Table of Contents
Is Spinal stenosis a degenerative disease?
Lumbar spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal, compressing the nerves traveling through the lower back into the legs. While it may affect younger patients, due to developmental causes, it is more often a degenerative condition that affects people who are typically age 60 and older.
What does spine degeneration mean?
Degenerative spine conditions involve the gradual loss of normal structure and function of the spine over time. They are usually caused by aging, but may also be the result of tumors, infections or arthritis. Pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots caused by degeneration can be caused by: Slipped or herniated discs.
What is spinal degeneration called?
Degenerative disc disease is one of the most common causes of low back and neck pain, and also one of the most misunderstood. Simply put, degenerative disc disease refers to symptoms of back or neck pain caused by wear-and-tear on a spinal disc.
What can be done for degeneration of the spine?
Physical therapy can help stretch and strengthen the right muscles to help the back heal and reduce the frequency of painful flare-ups. Lifestyle modifications, such as changing your posture, losing weight or giving up smoking, can sometimes help reduce stress on the damaged disc and slow down further degeneration.
Is walking bad for spinal stenosis?
Walking is a good exercise for spinal stenosis. It’s low impact, and you control the pace and distance.
Can you reverse spinal degeneration?
Answer: Unfortunately, there’s currently no cure for degenerative disc disease, and once you’re diagnosed with DDD, it’s typically a lifelong journey of learning to live with back pain, neck pain, or other symptoms. Once your discs begin to degenerate, you can’t really reverse the process.
What are the leading causes of spinal stenosis?
Aging. Spinal stenosis is most common in people over 50.
What is the prognosis of severe spinal stenosis?
In most cases the prognosis for spinal stenosis is very good. Many people can obtain good relief of their symptoms with nonsurgical treatment. In some case, as the stenosis becomes more severe, the nonsurgical treatment become less effective. For those patients, surgery is a good option to consider.
What is the treatment for stenosis of the spine?
A common treatment for spinal stenosis is to restrict movement. Corticosteroid injections may help reduce the swelling. Commonly used drugs include acetaminophen ( Tylenol ), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ( NSAIDs ), Non-drug treatments include hot packs, ultrasound, electrical stimulation and therapeutic exercises.
Can my spinal stenosis be reversed?
No, spinal stenosis can’t be reversed but the process might be able to be slowed if you take good care of yourself by maintaining a healthy weight, eating healthy foods, exercising regularly to keep your bones and muscles strong, and following your healthcare provider’s instructions to best manage any existing medical conditions you may have.