/walking around. Discomfort usually eases up when bent forward and goes away when the individual sits down. Example: Grocery shopping feels a lot better when leaning forward on the handle of the cart, with pain reduced. This is common for people with spinal stenosis in the low back. Pain that goes away and reduces when bending forward, sitting down, or lying down is common of low back spinal Stenosis.
Understanding that claudication is not neurogenic or pseudo claudication is important. The symptoms of claudication are similar to pseudo claudication, however, the cause is different. Claudication is caused by the blood not circulating properly in the leg muscles. Other symptoms are low back pain and low back spreading pain or radiculopathy.
Better known as sciatica, lumbar radiculopathy involves:
Some individuals experience pain in both legs, with one leg having worse pain than the other.
There can be severe cases of lumbar spinal Stenosis where the nerves that control the bladder or bowel can get compressed, leading to partial or complete incontinence. If there are problems controlling the bladder or bowel seek immediate medical attention.
Spinal Stenosis symptoms in the neck can cause cervical radiculopathy. This can include pain along with:
These symptoms may radiate downward from your neck into one or both shoulders, arms, and/or hands. The pain caused by cervical spinal Stenosis has been described as:
The intensity can go from mild to severe along with other symptoms that include:
With severe cervical spinal stenosis, symptoms can be associated with cervical myelopathy. Cervical myelopathy happens when the spinal canal narrows so much that it compresses the spinal cord in the neck. Pinched nerves in the neck can affect the shoulders, arms, and hands. Myelopathy can affect both the arms and legs.
Symptoms of cervical myelopathy can include:
Imaging studies like MRI and CT scans can detect a spinal disorder from an individual that has no symptoms. This is why imaging tests are performed to confirm a diagnosis. This is supported by results from the physical/ neurological exams, medical history, and symptoms.
Those who have undergone an x-ray or other imaging test for a non-spinal related issue could have discovered they have spondylosis, osteophytes, and a herniated disc. However, they never knew it because they showed no symptoms. Spinal Stenosis of the spine is usually an age-related and gradual process of physical change. It can take time for symptoms to show themselves. If you have neck or low back pain symptoms that are becoming worse, speak with your doctor.