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.