Is foraminal stenosis serious?

Is foraminal stenosis serious?

When Cervical Foraminal Stenosis Is Serious If this nerve compression and the associated neurological deficits go untreated, permanent numbness and/or paralysis can occur.

What is foraminal stenosis caused by?

Spinal stenosis is very common among older adults because age-related, degenerative spinal changes are the most common cause of narrowing. Foraminal narrowing can develop when degenerative disc disease, osteoarthritis, bone spurs or a herniated disc causes changes in the spine that narrow or tighten open spaces.

What is the difference between canal stenosis and foraminal stenosis?

Stenosis may occur in the central spinal canal (central stenosis) where the spinal cord or cauda equina are located, in the tract where the nerve root exits the central canal (lateral recess stenosis), or in the lateral foramen (foraminal stenosis) where the individual nerve roots exit out to the body.

For some people, the condition doesn’t cause any symptoms and doesn’t require treatment. However, severe cases of neural foraminal stenosis can cause paralysis. If symptoms do occur, they typically happen on the side of the body where the nerve root becomes pinched.

The two general types of spinal stenosis are foraminal stenosis, also called lateral stenosis, which involves compression or inflammation of a spinal nerve; and central canal stenosis, which involves compression or inflammation of the spinal cord.

How serious is foraminal stenosis?

Severity of foraminal stenosis. This condition often develops as a result of herniated discs, bulging discs, bone spurs, facet cysts and thickening of the ligaments. When the nerves become pinched as they exit the tunnel, this can increase the severity of your condition, resulting in back pain, numbness, tingling and weakness.

What causes foraminal stenosis?

The main cause of foraminal stenosis is shrinkage of the space needed for nerve roots, which is primarily caused by changes to the spine linked to the natural aging process. For some individuals, foraminal narrowing is sometimes hastened or caused by a disc that becomes herniated.

What are the symptoms of foraminal stenosis?

The most common foraminal stenosis symptoms include: Local pain. Muscle weakness. Numbness or tingling in the extremities. The feeling of pins and needles or extreme heat. Traveling pain along the nerve’s path.

What do you need to know about foraminal stenosis?

Foraminal stenosis is the narrowing or tightening of the openings between the bones in your spine. These small openings are called the foramen. Foraminal stenosis is a specific type of spinal stenosis. Nerves pass though the foramen from your spinal cord out to the rest of your body.