Stenosis means narrowing. It is a condition where there is an abnormal narrowing of structure or narrowing of blood vessel. There are different kinds of Stenosis which includes Stenosis in the heart valves like pulmonary valve Stenosis, mitral Stenosis, Tricuspid valve Stenosis and Aortic valve Stenosis. Other types of Stenosis include Pyloric Stenosis, subglottic Stenosis, Spinal Stenosis and more.
Spinal Stenosis is quite common back problem and the two types of spinal Stenosis are lumbar Stenosis and cervical Stenosis. Among the two, the lumbar spinal Stenosis is the most common but cervical spinal Stenosis is much more dangerous since it involves compression of the spinal cord.
With Lumbar Stenosis, the spinal nerve roots in the lower back when compressed can produce symptoms of sciatica like tingling, numbness or weakness that spreads from low back to the buttocks and legs.
Cervical spinal Stenosis is more dangerous than the lumbar since it compress the spinal cord. This condition may lead to more serious symptoms like body weakness or even paralysis. This is not possible in the lumbar spine since the spinal cord is not present in the lumbar spine.
Treatment for spinal Stenosis depends on the severity of symptoms though this can often be managed with non-surgical treatments which may include;
Activity Modification. The patient is usually advice to make changes in their activities and try to avoid activities which can aggravate symptoms of spinal Stenosis. Examples for activity modification include performing stationary biking instead of walking for your exercise, using a recliner chair instead of a straight back chair and many more.
Epidural Injections. An injection of cortisone can bring temporary relief of spinal Stenosis. Although this treatment does not really treat the problem but it can lessen the pain in about fifty percent of cases of spinal Stenosis.
Exercise. A good exercise program can help especially if it is supervise with a physical therapist. Exercise does not really deliver cure but it help a lot for a patient to remain active. It is important for patient to be active thus exercise should be a part of a treatment program.
Medication. Anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen and aspirin can help in managing the pain from Spinal Stenosis. Some doctors do recommend B-complex vitamin with 1200 mcg of folic acid everyday but this vitamin supplement is not supported with any medical literature for its effectivity in treating Stenosis.
If symptoms persist despite the above conservative treatments then surgery may be necessary. Discuss with your doctor your best option for surgery.