SPINAL STENOSIS

Spinal Stenosis is a condition that is caused by a narrowing of the space surrounding the spinal cord or the spinal nerves. The spinal cord extends from the brain to the bottom of the spine. Along the spinal cord, spinal nerves perform two important functions:

• Sensori Information

Nerves pass messages from the body to the brain. The sensations we feel, including pain, pressure, vibration, and other sensations, are detected and passed through these spinal nerves, up the spinal cord, and to our brain.

• Motor Instructions

Nerves also send messages the other direction, from the brain to the body. These messages direct muscle functions, both voluntary and involuntary. The signals help us perform all functions from walking to breathing.

In patients with spinal stenosis, these nerves can become compressed, either within the spinal cord, or as the spinal nerves exit the spinal cord. Compression of these nerves leads to the common symptoms experienced by patients who have spinal stenosis. When the nerves are compressed abnormal signals are sent to and from the brain, or sometimes the signals don't get the past the area of compression. therefore, patients with spinal stenosis may experience pain, numbness or weakness.

What causes Spinal Stenosis?

Spinal Stenosis may be caused by a wide variety of conditions, all off which lead to a narrowing of the spinal canal. These conditions may either acquired or inherited. Spinal Stenosis is most often caused from spine arthritis, a process that causes arthritic changes in the spine leading to nerve compression. Common changes of spina arthritis include the formation oc bone spurs, calcification of spinal ligaments, thickening of joint tissue due to chronic inflammation, and degeneration of the spinal disc. Alla of these changes narrow the space around the nerves, eventually leading to nerve compression.

HERNIATED DISC SYMPTOMS

What causes symptoms of a herniated disc?
When the herniated disc ruptures and pushes out, the nerves may become pinched. A herniated disc may occur suddenly in an event such as a fall or an accident, or may occur gradually with repetitive straining of the spine. Often people who experience a herniated disc already have spinal stenosis, a problem that causes narrowing of the space around the spinal cord and spinal nerves. When a herniated disc occurs, the space for the nerves is further diminished, and irritation of the nerve results.

What are the symptoms of a herniated disc?

When the spinal cord or spinal nerves become compressed, they don't work properly. This means that abnormal signals may get passed from the compressed nerves, or signals may not get passed at all. Common symptoms of a herniated disc include:

• Electric Shock Pain
  Pressure on the nerve can cause abnormal sensations, commonly experienced as electric shock pains. When the compression occurs in the cervical (neck) region, the shocks go down your arms, when the compression is in the lumbar (low back) region, the shocks go down your legs.
• Tingling & Numbness
  Patients often have abnormal sensations such as tingling, numbness, or pins and needles. These symptoms may be experienced in the same region as painful electric shock sensations.
• Muscle Weakness
  Because of the nerve irritation, signals from the brain may be interrupted causing muscle weakness. Nerve irritation can also be tested by examining reflexes.
• Bowel or Bladder Problems
  These symptoms are important because it may be a sign of cauda equina syndrome, a possible condition resulting from a herniated disc. This is a medical emergency, and your should see your doctor immediately if you have problems urinating, having bowel movements, or if you have numbness around your genitals.

All of these symptoms are due to the irritation of the nerve from the herniated disc. By interfering with the pathway by which signals are sent from your brain out to your extremities and back to the brain, all of these symptoms can be caused by a herniated disc pressing against the nerves.

HERNIATED DISC

Herniated disc -- the condition where the spinal disc becomes less elastic, it can rupture. When the disc ruptures, a portion of the spinal disc pushes outside its normal boundary.
When a herniated disc bulges out from between the vertebrae, the spinal nerves and spinal cord can become pinched. There is normally a little extra space around the spinal cord and spinal nerves, but if enough of the herniated disc is pushed out of place, then these structures may be compressed.

What is the spinal disc?
The spinal disc is a soft cushion that sits between each vertabrae of the spine. This spinal disc becomes more rigid with age. In a young individual, the disc is soft and elastic, but like so many other structures in the body, the disc gradually looses its elasticity and is more vulnerable to injury. In fact, even in individuals as young as 30, MRIs show evidence of disc deterioration in about 30% of people.

Many patients with back pain, leg pain, or weakness of the lower extremity muscles are diagnosed with a herniated disc. When a disc herniation occurs, the cushion that sits between the spinal vertebra is pushed outside its normal position. A herniated disc would not be a problem if it weren't for the spinal nerves that are very close to the edge of these spinal discs.

What causes symptoms of a herniated disc?
When the herniated disc ruptures and pushes out, the nerves may become pinched. A herniated disc may occur suddenly in an event such as a fall or an accident, or may occur gradually with repetitive straining of the spine. Often people who experience a herniated disc already have spinal stenosis, a problem that causes narrowing of the space around the spinal cord and spinal nerves. When a herniated disc occurs, the space for the nerves is further diminished, and irritation of the nerve results.