USA
orthoinfo.aaos.org/fact/t...gory=Spine
I was born with Spinal Stenosis..and both my leg's and back pain bother's me the most..the longer I age the more advanced,it becomes
I think some here at Friend's
have it too..in the spine or the neck.
I still have refused the surgery,until they give me a better percentage of less pain..
Just thought I'd post some more new info on it..
Research on the Horizon/What's New?
There are two areas of research that may change the way patients with spinal stenosis are treated. First, surgeons are developing ways to perform decompression procedures through smaller incisions. These techniques may cause less pain after the operation. They may allow quicker return to normal activities. Researchers are studying whether these new techniques are as effective and safe as the traditional procedures.
Surgeons are also beginning to use manufactured bone-forming proteins to fuse the spine. These proteins replace harvesting bone from the patient's hip. Harvesting a bone graft usually requires another skin incision. It can cause pain after the operation. However, the use of bone-forming proteins in the back of the spine for first-time surgeries is currently considered experimental. It is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
January 2006
www.mayoclinic.com/health...DSECTION=2
b]What is Spinal Stenosis?[/b]
Signs and symptoms
Spinal narrowing doesn't always cause problems. But if the narrowed areas compress the spinal cord or spinal nerves, you're likely to develop signs and symptoms. These often start gradually and grow worse over time. The most common include:
Pain or cramping in the legs. Compressed nerves in your lower spine can lead to a condition called pseudoclaudication, false claudication or neurogenic intermittent claudication, which causes pain or cramping in your legs when you stand for long periods of time or when you walk. The discomfort usually eases when you bend forward or sit down, but it continues if you stand upright. This happens to me..and have to use a walker or a W/C at work to get around other floor's.
Another type of intermittent claudication (vascular claudication) occurs when there's a narrowing or blockage in the arteries in the legs.
Although both types of claudication cause similar symptoms, they differ in two important ways: Vascular claudication becomes worse when you walk uphill and improves when you stand still. Pseudoclaudication is usually worse when going downhill and gets better when you lean forward or sit down.
Radiating back and hip pain. A herniated disk can compress nerves in your lumbar spine, leading to pain that starts in your hip or buttocks and extends down the back of your leg. The pain is worse when you're sitting and generally affects only one side.
You also may experience numbness, weakness or tingling in your leg or foot. For some people, the radiating pain is a minor annoyance, but for others, it can be debilitating.Yes..Have this too..
Pain in the neck and shoulders. This is likely to occur when the nerves in your neck are compressed. The pain may occur only occasionally or it may be chronic, and it sometimes can extend into your arm or hand. You also may experience headaches, a loss of sensation or muscle weakness.
Loss of balance. Pressure on the cervical spinal cord can affect the nerves that control your balance, resulting in clumsiness or a tendency to fall.
Loss of bowel or bladder function (cauda equina syndrome). In severe cases, nerves to the bladder or bowel may be affected, leading to partial or complete urinary or fecal incontinence. If you experience either of these problems, seek medical care right away.
I was born with Spinal Stenosis..and both my leg's and back pain bother's me the most..the longer I age the more advanced,it becomes
I think some here at Friend's
have it too..in the spine or the neck.
I still have refused the surgery,until they give me a better percentage of less pain..
Just thought I'd post some more new info on it..
Research on the Horizon/What's New?
There are two areas of research that may change the way patients with spinal stenosis are treated. First, surgeons are developing ways to perform decompression procedures through smaller incisions. These techniques may cause less pain after the operation. They may allow quicker return to normal activities. Researchers are studying whether these new techniques are as effective and safe as the traditional procedures.
Surgeons are also beginning to use manufactured bone-forming proteins to fuse the spine. These proteins replace harvesting bone from the patient's hip. Harvesting a bone graft usually requires another skin incision. It can cause pain after the operation. However, the use of bone-forming proteins in the back of the spine for first-time surgeries is currently considered experimental. It is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
January 2006
www.mayoclinic.com/health...DSECTION=2
b]What is Spinal Stenosis?[/b]
Signs and symptoms
Spinal narrowing doesn't always cause problems. But if the narrowed areas compress the spinal cord or spinal nerves, you're likely to develop signs and symptoms. These often start gradually and grow worse over time. The most common include:
Pain or cramping in the legs. Compressed nerves in your lower spine can lead to a condition called pseudoclaudication, false claudication or neurogenic intermittent claudication, which causes pain or cramping in your legs when you stand for long periods of time or when you walk. The discomfort usually eases when you bend forward or sit down, but it continues if you stand upright. This happens to me..and have to use a walker or a W/C at work to get around other floor's.
Another type of intermittent claudication (vascular claudication) occurs when there's a narrowing or blockage in the arteries in the legs.
Although both types of claudication cause similar symptoms, they differ in two important ways: Vascular claudication becomes worse when you walk uphill and improves when you stand still. Pseudoclaudication is usually worse when going downhill and gets better when you lean forward or sit down.
Radiating back and hip pain. A herniated disk can compress nerves in your lumbar spine, leading to pain that starts in your hip or buttocks and extends down the back of your leg. The pain is worse when you're sitting and generally affects only one side.
You also may experience numbness, weakness or tingling in your leg or foot. For some people, the radiating pain is a minor annoyance, but for others, it can be debilitating.Yes..Have this too..
Pain in the neck and shoulders. This is likely to occur when the nerves in your neck are compressed. The pain may occur only occasionally or it may be chronic, and it sometimes can extend into your arm or hand. You also may experience headaches, a loss of sensation or muscle weakness.
Loss of balance. Pressure on the cervical spinal cord can affect the nerves that control your balance, resulting in clumsiness or a tendency to fall.
Loss of bowel or bladder function (cauda equina syndrome). In severe cases, nerves to the bladder or bowel may be affected, leading to partial or complete urinary or fecal incontinence. If you experience either of these problems, seek medical care right away.
Gaily
