Herniated Disc Spinal StenosisSpinal stenosis can occur from many potential causes, including herniations, osteoarthritis, spondylolisthesis and scoliosis, among others, but herniated discs are one of the most controversial contributors known. This is because most true stenosis conditions are permanent and will not resolve without some form of invasive therapy. Herniations, meanwhile, may decrease in size without any therapy, making this particular type of stenosis a possibly transitory circumstance. Herniated Disc Spinal Stenosis Diagnosis
It is quite common for a
central disc herniation
to
impinge on the thecal sac
which surrounds the spinal cord. It is also not unheard of for the disc to press into the actual cord or cauda equina itself. It is rare, however, for this effacement to create any serious pain or neurological symptoms, as long as there is no definitive
compression of the spinal cord
or cauda equina structures. Most herniations which enter the spinal canal do not do anything but exist there. In some cases, especially when enacted by sudden and extreme trauma, a central or
posterolateral disc herniation
can create a symptomatic stenosis condition which can cause acute pain and other symptoms, including
weakness,
numbness
and
tingling
in virtually any bodily location below the level of stenosis. Herniated Disc Spinal Stenosis TreatmentBeing that most mild to moderate spinal stenosis conditions are not symptomatic, especially when created by a soft tissue pathology, such as a herniated disc, the majority of diagnosed patients will not require any specialized treatment. Usually professional monitoring of the issue is enough for minor stenosis events.However, unneeded treatment is sometimes provided, since the condition is occasionally grossly misdiagnosed as being problematic, leading to symptomatic escalation via nocebo effect and a long line of failed therapy modalities. Treatment for actual cord or cauda equina compression can often be successfully completed using
spinal decompression,
surgical intervention
or simply waiting it out. Herniated Disc Spinal Stenosis AdviceJust within the past few years, I was diagnosed with many previously unknown herniations in my neck, including one particularly troublesome looking one at C6/C7. I was shocked to see how this herniated disc was pressing so far into my spinal cord and was immediately concerned with the possibility of cervical spinal stenosis.These herniations were obviously present for a very long time, since the usual degenerative changes were in full effect around the bulging discs, proving that I had been active for so many years with these cervical irregularities without even being aware that they existed. This made me feel a bit better, but I continue to get this one really bad prolapse monitored regularly just to be sure it will not become a serious heath concern. At the present, it is still the one disc I fear the most. I also know that it may be wholly or partially responsible for many of the diverse symptoms which afflict me. Herniated Disc Spinal Stenosis to Herniated Disc 4/26/11 Revised 3/9/12 |
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