3 Causes of Spinal Stenosis and How to Treat It
3 Common Causes of Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis is an abnormal narrowing in the spine that restricts or compresses nerve roots, leading to back pain and discomfort. This condition affects millions each year who experience some form or severity depending on their individual case. With this article, we will discuss what causes this medical issue and treatment options that may help alleviate symptoms associated with it.
What is Spinal Stenosis?
Spinal stenosis occurs when one’s vertebrae become narrowed due to wear and tear from age, trauma from injury, bone diseases such as arthritis, or even genetics. When narrowing happens around nerves inside the spine, it can cause compression and irritation of the nerves, thus leading to pain in the lower back and down into one’s legs.
1. Compression Fractures As A Cause For Spinal Stenosis
A common cause for spinal stenosis is a type of fracture in which vertebrae become compressed or weakened due to an injury such as a fall, car accident, or other trauma. This can lead to instability in that area of the spine and result in narrowing between vertebrae. Compression fractures can also be caused by osteoporosis, where bones become brittle over time due to calcium loss. In either case, this leads to nerve compression as well as a limited range of motion when moving around due to age-related conditions like arthritis.
2. Osteoarthritis As A Cause For Spinal Stenosis
Osteoarthritis (OA) affects many people each year who experience joint inflammation from a wear-and-tear on their joints over time. One particular joint affected is within the spine, causing stiffness, tenderness, swelling, and pain during movement; all resulting from cartilage breakdown inside that area. Over time these symptoms worsen if not treated properly, leading to narrowing along with disc herniations, both of which are causes of spinal stenosis.
3. Aging
Aging has an effect on our bodies’ overall health, including deteriorating discs between each vertebra, causing them thin out over time; thus making it easier for spinal stenosis to occur since there’s less cushion available when bearing weight while standing upright or lying down the flat surface. Additionally, bone spur formations may develop at any given stage throughout life, further contributing towards spinal stenosis because they protrude into surrounding soft tissue exacerbating any existing condition even more so than before.
Treatment Options
Although there currently isn’t really a cure present today, managing symptoms associated with this pain, thereby preventing it from becoming worse, should be priority number one for patients suffering from this condition alike. Common forms of treatment include physiotherapy, exercises, stretching techniques, spinal decompression therapy, and lifestyle changes such as reducing body weight by taking anti-inflammatory medications, corticosteroid injections, surgery (last resort cases only), and acupuncture. Depending upon the severity of an individual person’s situation, the best approach will ultimately depend on how much relief they find given the option selected.
Final Thoughts
Mount Dennis Weston Physiotherapy and Chiropractic Centre, located in York, ON is here to help. Our staff of experts is dedicated to providing the best possible care for those living with this condition. We offer an array of services, such as chiropractic adjustments, therapeutic exercises, and spinal decompression treatments that can help reduce pain associated with spinal stenosis. Additionally, we provide education on understanding the causes behind this issue so you can better manage it in your day-to-day life. Call us today for more information about how we can assist you in managing stenosis caused by aging, genetics, or trauma!
