Once you’re over age 50, you begin to have a higher likelihood of experiencing conditions such as arthritis, osteoporosis, and persistent back pain. You’re also more vulnerable to spinal stenosis, which is a condition that can cause pain in the lower back, buttocks, and legs.
Let’s talk about some of the main risk factors associated with spinal stenosis, because awareness of this condition can help you to control the symptoms by seeking medical help early on in its development. That way, it can be treated and potentially stifled.
Bone Problems Leading to Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis occurs when your backbone has less space for your nerves, thereby causing nerve compression. This can happen naturally or due to wear-and-tear as we get older.
In between each set of two adjacent vertebrae in the spine is a cushiony disc. These discs allow your spine to move and twist, but they can degrade as time passes – decreasing the room around the nerves in your spinal column. If the reduced space causes compression on your nerves, it can potentially cause pain, weakness, and other problems.
Thus, any complication regarding your bones that affects your spine can cause spinal stenosis. Examples are arthritis, spondylolisthesis, hernia, and accidents that damage the spine.
Spinal Stenosis Caused by Lifestyle
Your daily routine can also affect your risk of developing spinal stenosis, especially over age 50. Your lifestyle choices can significantly impact almost all aspects of your health.
Improper posture increases your risk of developing spinal stenosis, because it can contort your spine – damaging surrounding tissues and possibly leading to the narrowing of the spinal canal. Improper posture can be the result of a sedentary lifestyle or simply from sitting and standing while allowing your back to slump slightly.
A profession involving heavy manual labor or sports is also a risk factor. When performing intense physical activity, you strain your joints repeatedly, excessively wearing them down. Thus, maintaining a balance between exercise and rest is essential to your spine health, especially after age 50. Be sure to take breaks!
Underlying Medical Conditions
Recent studies have also shown a link between diabetes and spinal stenosis. A lifestyle that increases your risk for type 2 diabetes, such as eating a high-fat, high-calorie diet and being overweight, also places you at greater risk for developing spinal stenosis after 50.
Moreover, if you have had previous back surgery, you may experience back pain that may be indicative of spinal stenosis. Incomplete or incorrect healing after the operation may result in uneven spine regeneration, causing the spinal canal to be narrowed.
Degenerative disc disease causes structural deformation of the spine that can cause pain and may also lead to spinal stenosis. This condition causes the nerves to be irritated, often resulting in pain and discomfort. A skilled back doctor can help to quell the pain.
Spine Care in Rochester Hills, MI
Your spine health is our priority here at Ahlgren Spine. Let Dr. Bradley Ahlgren address your spinal stenosis, back pain, and other spine conditions and help you live the life you want at every age.
Call us today at (248) 215-8080 or request an appointment now via our online form to schedule your consultation. We look forward to helping you find relief from your back pain so you can get back to the active lifestyle you love!
