What is narrowing of the left neural foramen?
It occurs when the small openings between the bones in your spine, called the neural foramina, narrow or tighten. The nerve roots that exit the spinal column through the neural foramina may become compressed, leading to pain, numbness, or weakness.
What does narrowing of the neural foramina mean?
Neural foraminal stenosis refers to compression of a spinal nerve as it leaves the spinal canal through the foramen (the opening between the vertebrae through which spinal nerve roots travel and exit to other parts of the body).
What causes narrowing of the neural foramina?
The risk of neural foraminal stenosis, which can be caused by general wear and tear, increases with age. The most common cause of neural foraminal stenosis is a degenerative spine. This expands into the foraminal canal, narrowing the spaces and openings where nerves leave between the vertebrae.
What is the treatment for Foraminal narrowing?
Nonsurgical treatments, such as physical therapy, pain medication, activity modification, and/or epidural injections are typically tried first for cervical foraminal stenosis.
How quickly does spinal stenosis progress?
Spinal stenosis is generally not progressive. 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.
What does narrowing of foramen suggest?
Foraminal narrowing occurs when there is nerve compression or irritation, which results in less space available for the nerve roots to pass through. Foraminal narrowing can cause radiating pain along the length of the nerve as well as numbness, tinging, or weakness within the muscle group innervated by the affected nerve.
What causes foraminal narrowing?
Disc degeneration is the most common cause of neural foraminal stenosis. This causes a narrowing of the opening between vertebrae, and leads to pressure on the spinal cord itself, which results in neural foraminal stenosis. It can also occur as a result of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
What does neural foramen are narrow mean?
Neural foraminal narrowing (also called spinal stenosis) refers to a narrowing of the opening in the spinal column through which the spinal nerves exit . What is Neural Foraminal Narrowing?
What causes moderate neural exit foraminal narrowing?
Causes of Neural Foraminal Narrowing. Neural foraminal narrowing has several causes, including illness, congenital defects, poor posture, injury or trauma, repetitive motion-related injuries, and tumors. However, by far, the most common cause is degenerative disc disease due to the natural aging process.