Causes of Neural Foraminal Narrowing
Neural foraminal narrowing, which is the constriction of the nerve passageways in the spine, can exert pressure on spinal nerves as they attempt to receive and send signals from and to other parts of the body. This condition, also referred to as foraminal stenosis or spinal stenosis, can have several causes, such as illness, injury, congenital defects, poor posture, prolonged misuse and tumors, among others.
The most common causes of foraminal narrowing are degenerative spine conditions that can develop over the course of the natural aging process. Every aspect of our spines, from the intervertebral discs and vertebrae to the facet joints and ligaments, can begin to deteriorate as we grow older, giving way to a variety of anatomical abnormalities, including:
- Herniated disc
- Bulging disc
- Bone spurs
- Facet disease
- Degenerative disc disease
- And others
Minimally invasive treatment alternatives
Neural foraminal narrowing can occur bilaterally (on both sides) or unilaterally (on one side); regardless of which side of the body is affected, symptoms can include pain, tingling, numbness, cramping, spasms and weakness. These sensations may remain localized at the site of neural compression, but it is more common for symptoms to travel along the path of the pinched nerve.
If your physician has diagnosed you with neural foraminal narrowing, he or she may suggest a variety of conservative treatment methods. Pain medication, behavior modification, stretching, hot-cold compresses, physical therapy and low-impact exercise have helped many patients to find relief from their symptoms. In the event that you require more targeted decompression treatment and your physician suggests spine surgery, consider contacting Laser Spine Institute. We offer a variety of minimally invasive, outpatient procedures that have helped tens of thousands of people find relief from neck and back pain. Contact us today for more information and for your MRI or CT scan review.