Suddenly experiencing leg weakness or numbness can be a cause for alarm. You might wonder what the reason might be, especially if you have no such history. While such symptoms can occur from various conditions, one of the most common conditions can be spinal stenosis. You can experience spinal stenosis Memorial Area if your spine narrows, leading to nerve root compression.
The compression leads to inflammation and pain, which you can feel on your back, legs, thighs, and buttocks.
Symptoms of spinal stenosis
Your symptoms of spinal stenosis can vary, ranging from sensory to muscular. Your muscles can be weak, with cramping affecting your ability to walk. You can experience leg numbness and a reduced sense of touch in the affected area, and pain in your legs, thighs, and buttocks.
Treatment methods for spinal stenosis
Your specialist will offer a treatment plan depending on the severity of your condition. You can benefit from drugs or physiotherapy if you have mild symptoms, but if the disease is severe, you might need to undergo surgery. The following are common treatment options for spinal stenosis.
Medication
Your specialist can prescribe different medications to offer pain relief. Such medicines include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antidepressants, opioids, and anti-seizure drugs. Before you receive the prescription, your doctor will review your medical history and use of medication to determine which drugs are best for you.
Physical therapy
Since spinal stenosis slowly affects the strength of your legs, you can benefit from frequent physiotherapy. You can have physiotherapists offer massages that will manipulate and stimulate your muscles to function. In addition, you can engage in independent physical therapy exercises that you can do on your own. Physical activities will increase flexibility and strengthen your spine to improve balance in your legs.
Surgery
If medications and physical therapy are ineffective, you might be a candidate for surgery to rectify the situation. Different surgical procedures are available, and your surgeon will choose the most suitable one depending on your symptoms.
One of the procedures includes laminectomy, which removes the back part (lamina) of the affected spinal area. Other procedures include laminotomy, which is a partial removal of the lamina, and laminoplasty, which is performed on the neck only.
When to see a doctor
Although the most significant symptoms of spinal stenosis are pain, muscle numbness, and leg weakness, you can sometimes experience bowel and bladder control loss. In such an instance, consider contacting your healthcare provider immediately.
How to prevent making spinal stenosis worse
Although you cannot reverse spinal stenosis without surgery, there are measures you can take to prevent the condition from worsening. Such efforts include maintaining a good posture to ensure a neutral spine, getting regular exercise, and maintaining a healthy weight.
Your sleeping posture can also affect your symptoms, especially regarding pain. You can sleep with your head and knees elevated if you want to relieve your spine from the pressure. Consider sleeping on your side with your knees curled up towards your chest.
If you experience any symptoms of spinal stenosis, visit Expert Pain for Spinal stenosis evaluation and treatment. The available specialists and staff will perform various diagnostic tests, including a physical exam, to determine the severity of your situation. Call or schedule your appointment online and receive expert care.
