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Health & Fitness

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: Another "Gift" of Aging

Older Americans are enjoying more active lifestyles than ever before. While this is great news, there are physical effects of the aging process that are not cause for celebration. An aging spine can lead to a variety of conditions that may affect your ability to enjoy your golden years. Johns Hopkins neurosurgeon Dr. Jeff Jacobson, who practices at Suburban Hospital, helps shed some light on one of these conditions: lumbar spinal stenosis.

Stenosis means a narrowing of a vessel or channel in the body. Spinal stenosis occurs when there is a narrowing of the spinal canal, which puts pressure on the spinal cord and nerves, causing pain. Stenosis can occur at any level of the spine: cervical, thoracic or lumbar. Lumbar, the more common form of spinal stenosis, is a degenerative form of arthritis in the spine that results in the compression of the spinal nerves that run down the legs.

Dr. Jacobson warns against neglecting the symptoms. “If you ignore the symptoms, such as weakness in the legs or unsteadiness when walking, you may become more immobile,” he said. “A significant number of patients can live their lives without surgery, but you have to treat the condition and modify behaviors.”

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The first step, says Dr. Jacobson, is contacting your primary care physician to determine the exact problem and discuss treatment options.

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“While lumbar stenosis is a progressive condition that cannot be prevented or cured, it can be managed,” he said. “The goal of treatment is to minimize symptoms.”

To learn more about lumbar spinal stenosis from Dr. Jacobson, including information about who’s at risk, symptoms, and treatment options, read his Ask the Expert column at suburbanhospital.org/AskTheExpert.

 

 

 

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