Index
- What is canal stenosis?
- What is its prognosis?
- Symptoms
- Medical tests for canal stenosis
- What are the causes of canal stenosis?
- Can it be prevented?
- Treatment
- What specialist treats canal stenosis?
What is canal stenosis?
Canal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal that puts pressure on the spinal cord and spinal root. When it is located in the lower part of the spinal column it is known as lumbar canal stenosis, while when the narrowing occurs in the upper part of the spine it is called cervical canal stenosis. The lumbar and cervical areas are usually the most affected, although the narrowing of the canal does not cause pain if it does not compress any nerve structure. Spinal canal stenosis usually occurs gradually as a result of the aging process, due to deformation of the bones and tissues around the spinal canal. It usually begins to affect people over the age of 50, although it also occurs in young people with spinal trauma.
Prognosis of the disease
The severity of canal stenosis can vary greatly depending on how severe the pain is. It usually correlates inversely with how many meters a person can walk without pain. It is considered severe if it is below 200 meters and very severe when it is less than 50 meters.
Canal stenosis puts pressure on the spinal cord and spinal root.
Symptoms of canal stenosis
The symptoms associated with a narrowed canal vary depending on the level at which the narrowing occurs. Due to the narrowing of the spinal canal, nearby nerve structures can be compressed (medulla and nerve roots) causing radiculopathy. This can generate lumbar pain and pain in the extremities:
- Numbness
- Weakness
- Tingling sensation
- Burning
Cervical stenosis produces symptoms in the arms, and if it is at the lumbar level, they appear in the buttocks and legs. The most common characteristic of lumbar stenosis is the increase in severity of symptoms when walking.
When the symptoms of canal stenosis cause little or no lumbar pain but a significant decrease in strength in the limbs, a differential diagnosis with neurological disorders should be made.
It should be noted that canal stenosis, despite being able to reduce the spinal canal more, usually causes fewer symptoms than herniation.
Medical tests for canal stenosis
The first step in diagnosis is to perform a complete medical history review and perform a physical evaluation of the patient, in addition to physical and neurological examinations. The patient should provide a complete report of his or her symptoms, from the beginning to the final evolution.
Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography allow measurement of the canal diameters and confirm the diagnosis.
What are the causes of canal stenosis?
Canal stenosis can be divided into three groups depending on the cause:
- Degenerative: it is caused by alteration in the tissues of the spine as a consequence of natural degenerative processes, associated with aging.
- Congenital: present from birth, it is caused by alterations in the spinal tissues acquired by physical development.
- Traumatic: consequence of a trauma or injury that causes alterations in the tissues of the spine.
Can it be prevented?
Prevention of canal stenosis is based fundamentally on avoiding risk factors, such as:
- Obesity
- Repeated impacts
- Postural hygiene
Canal stenosis as a consequence of aging cannot be prevented as such, but the risk can be reduced by regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and acquiring good postural hygiene.
Treatment for canal stenosis
Treatment of the various types of canal stenosis is usually based on the use of medications (anti-inflammatory drugs or corticosteroids) to reduce pain and inflammation, with temporary rest, or with physical therapy sessions.
Depending on the affected region and severity, treatment will vary. Being a degenerative condition, it may worsen with the passage of time, so it is necessary to stabilize it. In order to slow down the evolution, exercises focused on strengthening the stabilizing muscles of the spine can be performed for the benefit of the spinal canal. In this way the symptoms are reduced and more aggressive treatments are avoided.
In more severe cases, medication may be prescribed to reduce spinal pain. Surgical treatment is only recommended in cases where nerve compression becomes progressively more severe. The operation is intended to relieve the pressure on the nerves in the lower spine.
What specialist treats it?
Canal stenosis can be treated by a specialist in Traumatology or Neurosurgery. Top Doctors offers you all the possibilities so that you can choose the specialist best suited to your personal and geographical situation.