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Spinal stenosis can develop in anyone but is most common in men and women over the age of 50. Younger people who are born with a narrow spinal canal can also have spinal stenosis.
Do most seniors have spinal stenosis?
Degenerative changes of the lumbar spine that are visible on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) become more common with age and are present in nearly 100% of persons over age 60 (4). By radiological criteria alone, 21% of all persons over age 60 have lumbar spinal stenosis (5).
Does everyone get spinal stenosis as they age?
Spinal stenosis can result from wear and tear For example, spinal stenosis is most commonly caused by regular wear-and-tear changes in the spine as you age. “Almost everyone gets this degenerative disease of the spine as part of the aging process.
What percentage of the population has spinal stenosis?
According to estimates from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery, spinal stenosis affects 8 to 11 percent of the population in the United States with nearly 2.4 million Americans expected to be affected by 2021. It is most common in people over the age of 50.
What spine condition is common with aging?
Degenerative disc disease occurs when the cushioning in your spine begins to wear away. The condition is most common in older adults. After age 40, most people experience some spinal degeneration. The right treatment can lead to pain relief and increased mobility.
Should a 75 year old have back surgery?
Conclusion. Spinal fixation and fusion in patients older than 75 years old grants good results in terms of quality of life but the rate of morbidity is higher than standard spine surgery. Rate of fusion especially is still a critical point.
How is spinal stenosis treated in the elderly?
Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the vertebral canal that compresses spinal nerves and may cause leg pain and difficulty walking. The symptoms of degenerative lumbar stenosis commonly occur in elderly adults and can be treated conservatively with pain-relieving agents or aggressively with decompressive surgery.
Is walking good for spinal stenosis?
Walking is a suitable exercise for you if you have spinal stenosis. It is low-impact, and you can easily vary the pace as needed. Consider a daily walk (perhaps on your lunch break or as soon as you get home).
How do you prevent spinal stenosis from getting worse?
What can I do to prevent lumbar spinal stenosis? Get regular exercise. Exercise strengthens the muscles that support your lower back and helps keep your spine flexible. Maintain good posture. Learn how to safely lift heavy objects. Maintain a healthy weight.
Does spinal stenosis hurt all the time?
The pain tends to come and go, but it usually does not progress with time. The natural history with spinal stenosis, in the majority of patients, is that of episodic periods of pain and dysfunction.
How should you sleep with spinal stenosis?
People with spinal stenosis should consider sleep in the fetal position, or in an adjustable bed that allows the head and knees to be elevated. This relieves the pressure on the spinal nerves. When patients have hip pain, the best sleeping position is on their sides with a pillow between their knees.
Does spinal stenosis get worse with age?
Many people have evidence of spinal stenosis on an MRI or CT scan but may not have symptoms. When they do occur, they often start gradually and worsen over time.
Can spinal stenosis shorten your life?
Answer: Yes, you do have to live with it for the rest of your life. However, many patients with spinal stenosis live life in the absence of pain or with minimal symptoms.
Does drinking water help degenerative disc disease?
Drinking water and keeping properly hydrated in general supports disc health, and the best way to help with degenerative disc disease is through prevention, including drinking water. Exercises for your back and maintaining a healthy body weight will also help prevent or mitigate degenerative disc disease.
What is the most common back problem in later life?
Low back pain (LBP) is the most common health problem among older adults that results in pain and disability [4, 7–10]. Older adults, aged 65 years or above, are the second most common age group to visit physicians for LBP [11].
Does walking help degenerative disc disease?
Aerobic exercise. Regular aerobic exercise, such as walking, swimming, or taking a low-impact aerobics class, has been shown to help relieve pain, promote a healthy body weight, and improve overall strength and mobility—all important factors in managing DDD.
Should an 85 year old have back surgery?
Lumbar spine surgery in patients 85 years and older can be accomplished safely if careful attention is paid to preoperative selection. Prolonged operative times are associated with a higher risk of complications.
What is the average age for a spinal fusion?
The average age of all fusion patients increased from 58.2 to 60.6 years (P < . 001). Length of stay did not change significantly from a mean of 3.7 days. In-hospital mortality decreased from 0.6% to 0.3% (P < .
Is lumbar laminectomy safe for elderly?
Our results demonstrate that conventional lumbar laminectomy without fusion is a safe treatment for spinal stenosis in patients 70 years and older. There were no differences in outcomes between patients who experienced complications and those who did not.
What happens if you let spinal stenosis go untreated?
It occurs from spinal stenosis that causes pressure on the spinal cord. If untreated, this can lead to significant and permanent nerve damage including paralysis and death. Symptoms may affect your gait and balance, dexterity, grip strength and bowel or bladder function.
Will I end up in a wheelchair with spinal stenosis?
The symptoms are often so gradual, that patients seek medical attention very late in the course of this condition. Patients may be so disabled and weak that they require the use of a wheelchair for mobility. In rare instances, severe spinal stenosis can cause paraplegia and/or bowel/bladder incontinence.
What is the best thing to do for spinal stenosis?
Over-the-counter medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), naproxen (Aleve, others) and acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) can help reduce pain and inflammation. Applying hot or cold packs. Some symptoms of cervical spinal stenosis may be relieved by applying heat or ice to your neck.
