NARROW SPINAL CANAL
The spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the spinal canal through which the spinal cord passes. Thus, the spinal cord and nerves become stuck and symptoms occur. Spinal stenosis is a disease that is mostly seen in the elderly. As a result of thickening in the vertebral ligaments and facet joints that surrounds the vertebral canal, calcification, and deformation of vertebral discs, the spinal canal is narrowed. Rarely, there are people born with a narrow congenital spinal canal. Symptoms of spinal stenosis in these people may be seen in late years. It is the most common disease in the lower back and neck, and rarely seen in the thoracic region. The probability of occurrence at the same time in both waist and neck is 30%.
In the spinal stenosis, the patient has a walk and rest periods. When the patients walk for doing the daily activities they need to rest after a while. As the pathology progresses the time of these periods get shorter. Walking times are gradually shortened. The patient bends his waist forward while walking to compansate the symptoms to get relief. Low back and leg pain are present. Then numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness may develop in the legs. It may be difficult to control bladder and bowel functions.
In the cervical spinal stenosis (neck), numbness, tingling, loss of strength, and unbalanced gait occur in both arms and legs.
The main treatment of spinal stenosis disease is surgical intervention. In other words, there is no other treatment to expand the spinal canal. Surgery is planned according to the patient’s complaints, examination findings, and radiological examinations. Postoperative follow-up, abdominal and back muscle strengthening exercises and physical therapy are recommended after the sixth week.