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.
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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