There are several causes of spinal stenosis, but all are associated with loss of space available for the spinal nerves. Therefore, when making the diagnosis of spinal stenosis, your healthcare provider will be looking for signs of compression in and around the spinal canal. Below are some of the test commonly used to help make the diagnosis of spinal stenosis.
The physical examination in a patient with spinal stenosis will give your healthcare provider information about exactly where the nerve compression likely exists. Some important factors that should be investigated are any areas of sensory abnormalities or numbness, the nature of your reflexes, and any muscular weakness.
However, there are some situations where people have persistent symptoms despite non-surgical treatments. In these situations, a surgical procedure to create more room for the spinal nerves may be considered.
