What is the difference between spinal stenosis and lumbar stenosis?

What is the difference between spinal stenosis and lumbar stenosis?

Lumbar spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal in the lower part of your back. Stenosis, which means narrowing, can cause pressure on your spinal cord or the nerves that go from your spinal cord to your muscles. Spinal stenosis can happen in any part of your spine but is most common in the lower back.

When is lumbar stenosis serious?

When Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Is Serious Almost intolerably severe lower back pain. Severe sharp, shooting, and burning pain in the leg(s) Progressive weakness in one or both legs. Numbness of the inner thighs (saddle anesthesia) and/or around the anal region.

Does spinal stenosis cause nerve root compression?

In spinal stenosis, bone spurs, enlarged facet joints and a bulging disc constrict the nerve root canals causing compression and entrapment of the spinal nerves; also called lateral or foraminal stenosis.

Does MRI show nerve impingement?

Neck or low back pain that radiates into your arms or legs is often a sign of impingement or pinching of a nerve as it emerges from your spinal cord. An MRI may be able help identify structural lesions that may be pressing against the nerve so the problem can be corrected before permanent nerve damage occurs.

Do pinched nerves show up on MRI?

MRI is sensitive to changes in cartilage and bone structure resulting from injury, disease, or aging. It can detect herniated discs, pinched nerves, spinal tumors, spinal cord compression, and fractures.

Is canal stenosis at lumbar levels a spinal cord disease?

Thus, canal stenosis at lumbar levels results in nerve root dysfunction rather than spinal cord dysfunction. FIGURE 3. Posterior view of the lumbar region of the spinal canal, demonstrating the conus medullaris at the L1 to L2 level and the cauda equina nerve roots inferiorly.

Which nerves are involved in foraminal stenosis and nerve root impingement?

Incidence of foraminal stenosis and nerve root impingement increases in the lower lumbar levels due to the increased diameter of the DRG. Commonly involved nerves are the fifth lumbar nerve root (75%), followed by the fourth root (15%), the third root (5.3%), and the second root (4%).

What are the treatment options for lumbar stenosis (LS)?

Treatment for symptomatic lumbar stenosis is usually surgical decompression. Medical treatment alternatives, such as bed rest, pain management and physical therapy, should be reserved for use in debilitated patients or patients whose surgical risk is prohibitive as a result of concomitant medical conditions.

What causes radiculopathy of the lumbar spine?

Lumbar radiculopathy may occur when the spinal nerve roots are irritated or compressed by one of many conditions, including lumbar disc herniation, spinal stenosis, osteophyte formation, spondylolithesis, foraminal stenosis, or other degenerative disorders.