Let’s start with a quiz.
Question 1: Do your symptoms go down one leg or both?
Question 2: How far down do the symptoms go?
Question 3: Do you feel better when you sit or stand?
Question 4: Does walking bring on your symptoms?
How you answered these questions will initially indicate whether you could have spinal stenosis or sciatica and will help with understanding the difference between spinal stenosis and sciatica.
Oh, My Aching Back!
We need a strong lower back to perform daily tasks and physical activities like lifting and standing. One of the top reasons people visit a spine specialist like the ones at Texas Spine Associates is due to back pain. It’s a very common complaint, and it can greatly affect your personal life as well as prevent you from going to work or school.
Spinal conditions can be very painful, and spinal stenosis and sciatica are two that are easily confused.
What Is Spinal Stenosis?
Spinal stenosis takes place when the open spaces in the spine narrow. This creates pressure on the spinal cord and the nerves in the spine. Narrowing of the spinal cord and traumatic physical injuries plus nerve damage can greatly affect the lower back, and can also cause pain in the legs and feet.
General symptoms of spinal stenosis include:
- Numbness
- Tingling
- Muscle weakness
- Loss of motor function in the legs
Spinal stenosis can be recognized from sciatica due its specific localized pain and pain down both legs. You may have trouble with balance, and it makes bending backward very painful with bending forward more comfortable. Using a walker is helpful. Standing is painful, but walking relieves some discomfort. Spinal stenosis can be extremely debilitating without treatment.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms contact Texas Spine Associates.
What Causes Spinal Stenosis?
Older men and women mostly suffer from spinal stenosis. It can be caused by:
- Genetics
- Development over time
- Having osteoarthritis
- A herniated disc
- Bone spurs
- A bulging disc
- A traumatic injury
- Spondylolisthesis
What Is Sciatica?
Sciatica occurs when a bone or a disc presses on the sciatic nerve in the spine. The two sciatic nerves are the thickest and longest nerves in our body starting from the base of the spine and traveling through the buttocks and down the legs.
Symptoms of sciatica include:
- Numbness
- Radiating leg pain
- Tingling through the buttocks and only down one leg.
- Standing, sitting, and walking are all painful.
Compared to spinal stenosis, it is more painful bending forward.
What Causes Sciatica?
Some causes of sciatica include the following:
- A herniated disc
- Spinal stenosis
- Bones spurs
- Rarely due to a compression caused by tumors or diabetes
Risk factors include being pregnant, overweight, an inactive lifestyle, or a job that involves heavy lifting.
The Important Distinction
If you look back at the quiz at the beginning of this post, you may be able to distinguish which condition you may have. It is essential that you get the right diagnosis in order to get the right treatment.
Contact Texas Spine Associates if you are having back pain and need a proper diagnosis to begin treatment for either sciatica or spinal stenosis. Give us a call at (972) 987-0969 to get started, or request an appointment through our secure online form.
Sources: 2 Major Distinctions Between Sciatica and Spinal Stenosis (revisionhealthservices.com)
Spinal stenosis and sciatica – Sciatic Pain Relief Cushion (sciatic-relief.com)
Sciatica and Spinal Stenosis: What’s the Connection? – Bradley D. Ahlgren, MD (ahlgrenspinemd.com)