The spine is the body’s central highway, with the spinal canal as the main lane that handles all the traffic. There are entrances and exits, or spinal cavities, that allow the nerves to branch off the spinal cord and run throughout the body. A traffic jam develops during lane closures, accidents, or construction at an entrance or exit. Lateral recess stenosis causes the narrowing of the spine’s lateral recess/Lee’s entrance, which can compress nerves, impede nerve circulation, and cause painful symptoms.Lateral Recess Stenosis: Injury Medical Chiropractic

Lateral Recess Stenosis

The spinal column provides a strong and flexible structure for the spinal cord. The nerves travel from the spinal cord through various openings and passageways to the rest of the body. One of the openings is known as the lateral recess. Stenosis means narrowing. When a lateral recess in a vertebra develops stenosis, the nerve in that area can get jammed/pinched with no room to move, causing varying symptoms and sensations.

Symptoms

Depending on where the stenosis is taking place (neck, middle or low back), common symptoms of lateral recess stenosis can include:

  • Back pain that can spread out to other areas.
  • Cramping that can spread out to other sites.
  • Radiating pain that worsens with movement and eases with rest.
  • Numbness or weakness of the legs or arms.
  • Electrical tingling sensations down the leg or arm.

Causes

The National Institute of Health lists the major causes:

Natural Wear and Tear

  • Natural aging with gradual degeneration remains the most common cause of stenosis.

Congenital – Born With Stenosis

Disease

Natural Aging Process

Traumatic Injury

  • Automobile crashes and accidents
  • Work Injuries
  • Sports injuries

Treatment

Lateral recess stenosis has no current cure, but there are options to treat stenosis symptoms.

Chiropractic and Physical Therapy

  • A chiropractic physical therapy team can relieve symptoms, restore function, and strengthen the muscles.
  • Muscle groups around the stenosis area are built up to take the pressure off of the area, alleviating symptoms.

Medications

  • A doctor or spine specialist may recommend or prescribe medication to ease symptoms. These include:
  • Tylenol – acetaminophen.
  • NSAIDS – Advil/ibuprofen or Aleve/naproxen.
  • Muscle relaxers

Steroid Injections

  • According to a study, neurogenic claudication is the main reason for disability and loss of independence in the elderly.
  • Neurogenic claudication describes pain and weakness in the buttocks and legs during physical activity that originates from the nerves, not the vessels.
  • This can happen from inflammation and swelling around a compressed nerve.
  • A steroid injection can decrease inflammation for several months.

Surgery

If activity modification, NSAIDs, bracing, and physical therapy don’t work or provide adequate relief, a doctor or specialist could recommend surgery.


Back Problems Chiropractor


References

American College of Rheumatology (n.d.) “Spinal Stenosis” www.rheumatology.org/I-Am-A/Patient-Caregiver/Diseases-Conditions/Spinal-Stenosis

Arthritis Foundation (n.d.) “Corticosteroids” www.arthritis.org/drug-guide/corticosteroids/corticosteroids

Drug Design, Development and Therapy (2014) “Steroid for epidural injection in spinal stenosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis” doi.org/10.2147/DDDT.S78070

Lee, Seung Yeop, et al. “Lumbar Stenosis: A Recent Update by Review of Literature.” Asian spine journal vol. 9,5 (2015): 818-28. doi:10.4184/asj.2015.9.5.818

Liu, Kuan, et al. “Steroid for epidural injection in spinal stenosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.” Drug design, development, and therapy vol. 9 707-16. Jan 30, 2015, doi:10.2147/DDDT.S78070

Medline Plus (n.d.) “Achondroplasia” medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/achondroplasia/

Microspine (n.d.) “Endoscopic Decompression” www.microspinemd.com/microspine-surgery/endoscopic-decompression/

National Institutes of Health (n.d.) “Spinal Stenosis” www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/spinal-stenosis

Northwest Medical Center (2022) “Lateral Recess/Foraminal Stenosis” nw-mc.com/lateral-recessforaminal-stenosis/

NSPC Brain and Spine Surgery (n.d.) Lateral Recess Stenosis nspc.com/lateral-recess-stenosis/

Raja A, Hoang S, Patel P, et al. Spinal Stenosis. [Updated 2022 Jul 17]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441989/

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The information herein on "Lateral Recess Stenosis: Sciatica Clinic" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.

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Dr. Alex Jimenez
Specialties: Stopping the PAIN! We Specialize in Treating Severe Sciatica, Neck-Back Pain, Whiplash, Headaches, Knee Injuries, Sports Injuries, Dizziness, Poor Sleep, Arthritis. We use advanced proven therapies focused on optimal Mobility, Posture Control, Deep Health Instruction, Integrative & Functional Medicine, Functional Fitness, Chronic Degenerative Disorder Treatment Protocols, and Structural Conditioning. We also integrate Wellness Nutrition, Wellness Detoxification Protocols and Functional Medicine for chronic musculoskeletal disorders. We use effective "Patient Focused Diet Plans", Specialized Chiropractic Techniques, Mobility-Agility Training, Cross-Fit Protocols, and the Premier "PUSH Functional Fitness System" to treat patients suffering from various injuries and health problems. Ultimately, I am here to serve my patients and community as a Chiropractor passionately restoring functional life and facilitating living through increased mobility. Purpose & Passions: I am a Doctor of Chiropractic specializing in progressive cutting-edge therapies and functional rehabilitation procedures focused on clinical physiology, total health, functional strength training, functional medicine, and complete conditioning. We focus on restoring normal body functions after neck, back, spinal and soft tissue injuries. We use Specialized Chiropractic Protocols, Wellness Programs, Functional & Integrative Nutrition, Agility & Mobility Fitness Training and Cross-Fit Rehabilitation Systems for all ages. As an extension to dynamic rehabilitation, we too offer our patients, disabled veterans, athletes, young and elder a diverse portfolio of strength equipment, high-performance exercises and advanced agility treatment options. We have teamed up with the cities' premier doctors, therapist and trainers in order to provide high-level competitive athletes the options to push themselves to their highest abilities within our facilities. We've been blessed to use our methods with thousands of El Pasoans over the last 3 decades allowing us to restore our patients' health and fitness while implementing researched non-surgical methods and functional wellness programs. Our programs are natural and use the body's ability to achieve specific measured goals, rather than introducing harmful chemicals, controversial hormone replacement, un-wanted surgeries, or addictive drugs. We want you to live a functional life that is fulfilled with more energy, a positive attitude, better sleep, and less pain. Our goal is to ultimately empower our patients to maintain the healthiest way of living. With a bit of work, we can achieve optimal health together, no matter the age, ability or disability.