Causes of Spinal Stenosis

 

Some of the Causes of Spinal Stenosis:

• Overgrowth of bone: Wear and tear on your spinal bones can cause the formation of bone spurs, which can grow into the spinal canal.• Herniated Discs: The soft cushions that act as shock absorbers between your vertebrae tend to dry out with age. The soft inner material can escape through the cracks in the disc and press on the spinal cord or nerves.• Thickened ligaments: The ligaments that help hold the bones of your spine together can become stiff and thick over time, which can bulge into the spinal canal.

 

Spinal injuries: Spinal injuries can be caused from car accidents and other major trauma, such as dislocations or fractures, which can cause damage to the spinal canal. This can include damage to any part of the spinal cord or nerves at the end of the spinal canal which often causes permanent changes in strength, sensation and other body functions below the site of the injury.

 

Spinal Tumor: A spinal tumor is a noncancerous (benign) or a cancerous (malignant) growth that develops within or near your spinal cord or within the bones of your spine. Although back pain is the most common symptom of a spinal tumor, it’s also an extremely common problem in people who don’t have spinal tumors. (Most back pain is not caused by a tumor.)

 

•Injuries from birth: Spina bifida- a congenital disorder caused by the incomplete closing of the embryonic neural tube. Some of the vertebrae overlying the spinal cord are not fully formed and remain open. If the opening is large enough, a portion of the spinal cord may protrude through the opening.

 

 Swelling after spinal surgery: The medical term for swelling is “edema”. Edema is an excess accumulation of watery fluids in the cells and tissues. It is not uncommon after spine surgery for swelling to occur.

 

Treatments for swelling:

• Ice:  The use of ice packs is one of the simplest ways to reduce any swelling. For best results, you should apply the ice 4-5 times a day on the swollen area for 20 minutes.

• Drink plenty of water: Water is good to reduce swelling after surgery. Drinking more water will help flush out toxins from your system and keep it hydrated. You should consume up to 12, 8-oz glasses of water a day, to keep your body properly hydrated and reduce the selling.

• Healthy Diet: After surgery your body needs to rebuild the skin and the tissues that may have been damaged due to the surgery. It is essential to consume a good diet rich in proteins, vegetables and whole grains.

• Compression stockings: Compression stocking help as needed to reduce the swelling in your legs. They can also improve circulation.

 

 Aging: The degenerative process of the spine is an inevitable one. In most people this degeneration does not severely compromise quality of life. It remains poorly understood why this process is painful and incapacitating in some individuals and only minimally noticeable in others. The real issue from a healthcare perspective is pain associated with the “aging spine” and finding effective solutions to maintaining quality of life.