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Lumbar Stenosis Diagnosis
As the most easily recognizable symptom of spinal lumbar stenosis is lower back pain and leg pain while walking, sitting upright or standing, a combination of a full physical examination and a study of the patient's medical history are required for proper diagnosis of the condition. The doctor will first discuss your symptoms with you. You will be asked questions about the severity of the pain, what positions make it better or worse and when the symptoms you are experiencing begun.
The doctor will then obtain a copy of your medical history or ask you questions concerning you and your family's medical history. These may include questions such as the occurrence of degenerative arthritis in the family, the occurrence of degenerative disorders in your family such as padget's disease, if you have had any past injuries to your back and any disorders you may have that may affect the health of your spine.
Having gathered this information the doctor will then take you through a physical examination which will help to ascertain the severity of the condition. The physical examination may include some physical activity so that the doctor can ascertain the problem areas. The doctor is also able to determine if there is weakness or numbness in the lower back or legs.
Having completed the physical examination and ascertained the severity of the condition, the physician then uses diagnostic imaging techniques to view the problem area. Popular imaging techniques used in the diagnosis of spinal lumbar stenosis is the MRIs and CT scans with myelogram.
CT scans with myelograms involve the injection into the spinal sack fluid of an x-ray dye. This enhances the sensitivity of the CT scan and eliminates the need to make scan slides of multiple fine segments. Enhanced CT scans can be used in combination with MRI scans for a more accurate diagnosis.
Spinal lumbar stenosis may occur on various levels all at once i.e. foraminal and sub-luminar and lateral. This may result in compression of any single nerve from various points. It is therefore important to combine various techniques of diagnosis to identify all points of compression.
Lumbar Stenosis Diagnosis
A physical examination and a study of the patient's
medical history are required for proper diagnosis of the condition.
Article published March 10th, 2011
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