Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of one or more areas in your spine — most often in your neck or lower back. This narrowing can put pressure on the spinal cord or spinal nerves at the level of compression.
Spinal stenosis is commonly caused by age-related changes in the spine. In severe cases of spinal stenosis, doctors may recommend surgery to create additional space for the spinal cord or nerves.
Spinal stenosis
Degenerative changes of the spine
As your spine ages, it's more likely to experience bone spurs and thinned or herniated disks.
These problems can reduce the amount of space available for your spinal cord and its nerve roots.
This happens usually to older people who are ageing.
Spinal Stenosis can be tested with Spinal X-rays, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), CT Myelogram.
Treatment and Medication to treat Spinal Stenosis.
- Antidepressants. Nightly doses of tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline and nortriptyline, may help ease pain caused by spinal stenosis.
- Anti-seizure drugs. Some anti-seizure drugs, such as gabapentin (Neurontin) and pregabalin (Lyrica), are used to reduce pain caused by damaged nerves.
- Opioids. Drugs such as oxycodone (Percocet) and hydrocodone (Vicodin) contain substances related to codeine, which can be habit-forming.
Steroid injections
Your nerve roots may become irritated and swollen at the spots where they are being pinched. Injecting a corticosteroid into the space around that constriction can help reduce the inflammation and relieve some of the pressure. However, repeated steroid injections can weaken nearby bones and connective tissue.
Your nerve roots may become irritated and swollen at the spots where they are being pinched. Injecting a corticosteroid into the space around that constriction can help reduce the inflammation and relieve some of the pressure. However, repeated steroid injections can weaken nearby bones and connective tissue.
The goal is to relieve the pressure on your spinal cord or nerve roots. For example, a laminectomy removes the back part (lamina) of the affected vertebrae to create more room within the spinal canal. In some cases, vertebrae also may need to be fused together to maintain the spine's strength. In most cases, surgery helps reduce spinal stenosis symptoms. But some people's symptoms stay the same or get worse after surgery. Surgical risks include infection, a tear in the membrane that covers the spinal cord, a blood clot in a leg vein and neurological deterioration.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/spinal-stenosis/DS00515/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs
http://www.5min.com/Video/Medication-for-Easing-Spinal-Stenosis-Pain-517128218
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