The word “foramen” is the singular form, while “foramina” is the plural form.
If the foramina narrow, they can put pressure on the nerve roots near them, causing pain.
This is called neuroforaminal stenosis.
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Anatomy
The vertebrae are the building blocks of the spinal column.
Structure
The large, round portion of bone that makes up each vertebra is called thebody.
The body of each vertebra is attached to a bony ring.
The intervertebral foramen is the opening between every two vertebrae where the nerve roots exit the spine.
Thenerve rootstravel through the foramen to reach the rest of the body.
There are two neural foramina between each pair of vertebraeone on each side.
Without nerve signals, the body would not be able to function.
Associated Conditions
A common problem that can affect the neuroforamina is spinal stenosis.
Stenosis is a medical term that means narrowing.
Spinal stenosis is usually, but not always, an age-related disorder associated with arthritis.
Pain accompanied by other sensations such as tingling or numbness is called radiculopathy.
The main symptom of neuroforaminal stenosis is pain.
Numbness and/or tingling can occur as well.
It is typically associated with central stenosis rather than foraminal stenosis.
Other symptoms include weakness and/or difficulty walking more than short distances.
Conservative treatments are often effective enough.
These include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), physical therapy,regular exercise, and cortisone injections.
Complementary treatments such as acupuncture, massage, and chiropractic may also be helpful.
Most cases of stenosis don’t require a fusion.
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