Spinal Stenosis
Almost everyone experiences low back pain at some point in life. Majority of them do not require any intervention and the pain simply relieves on its own. However, for a few, the pain is persistent and becomes worse with time.
The most common cause for back pain, as you get older, is spinal stenosis or narrowing of one or more areas of the spine, which most often results from narrowing of the spinal canal over time.
By the time people reach 50, most people’s spine show at least some signs of age-related wear and tear of the disks and of facet joints, which can grow to be enlarged and arthritic.
Read More About Spinal Stenosis
These changes can exert pressure on the spinal cord and nerves leading to pain, numbness or weakness in arms or legs or other problems adversely affecting the quality of your life.
| Spinal Stenosis |
Your neck and lower back are the most common parts to be affected by spinal stenosis; in the neck, it is called cervical spinal stenosis.
Cervical spinal stenosis can cause pain or stiffness in the neck or shoulder and numbness, weakness or tingling sensation in arms and hands. In severe cases of stenosis, the nerves in the spinal cord get affected and can lead to more severe problems like problems with balance and coordination.
Spinal stenosis in the lower back is called lumbar spinal stenosis which may lead to lower backache, pain and cramping in legs, weakness and numbness in legs and buttocks. Severe stenosis can even cause problems with bowel and bladder functions.
Types of Spinal Stenosis
There are mainly two types of spinal stenosis, categorized on the basis of where in the spine the condition occurs:
1. Lumbar stenosis: Narrowing occurs in the lower back. Is more common than cervical stenosis.
2. Cervical stenosis: Narrowing occurs in the cervical area.
Symptoms of Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis can be diagnosed on MRI, CT scan or on X-ray. Most people can have evidence of spinal stenosis on X-ray or MRI/ CT even without any symptoms.
Symptoms usually start gradually and worsen with time. They vary depending on where the stenosis is.
Symptoms of Cervical Stenosis
· Tingling sensation or weakness in upper or lower extremities
· Balancing problems
· Pain in the neck
· Bowel or bladder dysfunction in extreme cases
Symptoms of Lumbar Stenosis
- Tingling sensation or weakness in upper or lower extremities
- Backache
- Pain in either or both legs while walking or standing for long
Spinal Stenosis- Causes
Many conditions can lead to spinal stenosis, age being the most common. Others include Osteoarthritis, disk degeneration and thickened ligaments.
Most important causes are listed below:
· Natural wear and tear with age
· Disc herniation
· Thickening of ligaments
· Spinal tumours
· Spinal Injury
Treatment
The first line of treatment is usually conservative like medicines, physical therapy etc. However, if the narrowing is severe or the symptoms are not relieved by these, surgery is advised.
Also, Read>> Are You a Candidate for Spinal Surgery?
Medication
The first line of treatment is usually medication; non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed. Studies have shown that even antidepressants also help in relieving pain.
If the pain is severe, narcotics are also prescribed.
Steroid Injections
Steroid injections work by reducing inflammation (nerve roots or the nerves get inflamed in the areas where they are pinched) and thus relieve the pain.
However, steroid injections do not work for everyone and overuse can weaken the bones and thus can be used in limited cases and limited times only.
Physical Therapy
Physical Therapy improves in building the muscles strength, maintain flexibility and stability of the spine.
However, it has limitations and cannot give relief in severe cases in the long term.
Decompression
Decompression is a simple procedure done under local anaesthesia and is a good option for people who cannot undergo general anaesthesia.
Also called Percutaneous Image-Guided Lumbar decompression (PILD), it is done only for the patients suffering from lumbar stenosis. During the procedure, needle-like instruments are used to remove a portion of a thickened ligament in the back of the spinal column to increase spinal canal space and remove nerve root impingement.
Surgery for Spinal Stenosis
When non-surgical methods fail to relieve the symptoms, surgery is advised.
The surgery for spinal stenosis works by relieving pressure on the spinal cord and nerves.
There are different types and techniques of surgical procedures, most important of which are listed below:
Laminectomy is the most commonly performed procedure to treat the symptoms associated with spinal stenosis.
Laminectomy removes the lamina or the back portion of one or more vertebrae which creates space and relieves the pressure. Also called decompression surgery.
In many cases, the surgeon would fuse two vertebrae together to maintain the strength of the spine and the procedure is called spinal fusion.
Laminectomy with spinal fusion is the most commonly performed procedures to treat the lumbar spinal stenosis. The results of the operation are quite gratifying. The surgery helps reduce pain and improve the functioning.
| Laminectomy Before After |
Laminotomy removes just a portion of the lamina and not the entire lamina. It is done by carving a hole only big enough to relieve the pressure on the nerve at a particular spot.
Laminoplasty- done only for cervical stenosis, the surgery opens up space within the spinal canal by creating a hinge on the lamina.
Minimally Invasive Surgery- Also known as keyhole or endoscopic surgery, the surgery removes the bone or lamina so that there is minimal damage to the surrounding healthy tissue resulting in quick recovery.
Cost of Spinal Surgery in India
The cost of spinal surgery in any western country is quite high. If you are not insured, you would have to think many times to shell out that kind of money.
Treatment abroad is a good option for the people who cannot afford spine surgery in their own country. India is the best destination for people looking for affordable spine surgery. You not only get the best facilities and most renowned surgeons, the cost of spine surgery in India is much less.
Also Read, India- the best place for Spine surgery
If you are looking for most affordable spinal stenosis surgery abroad, write to us at [email protected]. You can also call us at +91-932-003-6777 (India) or
+1-877-270-2448 (US Toll-Free) or talk to us at Skype @ IndiCure
IndiCure is the most trusted name for providing affordable spine surgery in India with the best spine specialists at low cost.
