Spinal stenosis is a medical condition that occurs when the spine becomes narrower than normal. This narrowing puts a lot of pressure on the nerves in the spine, which often leads to serious pain and other troubling symptoms. Spinal stenosis can occur at the top of the spine near the neck or at the bottom of the spine in the lower back. This serious condition continues to get worse over time, so it is very important to seek treatment when you start to experience any troubling symptoms.

Signs and Symptoms of Spinal Stenosis

You will likely not have any symptoms in the early stages of this condition. Symptoms will gradually be revealed as the narrowing in your spine places more pressure on the nerves. Your symptoms will only continue to get worse as the pressure on the spinal nerves grows. The symptoms you experience will also be determined based on the location of your spinal stenosis.

If the top of the spine is affected, you can expect to deal with numbness in the hands and arms, neck pain, and balance issues. The signs of narrowing at the bottom of the spine are numbness in the feet and legs, back pain and an inability to stand for prolonged periods of time. If you dealing with any of these problems, then it is time to get your spine checked out by a medical professional.

Treating Spinal Stenosis

You will need to get your condition officially diagnosed by a professional before you can start your treatment. This is easily done by using an X-Ray or MRI to get images of the spine. These tests will also help determine the severity of your condition. The first steps in your spinal stenosis treatment will be using prescription medication to ease your painful symptoms. You may also start to regularly perform physical therapy exercises to improve the strength and flexibility of your spine.

If medication and physical therapy is unable to help your pain, then steroid injections will be used. A medication is injected near the narrowing of the spine to help reduce any pain and inflammation. While this will not cure your problem, it can help you lead an active life. Getting steroid injections three or four times a year should be enough to prevent you from feeling any pain caused by your spinal stenosis. The only way to truly cure spinal stenosis is with surgery. This is only done as a last resort when the condition is preventing you from living a normal life.

Get In Touch with Us for More Information

The only way to prevent a narrow spine from controlling your life is by seeking treatment as fast as possible. Get the expert treatment process started by reaching out and making an appointment with Craig C. Callewart, MD. At our convenient locations in Dallas and Addison, our caring and dedicated team of professionals will be pleased to answer any questions you may have about spinal stenosis. Contact us todayto set up your consultation – we look forward to speaking with you!