SPINAL STENOSIS
Lumbar Spinal Stenosis is a condition due to the narrowing of the spinal canal either in the central part or peripheral (lateral) to the side in the nerve root canal.
This results in pain in one leg without back pain
Every one can get Lumbar Spinal Stenosis.
The age of onset is usually in the late 40's.
It is also more common in men than women.
What are the causes of Spinal Stenosis?
The causes of lumbar spinal stenosis are:
1. Congenital - in born narrowing of the spinal canal
2. Acquired
a. Carrying heavy objects improperly with the back instead of the knees
b. Trauma or injury to the spine or pelvic bone
c. Staying in crouched or seated positions for too long
What are the symptoms of Spinal Stenosis?
Symptoms:
1. The onset is usually gradual with bouts of back pain and stiffness over weeks or months.
2. Early morning stiffness and pain occurs, and then wears off during the day.
3. It gradually affects the lower limbs with pain and stiffness.
4. Typically there is low back pain radiating to the buttocks and leg which is aggravated by activity especially walking
Signs:
1 .Physical signs are not present in early cases
2. There may be a Simian stance (like a monkey) with flexion at the hips and knees
3. Spinal movements are restricted
4. Motor, sensory and reflex abnormalities present in one or both lower limbs
4. Sphincter impairments may be present rarely
PINCHED NERVE
A pinched nerve occurs when there is too much pressure applied to a nerve by other surrounding tissues such as bones, muscles or tendons.
This pressure affects the nerve's function causing pain, tingling, numbness or weakness.
A pinched nerve can occur anywhere in the body.
As an example, a herniated disk in the lumbar spine may press on a nerve root causing severe pain that radiates down the back of the leg (sciatica).
Similarly a pinched nerve in the wrist can lead to pain and numbness in the hand and fingers (carpal tunnel syndrome).
Radiculopathy refers to a set of conditions in which one or more nerves is affected and does not work properly (a neuropathy).
This can result in nerve pain, weakness, numbness or difficulty controlling specific muscles.
In a radiculopathy the problem occurs at or near the root of the nerve, along the spine.
However the pain or other symptoms often radiate to the part of the body served by that nerve.
For example, a nerve root impingement in the neck can produce pain and weakness in the forearm.
Impingement in the lower back or lumbar-sacral spine can manifest with symptoms in the foot.
The radicular pain that results from a radiculopathy should not be confused with referred pain, which is different both in mechanism and clinical features.
Polyradiculopathy refers to the condition where more than one spinal nerve root is affected.
What are the causes of Pinched Nerve?
Compression on the nerve is the main cause of Pinched Nerve.
1. Bone or cartilage such as a herniated lumbar spinal disk that compresses a nerve root causing sciatica.
2. Muscle or tendons which are swollen may be the cause of pressure of the median nerve of carpal tunnel syndrome within the tunnel,
3. Enlarged bone that narrows the carpal tunnel,
4. A thickened and degenerated ligament in the carpal tunnel.
The injury may result from compression, constriction, or stretching.
Any compression of the nerve causes inflammation of the nerve and disrupts the nerve's function.
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