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The Signs of Spinal Stenosis

By Sara Butler

As you get older, you may hear the term "spinal stenosis" thrown around when talking about back pain. That's because spinal stenosis happens when the canal that houses the spinal cord becomes narrower, something that happens most commonly in people over the age of 60.

If you're worried that your back pain may be spinal stenosis, you should talk to the chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic about your concerns. But you should also be on the lookout for these signs that your back pain may be more than simply back pain.

Issues With Your Legs

If the nerves in the lower back become compressed by a narrowing channel in the spine, then you may experience something called neurogenic claudication. The signs of this condition include:

  • Numbness or pain in the legs when standing
  • Increased numbness or pain in the legs while walking
  • Improvement of numbness or pain with rest
  • Difficulty with activities that involve standing or walking

Sciatic Pain

The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body, running from your lower back to the tips of the toes. When you have sciatica, the sciatic nerve becomes compressed or irritated, causing pain, weakness, tingling, numbness, or burning sensations anywhere along the nerve pathway. Different nerve roots can be impacted, resulting in pain anywhere from the buttocks to the foot.

Foot Drop

Speaking of feet, foot drop is another issue related to spinal stenosis. When particular nerve roots are impacted, then there can be motor weakness in the foot, causing difficulty when trying to lift the foot or flex the toes upward. This may cause you to drag or foot or trip while walking.

Issues With Gait

How you walk can be impacted by spinal stenosis too. If you have stenosis in your lower back, then it can change the way you walk if you're having issues with foot drop. If you have stenosis in your neck, then it can cause problems with balance as you walk, especially when trying to navigate in low light or darkness. This is something that can get worse with time, which is why it vital to have any issues you may have with walking checked out by the chiropractor.

If you're concerned about spinal stenosis, then don't wait to be evaluated by the chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic.

To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Columbia, S.C.

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