Table of Contents
- 1 How serious is foraminal stenosis?
- 2 What are symptoms of foraminal stenosis?
- 3 Will foraminal stenosis get worse?
- 4 Is walking good for foraminal stenosis?
- 5 Is Foraminal stenosis a disability?
- 6 What do you need to know about foraminal stenosis?
- 7 What is the success rate of surgery for spinal stenosis?
How serious is foraminal stenosis?
The nerve roots that exit the spinal column through the neural foramina may become compressed, leading to pain, numbness, or weakness. 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.
What is the treatment for foraminal stenosis?
The least invasive spine procedures used to treat foraminal stenosis include foraminoplasty, laminotomy and discectomy. Each procedure is designed to take pressure off the nerve and repair the tightening of your foramen.
What are symptoms of foraminal stenosis?
The symptoms may include numbness, weakness, burning sensations, tingling and “pins and needles” in the arms and legs. The risk of the foramen narrowing increases with age and with other musculoskeletal conditions, such as arthritis.
What is the cause of foraminal stenosis?
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.
Will foraminal stenosis get worse?
While cervical foraminal stenosis tends to progress over time, the symptoms may not necessarily worsen. Most people can manage cervical foraminal stenosis symptoms with nonsurgical treatments, such as physical therapy, medication, rest, cervical traction, and minimally invasive injection therapies.
How fast does foraminal stenosis progress?
Symptoms generally develop slowly over time (again, most common with patients of age 50+), and they may come and go. Unfortunately, these symptoms can eventually become chronic and quite debilitating.
Is walking good for foraminal stenosis?
Walking is a suitable exercise for you if you have spinal stenosis. It is low-impact, and you can easily vary the pace as needed. Consider a daily walk (perhaps on your lunch break or as soon as you get home).
Is foraminal stenosis a disability?
As the foramen close in, it can lead to those nerves becoming pinched. You can receive disability benefits for foraminal stenosis if you have supporting medical documentation.
Is Foraminal stenosis a disability?
As these conditions suggest, foraminal stenosis is a serious medical condition that causes pain and restricted movement. The Social Security Administration (SSA) lists spinal disorders, including spinal stenosis, as conditions that qualify as disabilities or impairments under its benefits system.
Can you get SSDI for foraminal stenosis?
What do you need to know about foraminal stenosis?
Common Symptoms. Depending on where in the spine the problem is,the symptoms can occur in different parts of the body.
How dangerous is cervical spinal stenosis?
Unfortunately, the spinal cord compression can lead to serious problems such as extreme weakness, or even paralysis. With cervical stenosis, anyone who develops signs of spinal cord compression (myelopathy) may need more invasive treatment, such as surgery.
What is the success rate of surgery for spinal stenosis?
For those who choose surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis, the good news is that lumbar laminectomy, the most common surgery for spinal stenosis has a high success rate (most literature puts the success rate at about 80\%). Also in most cases lumbar decompression surgery allows people to return to a more active and pain free lifestyle.
What causes severe stenosis?
The leading reason for spinal stenosis is arthritis, a condition caused by the breakdown of cartilage — the cushiony material between your bones — and the growth of bone tissue. Osteoarthritis can lead to disc changes, a thickening of the ligaments of the spine, and bone spurs. This can put pressure on your spinal cord and spinal nerves.