Due to the normal aging process, intervertebral discs lose their fluid and begin to harden and ossify. Thus, they lose their support functions between the vertebrae. This causes them to harden and shift, causing pressure on the spinal canal and, as a result, narrowing of the canal containing the spinal cord. At the same time, this aging process also occurs in the ligaments around the spine, and the condition that occurs due to disc compression from the front and ligament calcification from the back is defined as canal narrowing. Vascular structures squeezed as a result of narrowing cause the spinal cord to not receive adequate blood supply and therefore deteriorate its functions. At the same time, findings related to pinched nerves occur. These findings vary depending on where the narrowing occurs. For example, narrowing of the canal in the waist area;
-
Lower back pain,
-
Weakness and numbness in the feet,
-
Cramps and contractions, numbness and numbness in the legs after walking a certain distance,
-
Pain starting from the waist and hip and spreading to the leg and foot
-
Difficulty lying on your back
-
There is a tendency to walk leaning forward.
Canal Narrowing in the Cervical (Neck) Region
-
Weakness, tingling, numbness in the arms and/or hands
-
Weakness in the legs, loss of function and gait disturbance
-
Having difficulty or being unable to do fine work (such as not being able to button your shirt, tie your shoelaces)
-
In advanced cases where it also affects the legs, patients may experience problems such as not being able to walk without assistance
-
Urinary and fecal incontinence.
Diagnosis
MR imaging used in spine diseases, tomography and direct radiographs when necessary are the necessary imaging tests to diagnose canal narrowing and a definitive result is reached in making the diagnosis.
Treatment.
Canal stenosis disease is possible by relaxing the spinal cord and exiting nerves in both the lumbar and cervical regions. To achieve this, hardened ligament They need to be cleaned and the disc causing the pressure needs to be cleaned. At the same time, if the stability between the vertebrae is disrupted during these procedures, the stabilization process is performed with titanium screws. Otherwise, slippage between the vertebrae and leg pain due to reoccurring nerve compression will be inevitable.
Read: 0
