Spinal Stenosis is the narrowing of spaces within the spinal canal. the narrowing of spaces leaves less space for the spinal cord or nerves to function well, causing a variety of symptoms. Compression of the spinal cord or nerves can cause pin or needle-like pain or numbness to radiate down the arms or legs. It can also cause bowel, bladder, or sexual dysfunction. Sometimes patients report difficulty with their balance, and in severe cases, they may find themselves repeatedly falling over.
Spinal stenosis usually affects the neck (cervical spine) and lower back (lumbar region). It is mostly caused by wear and tear due to ageing and osteoarthritis.
spinal stenosis is of two types, classified based on their site:
Cervical stenosis occurs in the neck region. compression of the spinal cord in this region causes cervical myelopathy – symptoms due to compression of the spinal cord. compression of nerves as they leave the spinal cord, on the other hand, causes cervical radiculopathy.
The lumbar region or the lower back has no spinal cord – the cord has terminated, and only nerves are in the region. Compression of these nerves leads to lumbar spinal stenosis.
Although spinal stenosis can be caused for several reasons, it shares the same fundamental cause, that is, nerve pinching due to narrowing of spaces in the spinal canal. Spinal stenosis is caused for the following reasons.
Osteoarthritis, or wear and tear of the spine, is the commonest cause of spinal stenosis. The protective cartilage layer on the joint wears over time, and, as a result, the bones rub against each other. As a natural bodily response, uneven bone overgrowth replaces the wear and tear, which is called a bone spur. the bone spurs extend into the spinal canal, decreasing the space in the canal and compressing the spinal nerves.
Spinal stenosis is a gradual process. its symptoms may come on all of a sudden, or they may gradually increase in time. Spinal stenosis affects different parts of the spine, and hence symptoms can vary:
Some symptoms of spinal stenosis are common to other spine disorders. Hence, our spine surgeon dr. sherief eslayed looks into the finer details to discover the root cause of the problem. he begins the diagnosis with an interrogation of the complete medical history and physical examination.
dr sherief physically examines the area and asks the patient to perform a walking test or motion test involving certain bones and a set of muscles. To conclude better, he may seek the help of the following investigations
Spine Stenosis is an age-related and common disorder. Many cases are helped with physical therapy, medicines, and sometimes steroid injections. However, delaying the stenosis treatment in Dubai may aggravate leads to poorer outcomes in the longer term.
The prescribed treatment depends upon the overall condition of the patient. Accordingly, the treatment is classified as
Surgery is an excellent option if leg symptoms are the predominant concern.
Occasionally urgent surgery is required – if there is weakness or loss of bladder/bowel / sexual function.
Surgery may also be suggested if there is
Surgery aims to decompress the compressed nerves and stabilize the vertebrae to give a long-term solution to spinal stenosis. Some surgical methods used are
Dr Sherief monitors cases closely by scheduling post-operative appointments and suggesting specific exercises in consultation with a physiotherapist for better recovery. Dr Sherief is one of the top spine surgeons in Dubai, performing a diverse and intricate range of spine surgeries , giving positive results with excellent testimonials from his patients.
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