Is spinal stenosis life threatening?

Is spinal stenosis life threatening?

Is spinal stenosis life threatening?

While lumbar spinal stenosis is not life threatening, severe spinal stenosis can cause significant disability.

What is the end result of spinal stenosis?

Spinal stenosis can result in significant morbidity. Severe disability and death may result from the association of cervical stenosis with even minor trauma resulting in the central cord syndrome. Both upper (cervical) and lower (lumbar) spinal stenosis may result in motor weakness and chronic pain.

Will spinal stenosis cripple you?

When spinal stenosis compresses the spinal cord in the neck, symptoms can be much more serious, including crippling muscle weakness in the arms and legs or even paralysis.

What are the main causes of spinal stenosis?

The most common cause of spinal stenosis is osteoarthritis, the gradual wear and tear that happens to your joints over time. Spinal stenosis is common because osteoarthritis begins to cause changes in most people’s spines by age 50. That’s why most people who develop symptoms of spinal stenosis are 50 or older.

How long can you live with spinal stenosis?

“The symptoms of spinal stenosis typically respond to conservative treatments, including physical therapy and injections.” Dr. Hennenhoefer says you can live a normal life with a spinal stenosis diagnosis and can work on improving your mobility and comfort.

Is spinal stenosis a death sentence?

Myelopathy describes any neurologic symptoms related to the spinal cord and is a serious condition. It occurs from spinal stenosis that causes pressure on the spinal cord. If untreated, this can lead to significant and permanent nerve damage including paralysis and death.

How do you prevent spinal stenosis from getting worse?

What can I do to prevent lumbar spinal stenosis?

  1. Get regular exercise. Exercise strengthens the muscles that support your lower back and helps keep your spine flexible.
  2. Maintain good posture. Learn how to safely lift heavy objects.
  3. Maintain a healthy weight.

What happens if spinal stenosis is left untreated?

Can Spinal Stenosis Cause Death? When cervical spinal stenosis is left untreated, it can lead to substantial and permanent nerve damage – this nerve damage can lead to paralysis and death.

Can a person have spinal stenosis in the neck?

Cervical spinal stenosis. Spinal stenosis is not limited to the spine. Cervical spinal stenosis occurs when the spinal canal narrows in your neck. At the very least, this condition can make it difficult to get through the day; at worst, it can be extremely serious.

Is it good news to have spinal stenosis surgery?

Surgery for spinal stenosis allows patients to exercise and feel better over-all. It is as much a promotion of health as it is a treatment of disease. That’s why it’s good news when a patient hears “you need surgery.” Dr. Patrick Roth is the author of The End of Back Pain: Access Your Hidden Core to Heal Your Body.

What kind of back pain does spinal stenosis cause?

However, it can also rarely affect younger people. Spinal stenosis most often affects the lower (lumbar) spine. The next most commonly affected part of the spine is the cervical spine in the neck. Stenosis of the spine at the back of your chest (thoracic spine) is much less common. Spinal stenosis causes back pain and leg pain.

Will stenosis ever go away?

Thankfully, spinal stenosis can go away with proper treatment. There are a few different treatment options that our patients typically invest in to improve their mobility and reduce spinal pain: Physical Therapy.

Can spinal stenosis pain be treated without surgery?

Many patients with spinal stenosis may be treated without surgery. The purpose of surgery is to relieve pressure on the spine, but surgery may be required if a person has: Persistent pain that cannot be treated by nonsurgical methods. Numbness or weakness that interferes with walking.

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.

When is cervical stenosis dangerous?

Whatever the cause, this narrowing can squeeze your nerve and cause neurological symptoms such as pain, weakness, numbness, and poor balance. Spinal stenosis can be especially dangerous in the cervical region because if left untreated, it can cause severe body weakness and even paralysis.