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Spinal Stenosis: A Painful Condition Prevalent in the Senior Population

February 28th, 2010
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A recent study  published by Boston University has determined that lumbar spinal stenosis affects 4.71% of the general population, seemingly a very low number.  However, 47.2%   of individuals in the 60-69 age group have lumbar spinal stenosis on their MRI scan, which is a significant number.  The individuals  that actually  are diagnosed with severe stenosis will approach 20%.  These patients with significant spinal stenosis have a 3 times higher incidence of back pain than the general population.  As our population continues to live longer, spinal stenosis will certainly be  a significant health problem.

Spinal stenosis is the progression of arthritis in the spine that occurs in the neck, as well as in the lower back.   As we age, the cartilage in the discs of our spine will lose their ability to hold water.  The water in the discs is what helps the disc move and remain flexible to bending and compression.As the discs lose their water content, they become more brittle.If the brittle cartilage breaks, the condition is called degenerative disc disease.As discs degenerate, they will begin to expand and put pressure on the spinal canal and nerve roots.  This disc bulging will decrease the diameter of the spinal canal,a condition referred to as spinal stenosis.  This slows the information that flows between the brain and the extremities.  The arms will be affected by spinal stenosis in the neck and the legs will be affected by lower back (lumbar) spinal stenosis.

Patients with lumbar spinal stenosis will feel back pain, as well as leg pain or fatigue.  Because of the fatigue in the legs, patients will have to sit frequently during walks.  Lumbar spinal stenosis will also cause patients to find benches in the mall and grab the cart at the grocery store, in order to make it through their errands.  Some patients may attribute their fatigue to age and as they continue to remain active later in life, this may severely limit their ability to join in their families activities.  The leg fatigue can cause significant pain and cramping during activity, but dissipates when the patient sits down.  The act of sitting  opens the spinal canal by decreasing the curve in the lower back,which also occurs while the patient is leaning on the grocery cart.

Spinal stenosis in the neck may cause more severe symptoms.The cervical spine protects the spinal cord because it descends from the base of the brain.  Because spinal stenosis in the neck puts pressure on the spinal cord, the disc pressure will cause symptoms related to the spinal cord.  These include a decrease in the ability to walk as well as problems with the hands.Patients may find they tend to stumble, as it becomes harder to control the feet and legs as the disease progresses.  They may also find their handwriting getting severely worse and that they have difficulty differentiating the  size and feel of coins or shirt buttons. 

Spinal stenosis is usually treated with physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medications.  Physical therapy is intended to help position the spine and open the spinal canal.  With better posture and stronger core muscles, patients may find their leg symptoms and fatigue improve.  They may find they are able to walk farther or faster.  Oral anti-inflammatory medications are a first-line option for improving the inflammation related to the degenerating discs.  When physical therapy and oral medications no longer provide relief, injections of steroid around the discs and nerves may  decrease  the pain and symptoms related to the nerve pressure.Some patients are able to withstand their symptoms with a few injections per year. 

When all of these efforts fail, surgery  becomes an option for improving the patient’s pain.  Surgery is directed toward relieving the pressure from the arthritis on the spinal canal and nerves.  The mechanical pressure can only be relieved by physically removing the bone spurs or disc protrusions.  The surgical procedures involve removal of bone and disc, as well as protecting the nerve roots.  Fellowship-trained orthopaedic spine specialists have undergone the most intense training available in the treatment of the spine and are uniquely qualified to treat patients with spinal stenosis.

Dr. Jeffrey R. Carlson is a doctor at the Orthopaedic and Spine Center, a leading provider of Hampton Roads orthopedics services such as Hampton Roads spine surgery, Hampton Roads custom fit knee replacement, and many other services.  The Orthopaedic and Spine Center can be found online at:  OSC-Ortho.com

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Indicators in Back Pain

February 8th, 2010
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Back pain sometimes starts with signals or indicators. As an example, if your back hurt at just once and stopped, and later it started it once more, you received your indicator at the start. In brief, the first time your back started hurting is that the sign. You want to pinpoint when the first pain started. Once you pinpoint the starting date, you may need to think about what inspired your back pain. For example, did you fall? Were you during a motorized accident?

Once you discover the trigger of your back pain, you would like to contemplate the symptoms. Did you’re feeling pain? Did you’re feeling weak? Was your back stiff or numb?

Now you’ll use the indicators to find where the pain started. Did the pain begin at the lower back? Was the pain at the top space? Did the pain cause further pain, such as around the neck? Was the pain intermittent? Did the pain consistently cause stress? Did the pain shoot to different areas of the body?

Did the pain exasperate, when you walked, stood, sit, or lie down? Did the pain decrease, or did it increase?

When you first hurt your back did the pain stop, or did it frequently hurt? Did the pain cause long-term issues? Did the pain leave right away?

When you first injured your back, did the symptoms amendment gradually? Did the symptoms interrupt your daily duties? How did the symptoms modification? How did the symptoms interrupt your daily duties?

Answering the questions will help you inform your doctor, and perceive the cause of your condition. If you were in an accident and sought medical support when you first broken your spine, you’ll need to contemplate what tests were used to identify your condition. What did you doctor realize?

If you sought medical support and your doctor suggested treatment, what was that treatment? How did the treatment help your back condition? If the treatment helped your condition, will you are attempting the remedies currently?

Is your back pain caused from surgery, joint conditions, musculoskeletal disorders, or disease?

Will your job need mandatory lifting of serious objects? Is your job emotional stressful? Does one stand long hours? Do you sit long hours?

How are your exercise habits? Does one workout often. Does one have interaction in stretch exercises? What is your stress level? Do you do something active to relieve stress?

Is there a hereditary back problem in your history?

Once you raise questions connected to your back condition you might need to mark points that you can mention later to your doctor. Noting the issues will help you and your doctor realize the cause. Often patients fail to try to to this, that is why many back pain problems go unnoticed.

If your back pain has recently started again once the initial indicator, you’ll use treatments at home to relieve the pain, unless it’s demanding. Rest is a common treatment doctor prescribes to cut back back pain. I am an addict to chiropractor support, however some folks have problems with this notion, so if you’re feeling a chiropractor will benefit you, obtain support. Massage and physical therapy is also counseled to reduce back pain. In several areas, massage therapists are available, which charge affordable fees. Check your areas to find out a lot of regarding massage therapy. Common stretch exercises will reduce back pain, that has emerged from tension. If you overworked the muscles, you’ll need to rest and do a few exercises later.

No matter you are doing, avoid ignoring the indicators. Once pain starts in the rear, note the world and discuss the matter along with your doctor.

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Some Reasons for Back Pain

November 17th, 2009

There is a time in just about everybody’s life that they will have some kind of back pain.  For some the pain will only be there for a day or two, but for others the back pain will last longer and maybe even for the rest of their lives.  Prevention matters need to be taken and they will work better then any cure.  By understanding the reasons of back pain it can help prevent any chance that you will be suffering from back pain.

Many back pain problems are caused from poor posture.  Fortunately posture of many people has greatly increased from the use of computers.  While you are at your desk be sure that you have proper posture and take many breaks to walk around, this increases circulation.

Poor lifting practices is another reason why so many people are suffers of back pain.  When you need to lift on anything that is heavy you should always have help and you need to bend your knees.  When you bend your knees it will prevent all of the weight you are lifting form putting pressure onto your back.

Our backs need to be exercised, it needs to be stretched.  When your back is not active for long periods of time it will get weak and there will be more pressure put onto bone joints and can cause painful conditions. 

There is a great number of physiotherapists who claim that muscle imbalances are in fact the biggest cause of back pain.  There has been back pain that has been classified as chronic or severe that has bee treated by relieving the imbalances of muscles that keep the spine supported and also the pelvis.

There is good new though.  Back pain can be stopped before it starts to be a problem.  Keep the stresses that you put on your back before you do anything.  By preventing it will stop you from having a lifetime of back pain.

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