Dr. Pérez-Hickman is a specialist in Traumatology and an expert in treatments such as canal stenosis, which he explains in this article. The doctor explains what this pathology consists of, what symptoms it causes in the patient and what treatments are the most effective to combat it.
There are four fundamental elements in the spinal column: the vertebrae, the ligaments that act as tensors, the discs that act as shock absorbers and spacers between the vertebrae and the nerve structures, which in the lumbar spine give mobility and sensitivity to the legs and function to the genitourinary apparatus.
Lumbar canal stenosis consists of a narrowing of the spinal canal that houses the nerve structures, causing a compression of the same, hindering or preventing the passage of the nerve current.
Causes of canal stenosis
It may be congenital in origin (although it usually causes few symptoms) or acquired by aging or wear of the discs and vertebrae, as deformities appear in the bone (“parrot beaks”) and the ligaments and joints increase in size and become deformed, progressively closing the canal.
Symptoms of canal stenosis
It usually presents with pain or numbness (or both) in the legs, mainly in relation to activity (when walking or standing) and pain in the lumbar region (it can occur without lumbar pain and only with symptoms in the legs).
In other cases it is described as cramps, a feeling of weakness or burning in the legs, which generally increases when walking and improves with rest (neurogenic claudication) forcing to stop every certain distance and, usually, with progressive worsening. Sometimes there is also the sensation of restless legs at night.
Treatment of canal stenosis
Once the disease has been diagnosed, if the pain and claudication is mild-moderate, it can be treated initially with orthoses (girdles, corsets) and a specific exercise program. In severe and progressive cases, it may require surgery to decompress the nerve structures and thus recover the ability to walk and resume daily activities, thus improving the quality of life.
This is a very frequent surgery with very good results allowing, in addition to pain relief, the resumption of a normal life due to the improvement of lumbar pain, as well as the recovery of activity in the legs.