LUMBAR SPONDYLOSIS IS A COMMON DISORDER OF THE LOW BACK OR LUMBAR SPINE. BASICALLY DEGENERATIVE (WEAR AND TEAR) EFFECTS ON THE SPINAL COLUMN CAUSE JOINT ARTHRITIS AND DISC BULGING OR OSTEOPHYTE (SPUR) FORMATION ON THE INTRA-VERTEBRAL DISCS. THESE "WEAR AND TEAR" EFFECTS ARE MOST COMMONLY SEEN IN THE LOWEST PART OF THE BACK. THE 3 RD OR 4TH AND 5 TH LUMBAR LEVELS OR MOTION SEGMENTS ARE USUALLY ALTERED. BACK PAIN AND STIFFNESS ARE COMMON SYMPTOMS MENTIONED BY PATIENTS. OFTEN PATIENTS SEEK MEDICAL EVALUATION DUE TO NERVE ROOT IRRITATION OR COMPRESSION. WALKING LONG DISTANCES OR REPETITIVE BENDING OR PROLONGED STANDING MAY CAUSE LEG PAIN OR NUMBNESS/TINGLING SENSATIONS TO RECUR. THE NEUROLOGICAL EFFECTS OF CHRONIC NERVE ROOT COMPRESSION NEED TO BE DISCUSSED WITH A PHYSICIAN. IF SYMPTOMS OF LEG WEAKNESS OR LIMPING OR WORSENING PAIN WITH LIMITED ACTIVITIES BECOME SIGNIFICANT, NEUROLOGICAL SURGERY CONSULTATION WOULD BE APPROPRIATE. IF BLADDER CONTROL OR BLADDER DYSFUNCTION SYMPTOMS OCCUR WITH BACK PAIN OR LEG NUMBNESS OR WEAKNESS, PLEASE LET YOUR PHYSICIAN KNOW.

For more Basic Information *** Click Here***. The images below may help you understand the effects of joint and ligament thickening causing compression of the nerve roots inside the spinal canal. Compression of all the nerve roots withing the spinal canal or Cauda Equina Compression Syndrome is often referred to as Neurogenic Claudication. Peripheral Vascular Disease can also affect the legs due to impaired blood supply to the limbs. Your physician will have to evaluate your leg and bladder function especially if a severe degree of spinal stenosis is present.

These are CT scan cross sectional images of the lumbar spine after contrast has been placed into the water filled lumbar spinal canal during a myelogram The nerve roots inside the canal and the entire dural sac are compressed especially on the lower right image which is 5mm below the cross sectional image on the left

. THE IMAGE ON THE LEFT SHOWS FACET JOINT HYPERTROPHY( ENLARGEMENT) WITH EXPANSION OF THE CALCIFIED LIGAMENT OR CAPSULE OF THE FACET JOINTS INTO THE SPINAL CANAL CAUSING SPINAL CANAL STENOSIS. REMEMBER THAT ALL THE NERVE ROOTS OF THE LOWER LUMBAR SPINE PASS THROUGH THE SPINAL CANAL BEFORE EXITING ON EITHER SIDE THROUGH THE LATERAL FORAMEN. THESE NERVE ROOTS THEN FORM THE PERIPHERAL NERVE BRANCHES IN THE LEGS SUCH AS THE SCIATIC NERVE OR FEMORAL NERVE.

THE IMAGE ON THE RIGHT SHOWS THE HYPERTROPHY (THICKENING) OF THE LIGAMENTUM FLAVUM NARROWING FURTHER THE SPINAL CANAL. THE LIGAMENTUM FLAVUM IS AN ELASTIC YELLOW LIGAMENT COVERING THE POSTERIOR (BACK) OF THE SPINAL CANAL AND THE INSIDE OF THE FACET JOINTS. THE NARROWING OF THE RIGHT FACET JOINT SYNOVIAL SPACE CAN BE SEEN. CLOSER VIEW OF THE TWO ILIAC ARTERIES ON TOP OR ANTERIOR TO THE VERTEBRAE REVEALS CALCIUM DEPOSITS OR HARDENING OF THE ARTERIES USUALLY REFERRED TO AS ATHEROSCLEROSIS.

Revised September 27, 1998