Three of the main causes of Sciatica are Herniated Disc, Piriformis Syndrome and Spinal Stenosis. In this article we are going to look in more detail at Spinal Stenosis but you may also find the following information very useful:

Causes of Sciatica – Herniated Disc

Causes of Sciatica – Piriformis Syndrome

It is very important to realise that Sciatica is only a symptom of a condition, not a cause, and in order for you to successfully find your way to a solution to your sciatic pain, you have to first understand the root cause of why this pain has developed. Assessing your own personal problem is the first step in our recommended 3-Step System of Therapy.

What is Spinal Stenosis?

Stenosis of the spine can be a very painful and debilitating problem that most often affects people of 50 or over. Younger people who were born with a narrow spinal canal or who hurt their spines may also get spinal stenosis.

It can develop in both the Cervical as well as the Lumbar area of the spine or both and most research suggests that it affects men and women equally in the Lumbar area. We are concentrating on Lumbar Spinal Stenosis here as this is the most common place for spinal stenosis to occur and in this instance becomes one of the causes of sciatica as the most frequently affected nerve is the Sciatic Nerve.

There are three major types of stenosis of the spine:

• Central Stenosis – the narrowing of the spinal canal itself.
• Lateral Recess Stenosis – the narrowing of the tunnels where the nerve roots exit the central spinal canal.
• Intervertebral Foraminal Stenosis – the narrowing of the hole where the individual nerve roots exit to the spine.

Causes of Spinal Stenosis

• Aging – changes that occur in the spine as people get older are the most common cause of lumbar stenosis.
• Arthritis – both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis may affect the spine.
• Herniated Disc
• Spondylolisthesis
• Osteoporosis
• Calcification Overgrowth (calcium deposits on the ligaments that run along the spine).
• Scoliosis or other curvatures
• Fractures
• Infection
• Systemic Bone Diseases such as Paget’s Disease
• Scar Tissue Buildup
• In some cases it is congenital; there can be imperfections in the development of the segments of the spine.

Spinal Stenosis Symptoms

People with this condition often find that their ability to function deteriorates slowly. The narrowing process is usually quite slow so symptoms get progressively worse over time. Typically, patients with lumbar spinal stenosis have a long history of pain in the back, buttocks and/or legs that gradually worsens over time.

The intensity and frequency of symptoms will vary but usually include one or more of the following: Pain, Numbness, Stiffness, Weakness, Cramping, Heaviness, Tingling in the back, buttock, leg or foot.

Standing or walking upright usually increases the symptoms and they are generally relieved by sitting down or leaning forward. Therefore it is common for people to adopt a bending forward posture, such as leaning on a shopping cart, walls or a walking stick. This position tends to create more space in the spinal canal and therefore decreases compression of the nerves. So, for example, walking for long periods of time can be very difficult but riding a bicycle may be a lot easier as this position tends to create more space in the spinal canal (relieving some of the pressure on the nerves).

Treatment of Spinal Stenosis

Back Pain Treatments Reviewed – What You Need to Know (Audio)

Treatments can include:

Activity restriction – restrict movement

Medicines to reduce swelling

Medicines to relieve pain

Heat packs

Ultrasound

Electrotherapy – such as a TENS machine

Physical therapy

Epidural corticosteroid injections

Acupuncture

Hypnosis

Magnet therapy

Chiropractic manipulation

Lumbar pelvic traction

A brace for your lower back

Surgery – decompression (laminectomy or foraminotomy), spinal fusion surgery (surgery is normally used as a last resort).

Our Recommendation

Most traditional treatments fail to provide long-term relief because they merely address the symptoms and fail to address the root cause of the condition.  This is why we recommend the 3-Step System on Muscle Balance Therapy to help restore balance and proper function of the muscles and joints.  The 3 Steps are Assessment, Pain Relief and Exercises – further details about this, inlcuding some Q and A, are included on our article, Exercises for Sciatica.

Spinal Stenosis – What Is It? And How To Treat It – Further Information

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An Overview of Treatment for Herniated Discs