Spinal stenosisis a common condition that can cause symptoms of both back and leg pain.
This can lead to pain, numbness, and weakness in the legs.
Below are some of the test commonly used to help make the diagnosis of spinal stenosis.
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The X-ray will show your healthcare provider the bones of your spine.
The X-ray is helpful is looking forcauses of spinal stenosisincluding tumors, traumatic injury,spinal arthritisor inherited abnormalities.
MRI Test
An MRI has become the most frequently used study to diagnose spinal stenosis.
TheMRI uses magnetic signals(instead of X-rays) to produce images of the spine.
Myelogram
The myelogram is an X-ray, with an added twist.
Dye is injected into thespinal fluidaround the spinal cord and nerves.
The dye shows up on X-rays around these nerves unless there is no space surrounding the nerves.
Because of increasing use of MRIs, myelograms are much less commonly performed these days.
A CT scan can be done after a myelogram to clearly show areas of nerve compression.
Treatment of Spinal Stenosis
Treatment of spinal stenosis can often be accomplished withsimple, non-invasive treatments.
However, there are some situations where people have persistent symptoms despite non-surgical treatments.
In these situations, asurgical procedureto create more room for the spinal nerves may be considered.
Sadeghpour ASR.Degenerative Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: Diagnosis and Management.Journal of Spine.
Johns Hopkins Medical.Bone Scan.
