Foraminal Stenosis

Foraminal stenosis occurs as the foramina becomes narrowed. The foramina are passageways that house nerve roots throughout the spine. Nerve roots travel through the foramina and out into the body. As the foramina gets smaller or obstructed, pressure is placed on the nerve roots and can cause various symptoms. Foraminal stenosis can form in the cervical, lumbar and thoracic region of the spine.

Causes of Foraminal Stenosis

Despite foraminal stenosis having no direct cause, there are a few leading causes that can contribute to developing this condition.

Age: Over time, natural wear can affect the spine and may lead to this condition.
Spinal Injuries: Injuries from traumatic accidents or sports can contribute to foraminal stenosis.
Excess weight: Extra weight can place pressure on the spine and alter the spinal structure which may lead to this condition.
Existing conditions: Conditions such as herniated discs, bulging discs, osteoarthritis and bone spurs can all cause foraminal stenosis.

Symptoms of Foraminal Stenosis

Below are the leading symptoms of foraminal stenosis:

Chronic pain
Numbness and tingling

Muscle weakness
Muscle spasms

Treatments

At OC Spine Center, we diagnose and treat spinal conditions with the utmost care. Through extensive research and experience in the field, our board-certified physicians are able to create effective treatment plans for all variations of spinal conditions. Spine specialists will perform a short physical exam, gather condition information and address any patient concerns through an exhaustive consultation. We believe in treating each spinal condition with conservative forms of treatment. If symptoms remain after an allotted amount of time, we will proceed with other forms of treatment. In most cases, our physicians will recommend our minimally invasive spine surgery. Our advanced spine surgery is low risk and has a low infection rate.

Alleviate pain with the spine specialists at OC Spine Center. Book your appointment today.