The Dangers of Undiagnosed Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis is a serious medical issue that can cause a lot of pain and discomfort, should it go undiagnosed. It is a condition where there is a lack of space between different areas of the spine. It most often occurs in the neck and the lower back areas of patients.

There are cases so severe that doctors recommend patients undergo surgery in order to have the spaces widened in the spine to remove the pain. Spinal stenosis will not always cause patients to experience symptoms, while others might experience weakness of their muscles, tingling, pain and numbness. enormous.

What are the symptoms of spinal stenosis?

It’s possible for an MRI or CT scan to show evidence of spinal stenosis in a patient who has not complained of any of the common symptoms. If symptoms present themselves, they will do so gradually and then worsen as time goes on, varying in degree of severity based on the area of the spine where the stenosis is present.

Symptoms in the lower back, or lumbar spine:

• Weakness in a leg or foot
• Tingling or numbness in a leg or foot
• Pain in the back
• Cramping or pain in a leg or foot when you walk or stand for extended periods. The pain subsides when you sit or bend the leg

Symptoms in the neck, or cervical spine:

• Pain in the neck
• Tingling or numbness in a hand, arm, leg, or foot
• Issues with balance and walking
• Weakness in a hand, arm, leg, or foot
• Severe issues involving incontinence and urinary urgency

It is imperative that you visit your family physician if you experience any of the symptoms listed above for a thorough evaluation.

What is the cause of spinal stenosis?

There are some instances where people are born with a small spinal canal, which can lead to the development of spinal stenosis later in life. Experiencing a car crash, a fall, or an act of medical malpractice can also compress the spinal canal. Some of the other causes of spinal stenosis include the following:

• Herniated disks
• Bone overgrowth
• Ligaments that have thickened
• Spinal cord injuries
• Tumors

What happens if spinal stenosis is left untreated or undiagnosed?

Spinal stenosis is most often diagnosed in people over the age of 50 and it is due in large part to the wear and tear of the body. If you ignore the symptoms, or the issue goes untreated, you could experience serious quality of life issues.

Disability

It’s not out of the realm of possibility for you to end up disabled. This happens in the most severe of cases because the extreme pain and weakness makes it impossible for the patient to stand on their own.

A decrease in activity

You will definitely experience a decrease in activity when you let spinal stenosis go untreated or undiagnosed. Walking for just a couple of minutes when suffering from spinal stenosis can become a real challenge. The pain will either subside or feel better when you sit, which can lead to a lifestyle where all you do is sit. You won’t have the strength to ride a bicycle, swim, take the dog for a walk or do anything else that involves standing.

Constant discomfort and pain

The discomfort and pain will become constant when you allow spinal stenosis to go untreated. The pain will be present in your upper and lower back, neck, buttocks, legs and feet. The longer you ignore the symptoms, the worse the pain and discomfort will get.

Issues with bladder and bowel control

Quite possibly the most embarrassing issue of undiagnosed or untreated spinal stenosis is issues with bladder and bowel control. The nerves that connect to your bladder and bowels can become weak in severe cases of spinal stenosis. Should you begin to experience incontinence, it’s recommended that you speak with your doctor immediately because surgery might be needed to relieve the symptoms.

Spinal stenosis is a serious condition, and delayed treatment can have a lasting impact on your life. If your injury was misdiagnosed, or if a doctor failed to diagnose you in a timely manner, let Cunningham & Mears help. Please call our Oklahoma City office at (405) 232-1212 or fill out our contact form to schedule a consultation today.