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Diagnosis of Spinal Stenosis

A physician must first diagnose spinal stenosis before being able to provide treatment. The process usually involves:

• Ruling out similar symptoms or other conditions
• History and physical examinations
• Tests

History and Physical Examinations

• History: The doctor will begin by asking the patient to describe any symptoms he or she is having and how the symptoms have changed over time.

The doctor will also need to know how the patient has been treating these symptoms including what medications the patient has tried.

• Physical Examination: The doctor will then examine the patient by checking for any limitations of movement in the spine, problems with balance, and signs of pain.

The doctor will also look for any loss of extremity reflexes, muscle weakness, sensory loss, or abnormal reflexes which may suggest spinal cord involvement.

Diagnosing Spinal Stenosis: Tests

After examining the patient, the doctor can use a variety of tests to look at the inside of the body. Examples of these tests include:

• Bone scan: Can detect fractures, tumors, infections, and arthritis, but may not tell one disorder from another. Therefore, a bone scan is usually performed along with other tests.


• Computerized axial tomography (CAT scan): Shows the shape and size of the spinal canal, its contents, and structures surrounding it. Shows bone better than nerve tissue.


• Doppler scanning: Traces the flow of blood to determine whether the pain is caused by circulatory problems.


• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging): Gives a three-dimensional view of parts of the back and can show the spinal cord, nerve roots, and surrounding spaces, as well as enlargement, degeneration, tumors, or infection.


• Myelogram: A liquid dye is injected into the spinal column and appears white against bone on an x-ray film. A myelogram can show pressure on the spinal cord or nerves from herniated discs, bone spurs, or tumors.


• X-rays: These tests can show the structure of the vertebrae and the outlines of joints and can detect calcification.

Other Tests: The following tests may also be used to locate problems in the muscles that might indicate areas of spinal cord compression: • Electromyography • Evoked potential studies • Nerve conduction velocity

Learn more about spinal stenosis:
Home
Causes of Spinal Stenosis
Definitions of Spinal Stenosis
Symptoms of Spinal Stenosis
Treatment for Spinal Stenosis

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The Bonati Spine Institute advocates spinal stenosis patients to be well informed. We encourage you to contact us to request more information, a no-obligation MRI review or a personal telephone consultation. Find out why The Bonati Procedures are considered to be among the world’s best solutions for laser spine surgery.