Lumbar Stenosis

Leg Pain and Numbness: What Might These Symptoms Mean?

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:29:06 -0800

Quite often leg pain or foot pain is not caused by a problem in the leg or foot, but rather by a condition in the lower back. Diagnosis of leg pain and other lower extremity symptoms should focus not only on the legs and hips, but should also include examination of the low back. In fact, with many low back problems, there is actually little or no low back pain. Instead, there may be leg pain, foot pain, and/or lower extremity numbness or weakness.

Overview: Sciatica Exercises

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 23:04:48 -0800

Before reviewing specific sciatica exercises, it is first important to explain what sciatica is, as the term sciatica is often misused and its definition misunderstood. Sciatica is a set of symptoms, not a diagnosis in itself (meaning it does not explain the cause of the pain).

Spinal Stenosis Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:55:12 -0800

What is spinal stenosis?

The term “stenosis” comes from Greek and means a “choking”. Spinal stenosis, however, has little in common with choking. There are two primary types of spinal stenosis:

What You Need to Know About Sciatica

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:52:48 -0800

The term sciatica describes the symptoms of leg pain and possibly tingling, numbness or weakness that travels from the low back through the buttock and down the large sciatic nerve in the back of the leg.

The vast majority of people who experience sciatica get better with time (usually a few weeks or months) and find pain relief with non-surgical sciatica treatment. For others, however, sciatica can be severe and debilitating.

Back Pain Causes: Overview of Conditions That Can Create Back Pain

Ben Parr — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:23:54 -0800

Back Pain Symptoms: Overview of Lower Back Pain Symptoms and Diagnosis

Ben Parr — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:23:56 -0800

The cause of back pain can usually be diagnosed with a detailed description of one’s symptoms. The description of symptoms, along with ones medical history (and possibly diagnostic testing), will usually lead to a diagnosis of a general cause (such as back strain), or a specific condition (such as a herniated disc).

Back sprain or strain symptoms generally include:

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Definitive Guide to Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:16:20 -0800

As we age, the spine changes, often leading to a degeneration of the vertebrae (bones), discs, muscles, and ligaments (connective tissues). These changes may lead to spinal stenosis. The term “stenosis” comes from the Greek word meaning “choking” and is often the result of degenerative conditions, such as osteoarthritis.
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Laminectomy and Spinal Stenosis: Success Rates

Ben Parr — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:02:02 -0700

The success rate of a lumbar laminectomy surgery to alleviate pain from spinal stenosis is generally favorable. Following surgery, approximately 70% to 80% of patients will have significant improvement in their function (ability to perform normal daily activities) and markedly reduced level of pain and discomfort associated with spinal stenosis.
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Laminectomy Back Surgery Video

spine-health — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 11:19:44 -0800

A laminectomy is typically performed to alleviate pain caused by neural impingement that can result from spinal stenosis. The surgery involves removing a small portion of the bone and/or disc material around the nerve root to allow more space for better healing. This interactive video provides a step-by-step overview of a laminectomy.

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Living with Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:55:12 -0800

Many people with lumbar spinal stenosis find that they can successfully manage their condition through an easy self care program. This article presents a range or approaches an individual can take to manage low back pain and sciatica symptoms associated with lumbar spinal stenosis, including exercise and staying active, biomechanical awareness, pain management and nutrition.
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Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Treatment and Surgery

Ben Parr — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 08:15:38 -0800

Once a doctor has made a conclusive diagnosis of lumbar spinal stenosis, conservative or surgical treatment should be implemented, depending on the severity of the stenosis.

There are several options for conservative (non-invasive) treatment for spinal stenosis include:
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Posture, Exercise, Nutrition, and Pain Management for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Ben Parr — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 16:58:05 -0700

Spinal stenosis treatments

After receiving a diagnosis of lumbar spinal stenosis, there are many self-care activities can help manage the symptoms in conjunction with the treating doctor’s plan. This article identifies four key components of a self-care program that can be undertaken to manage the symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis.
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Sciatica Causes

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:52:48 -0800

Sciatica refers to a set of symptoms which are usually caused by a problem in the lower back called a radiculopathy—when a nerve root that connects to the sciatic nerve is compressed or irritated. Common low back problems and other spinal conditions that can cause sciatica include:
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Surgery for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Provides More Pain Relief than Nonsurgical Treatment

Stephanie — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 07:45:33 -0700

Surgery is more effective than nonsurgical treatment in providing pain relief for patients with lumbar spinal stenosis, new study results find.
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The Truth About Sciatica

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:52:48 -0800

Understanding the true nature of sciatica

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X-Stop Interactive Video

Greg — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 17:29:09 -0700

The X-STOP is a minimally invasive surgical procedure designed to relieve symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis. This interactive video gives you a surgeon's view of the procedure.
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