Neurological Care for Spinal Stenosis Symptoms in Central California
Spinal stenosis puts pressure on your spinal nerves — the nerves that branch off from your spinal cord and extend throughout your arms and legs. Nerve compression causes pain, numbness, and other symptoms. Normal wear and tear of the spine causes most cases of spinal stenosis, but injuries and spinal deformities increase the risk.
An accurate diagnosis allows your doctor to develop an appropriate treatment and helps prevent permanent nerve damage and disability. Find a Doctor today if you have spinal stenosis symptoms in Central California. A skilled neurologist at Dignity Health Central California will perform a comprehensive exam to diagnose the cause of your symptoms and plan treatment.
Our entire team of neurological and surgical specialists offer you expertise and a family-centered philosophy of care at our hospitals.
Signs & Symptoms of Spinal Stenosis
Normally, your spinal column provides enough room for your spinal cord and the 33 pairs of nerves branching off it. There is much less room for these nerves when you have spinal stenosis. As the condition advances, structures in your spine compress certain nerves, which causes the classic symptoms of spinal stenosis.
Spinal stenosis symptoms include:
- Pain in your neck and arms
- Pain in your back and legs
- Numbness or tingling in your arms or legs
- Muscle weakness in the arms or legs
- Difficulty walking with a straight spine
Symptoms vary depending on the affected part of your spine.
Diagnosing Spinal Stenosis Symptoms at Dignity Health Central California
Your doctor may suspect you have spinal stenosis if you are older than 50 and experiencing pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness in your back, arms, or legs.
Your doctor will order diagnostic tests to confirm a spinal stenosis diagnosis and rule out other possible spinal conditions, such as a herniated disc. Imaging studies, including spinal X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), help your doctor understand the cause of your symptoms. Electromyography (EMG) is a test that evaluates muscle weakness.
Once you receive a diagnosis, your doctor will explain your treatment options and consult with a neurosurgeon if necessary. Our goal is to begin treatment and relieve your pain and other symptoms as quickly and safely as possible.
Talk to your doctor to learn more about neurosurgery and other treatments for signs and symptoms of spinal stenosis in Central California
Dignity Health Central California provides personalized neurosurgical care for people with spinal stenosis symptoms in Bakersfield, and Stockton, CA.