Spinal stenosis can be a pain in the neck, literally! This condition is the result of a gradual narrowing of the spinal canal, which may place pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. This most commonly affects the lumbar (low back) and cervical (neck) areas of the spine. The most common cause of spinal stenosis is aging. The rate of progression of the disease varies as people age and the changes are often quite gradual.

Symptoms

The symptoms of spinal stenosis depend on where the narrowing is. Most spinal stenosis affects the lumbar, or lower back, area. You experience pain radiating down your leg that is relieved if you sit or bend forward. In severe cases, you could lose bowel, bladder or sexual function and have difficulty walking.

The second most common area for spinal stenosis to occur is in your neck, or cervical spine. People with cervical stenosis may feel pain radiating down an arm, or aching, numbness or tingling in the arm or leg. They may have difficulty with fine motor skills, such as picking things up with their fingers or writing, problems walking or loss of bladder and bowel control.

Types:

Cervical spinal stenosis occurs in the neck and can involve either the cord or spinal nerves. If spinal nerves are involved, you will have pain, numbness, tingling and/or weakness of the neck, shoulders and/or arms. If the cord is involved, you may also have symptoms affecting your legs, usually uncoordinated movement and difficulty walking.

Thoracic stenosis is rare because there is less curvature in the thoracic spine, and therefore less stress on the joints between vertebrae. The spinal canal is normally narrower in the thoracic spine, however, so it takes less obstruction to cause symptoms.

Lumbar stenosis is common, and involves the lower back. Lumbar stenosis causes pain in the lower back and leg and may also cause weakness in one or both legs.

Diagnosing Spinal Stenosis

•    Complete history to determine how long symptoms have been present and if condition is worsening

•    Physical Exam to evaluate pain and weakness of extremities

•    Neurological exam will identify chronic nerve root depression

•    Laboratory tests to rule out unusual causes of nerve root and spinal cord dysfunction

•    X-rays of lumbar and cervical spine can identify the amount of spinal degeneration or instability.

•    A CAT scan (Computerized axial tomography) helps visualize the spinal column and identifies areas of stenosis.

•    A myelogram, in which a dye is injected into the space occupied by the spinal cord and nerve roots, can identify problem areas.

•    An EMG (electromyographic) test helps identify compressed nerve roots.

Treatment

Conservative methods of treatment are used as long as possible. They don’t cure the problem, but most people get relief of their symptoms for quite a while by doing prescribed exercises, including flexion. Most people have good results with physical therapy. Chiropractic, massage and acupuncture often help, too.

Most doctors prescribe muscle relaxers or anti-inflammatory medications to relieve the symptoms of spinal stenosis. If those don’t work, epidural cortisone treatments and nerve blocks may be helpful.

Resources

• What is Spinal Stenosis? | The Therapii Blog
• Spinal Stenosis and Fusion Surgery |
• Vitiligo White Skin, Due to Loss of Melanocytes | Health
• Training Speed with No Space | The Athletic Development Blog
• Thinking About Traveling?
• Howard Edition » Blog Archive » TMJ Disorders Predictably Managed
• Shad Feramisco » Treating Lumbar Stenosis With Interferential
• Perform Better Functional Training Summit Recap Part 2 « Sean Skahan
• Free Nordic Walking Classes Returning To The Senior Expo at the Wexford Civic Center in Cadillac, Michgian « Nordic Walking Blog USA
• Brand New! Neck & Shoulder STRETCHES, Dr. Jeff King, Quincy chiropractor | CancerType
• Expert-view: The Thoracic Spine (from the System “Yoga in Daily Life” against Back Pain) (Part 2) | Back Pain Therapy
• Spinal Stenosis Relief In South Florida | Vilemov Castle
• Cervical Spine Anatomy and Examination | Singapore Sports and Orthopaedic Clinic
• Spinal Tumors Surgery Abroad At Affordable Cost -Spinal Tumors | No SubHealth | How to get better health.
• Cervical Stenosis | Menopause, Osteoporosis, All Women Health
• The Importance of Thoracic Spine Mobility | Mark's Daily Apple
• Sciatica Pain Relief Fast Using Feldenkrais
• Neck Pain Surgery In India At Affordable Cost | Jaw Sore
• Rapid Recovery Facelift | Jaw Sore
• Tmj Sore Jaw – TMJ Treatments For a Sore JawTMJ Disorder | Jaw Ear Pain

Upper back pain should not be taken lightly. If it persists longer than twelve weeks, it tends to become chronic.   It is generally caused by injuries in the back muscles, spinal arthritis and degeneration of back bones.  Chronic upper back pain requires expert medical attention.

Treatment

This pain may require a combination of several therapies targeted at the individual requirements of the patient. Some of these therapies are:

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy addresses the underlying causes of the chronic upper back pain and restores a pain-free movement of the back bones and muscles. It makes the patient unlearn the bad postures acquired over the years and learn the good postures.
Physical therapy involves passive and active treatment.

 Passive treatment is so called because it does not require the active participation of the patient. Passive therapy includes deep tissue massage, hot and cold treatment and electrical nerve stimulation.

Active treatment involves various exercises to promote the flexibility and strength of muscles, movement of the joints especially of the thoracic spine if they are the cause of the upper back pain.

Psychosomatic treatment

Upper back pain can sometimes become very acute and cause deep frustration, fear and emotional pain. Patients easily fall for new promises of successful treatment and when their expectations are belied, they suffer psychologically as well physically.

Psychosomatic treatment involves training in deep breathing, meditation, relaxation, positive thinking, concentration and visualization techniques. It helps the patient to take his focus off the pain, which   relieves mental tension as well as the pain in the muscles.

Surgery

In case the conventional therapies fail, the patient may be advised surgery. For that the doctor usually arranges blood tests to diagnose the actual cause of the pain. He may also recommend CT(Computerized Tomography) or MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scan to reveal the state of muscles and other soft structures in the spinal area.

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Upper left side back pain, also called middle back pain, thoracic pain or left upper back pain occurs between the base of the neck and the upper part of the lumbar spine. The most pain prone area in the upper back comprises the trapezius, the triangular shaped muscles as well as the shoulder blades.

The reason that it is also called thoracic pain is that the upper part of the spine is connected with the thoracic or chest area.

Causes

1. In most cases, the upper left side back pain occurs due to the wear and tear of the muscles in the back.

2. Sometimes a nerve in the neck or thoracic part of the spine gets pinched due to   bulging disc or arthritis.

3. The vertebrae get afflicted with osteoporosis or weakening of the bones. It becomes so weak that it cannot withstand the weight of the spine itself.

4. Injuries due to accidents or falls may also cause severe pain in the upper back muscles.

5. Overuse of the muscles of the upper back and poor postures can cause strain in the joints and ligaments. Painters, who have to work in awkward postures such as while painting the ceiling, often suffer from upper back pain.

6. Women with large breasts sometimes have to strain to stand straight. This may also cause pain the upper back.

7. Heart problem may also indicate itself by causing pain in the upper back area of the neck.

Treatment

In most cases the pain may be caused due to some mechanical problem in your back such as strain, overwork or wrong posture. Here are some of the steps you may take to get relief from the upper left side back pain at the initial stage.

1. Massage: Do a deep massage over the afflicted area for a minute or two every hour. Just rub the tender spot by extending your hand across the opposite shoulder.

2. Knead: Knead the trapezius muscles gently like a cat kneads with its paws. Do it yourself or get your friend of spouse to do that.

3. Use elbow: You may ask your friend to gently press the tender area with the point of his elbow for a few seconds at a time and repeat it a few times. Pressure upon a point temporarily stops the supply of blood followed by a sudden flow of oxygen carrying blood. This relaxes the muscles.

4. Correct posture:  A wrong posture often weakens and damages the muscles that support the weight of the back. Always be careful of your posture while sitting, standing, sleeping, walking or working.

5. Sports bra: Women with large breasts should try wearing sports bra which provides better support to the shoulders and neck.

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Low level laser therapy, or LLLT, has only existed for less than 50 years and already has been able to make many innovations in the medical field when it comes to caring for common muscle pains. LLLT is the use of red and near infra-red light that is used to improve wound healing and give reinforcement to severe and unceasing muscle pain.

In recent years, LLLT has been accepted in the remedial industry as a way of lessening muscle pain. Many of those who deal with continual and relentless muscle pain will often get a massage to rid the pain, take prescribed medicine to relieve their aches, or even visit their physician to learn ways to ease their inflammation.

Here are some ways that low level laser treatments are treating muscle pain.

• Neck and shoulder pain is a common muscle pain that many people have to cope with on a daily basis. Low level laser researchers have conducted clinical trials and have come to the conclusion that LLLT has shown that they help with pain improvement and help to increase muscle strength and range of motion for patients with unrelenting pain due to conditions of cervical or thoracic spine strain, osteoarthritis and muscle spasms.
• Muscle pain and sensitivity is interrelated to surgeries, such as liposuction, and those who go through with the surgery will often speak about the pain they experience up to several after the procedure.  LLLT has been used in the operating room to give support for laser breast enhancement and the elimination of pain due to surgeries and also advances nerve regeneration after the procedure.
• Lower back pain is a widespread complaint that many people experience and LLLT helps in treating this throbbing ache. Chiropractors even use LLLT as an add-on to their treatments for lower back pain.
• Clinical trials are presently in the works to aid those who bear the medical condition of carpal tunnel syndrome. Low level lasers are applied to the wrist area to aid with pain relief. The trial is still in anticipation of completion and many specialists are eager that these low level lasers will ease the pain for the large majority of people who suffer from this disorder.