하성서울의원 하성서울의원

전화하기

SpineHasung Seoul Orthopedic Clinic

Spinal stenosis

Spinal stenosis

Pain during walking,
Daily life threatened spinal stenosis

In vertebral body, there is a spinal canal, a pathway through which spinal nerves go down.

Vertebral canal is composed of bone, intervertebral discs, and joints, and the narrowing of the spinal canal or intervertebral cavity compresses the nerve roots, causing various neurological symptoms such as low back pain and tingling in the legs, intermittent claudication, gait disturbance, urination and defecation disorders.

Spinal stenosis

What are the symptoms?

  • Numbness or tingling (“pins and needles”) in the buttocks, leg or foot.

  • Gradual decrease in the distance you can walk

  • As symptoms worsen, constant need to sit down and take a break from walking, even for a short walk of about 50m~100m

  • Symptoms seem to disappear if you sit down or lie on your back

  • Unlike vertebral discs, bending the lower back relieves symptoms, and stretching it increases the pain.

Spinal stenosis

What causes spinal stenosis?

  • Degenerative arthritis in the spine

  • Herniated disc

  • Degenerative Spondylolisthesis

Spinal stenosis

How is spinal stenosis diagnosed?

  1. 01

    Plain roentgenography

  2. 02

    CT

  3. 03

    MRI

  4. 04

    Electromyography

Spinal stenosis

How to treat it?

  1. Exercise restrictions

    In the acute phase, it is important to lie down for about 1 to 2 weeks and take absolute bed rest.

  2. Medications

    Anti-inflammatory drugs, pain killers, and muscle relaxants are prescribed.

  3. Physical therapy

    Traction therapy is the most important treatment that relieves pressure on the spine. Thus, it must be continued until symptoms improve.

  4. Neuroplasty

    If your condition does not improve inspite of the long-term conservative treatment, you may consider this procedure instead of surgery.

  5. Prolotherapy

    It is a new medical technology currently being performed in order to strengthen the back muscles and ligaments which reduce pain.

  6. Exercise program

    It is necessary to constantly strengthen the abdominal and back muscles.