What is Spinal Nerve Compression?
Spine specialists refer to any condition that applies pressure to the spinal cord or nerve roots as spinal nerve compression. A variety of factors can cause spinal nerve compression. The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that carries messages between our brain and the rest of our body. The spinal cord is protected by a series of bones known as vertebrae which are collectively known as the spinal column. The spinal column contains the spinal canal which is like a tunnel or passageway for the spinal cord. The spinal nerves radiate outward from the spinal cord to the rest of the body through openings in our vertebrae. Sometimes known as spinal stenosis, spinal nerve compression occurs when the spinal canal narrows. This reduced space can cause a pinched nerve. Factors that can lead to narrowing of the spinal canal(causing spinal compression) include:
- Degenerative disc disease
- Wear and tear of the joints in spine- osteoarthritis
- Bulging or herniated disc
- Injuries or trauma to the spine
- Spondylolisthesis- Misalignment of the spine
- Rarely- Spinal infections and Spinal tumours
Symptoms of Spinal Nerve Compression
The most common symptoms of compression include:
- Pain in the neck or back
- Sciatica— pain that originates in the buttocks and spreads down the legs
- Radiculopathy—radiating pain that spreads to other areas of the body
- Difficulty with coordination, especially in the hands or legs
- Foot weakness that causes you to limp
- Cramping, weakness, or numbness in the extremities
- Severe cases can cause loss of bowel or bladder control, numbness in the legs, and difficulty walking.
It is in your best interest to get evaluated by a Spine specialist nearby for best assessment of your spine compression symptoms. It is important to be assessed by a spine specialist so that your symptoms can be matched with the appropriate treatment which might range from medications to rarely spine surgery suited to your condition. The best spine surgeon in Bangalore, can do a thorough evaluation and do the best spine treatment as appropriate.
