Tag Archives: Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis is a constricting of the spine in the lower back or neck, putting unnatural pressure on the spinal nerves and/or the spinal cord. This spinal compression can cause severe pain and weakness throughout the various extremities, making every day activities, such as sitting, walking or standing difficult. There is also pain in the areas of the body in which spinal canal nerves are in direct connection. This shooting pain, referred to as sciatica, travels down the buttocks and the legs. In addition to pain, there is also numbness in the back, neck, shoulders, arms or legs, loss of some motor coordination, lessening of extremity sensation and bowel and bladder function issues.
Spinal stenosis is age related and tends to take place usually later in life, usually beginning at the age of 50; however, individuals as young as thirty can suffer from a congenital form of this condition. This is a debilitative condition that affects millions. Also, a number of athletes suffer from this condition. In athletes, this is called a stinger, caused by detrimental neck or head trauma. Some of the treatment options are surgical as well as non-surgical. Continue reading
In industrialized nations, there is an increase in life expectancy partly due to advanced health care systems and low mortality rates. The aging populations have conditions such as osteoarthritis and spine stenosis all of which lead to a degeneration of the spine. The spine is an organ of the body that is used for stability, walking, sitting, standing and equilibrium. Some of the conditions that lead to aging of the spine include a herniated disk, altered bones and ligaments. It continues to become prevalent because many elderly individuals cannot afford to treat the conditions due to rising health care costs.
Disc degeneration can contribute to leg pain or sciatica as all the pressure of the body is placed on them when the spine is not stable. People with aging spines have used all sorts of treatments such as physical therapy, massage, swimming and exercises. It is always recommended that the individual exhaust all available options before considering surgery.
Spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the spine particularly in the lower region and middle sections of it. It is divided into two types namely primary and secondary stenosis. Primary stenosis results from a congenital impairment that narrows the spine and is usually found in young individuals. Secondary stenosis results from the natural aging process which is characterized by herniated discs, hypertrophy and entophyte formation.
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Minimally invasive spine surgery has been urbanized as an efficient method for the cure of spinal conditions. This method employs smaller cut and less blood loss, ensuing in quick healing. One of the main advances in spine surgery is the minimally invasive spinal surgeries that are used to treat spine troubles, such as spinal stenosis, herniated discs, sciatica, degenerative disc disease, bone spurs, pinched nerves, painful discs, bulging discs, and thoracic discs among other back condition according to Houston Medical Center. And compared to more serious and more intrusive surgeries, the minimally invasive spine surgery provides more benefits. It can also be an enormous pathway of healing that patients seem to be more into.
At Houston Medical Center, minimally invasive spinal surgeries for spinal stenosis are generally intended to get the same result as that of a conventional back surgery. The mere difference is that the former uses state-of-the-art techniques, that when executed, can only give significantly less damage to muscles and tissues. This makes the procedure highly appealing to patients, therefore becoming a popular choice for physicians and patients alike. Continue reading
Recent studies indicate that about 127 million Americans qualify as overweight or obese, according to the American Obesity Association (AOA), a trend that has been rising steadily since the mid-1980’s. And obesity is not exclus
ive to America, says the World Health Organization (WHO); once considered a health issue affecting only wealthy countries, obesity is now increasing dramatically in “third world” countries, especially in urban environments.
While the more serious health risks associated with obesity include diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer, another serious side-effect is chronic back pain. In one report, the AOA states that women who are obese are especially prone to lower back pain. Continue reading
Millions of people suffer from back pain every day and seek out Houston back pain treatment. For some it is simply from straining themselves too hard at work or during a sporting event, others have been involved in accidents and some may have Spinal Stenosis, Disc Herniation or Degenerative Disc Disease.
Your first step towards relief should always to be to consult a physician for a thorough exam, but before you embark on any solution you should be aware of all of your Houston back pain treatment choices. Let’s take a look at a few of the common options.
Physical Therapy
For many, Houston back pain treatment can be as simple as physical therapy. Often this is the first course of action many take in their search for Houston back pain treatment. However, while physical therapy may be all some patients need, there are many others who need a more lasting solution. Continue reading
