NUMBNESS AND WEAKNESS

Our spine plays a key role in keeping our body not just in motion but also upright at all possible time. In fact it is one of the most important elements that allow our body to function in the right way possible. It is normal for our spinal canal to change and wear out with age or certain traumas that hurt our back. However, there are times when these injuries or spinal conditions become severe causing our back to show symptoms of disorders including numbness and weakness. These symptoms include back pain, back numbness and back weakness.

Back numbness and weakness are two indications that all is not right with your spine. Most of the time these symptoms arise when the spinal canal is narrowed. This condition is known as spinal stenosis. The narrowing of the spinal canal can happen for a lot of reasons like thickening and hardening of spinal ligaments, enlarging of bones and joints ( caused by osteoarthritis), collapse or bulging of disc (herniated disc) or the slipping of vertebrae over the other (spondylolisthesis). Apart from these causes patients suffering from stroke or multiple sclerosis also feel symptoms of numbness and weakness.

All these conditions lead to not only pain in the back but the patient also feels his back going numb and too weak to perform even the most normal day to day activities.

BACK NUMBNESS AND WEAKNESS TREATMENT

Numbness and WeaknessA proper diagnosis of the root cause causing numbness and weakness is very important so that the the right treatment approach and option can be taken up depending upon the condition or disorder the patient is suffering from. The treatment option for this type of problem includes both surgical and non-surgical options, although surgery is rarely used as a treatment option.

Treatment option includes:

  • Heat/Ice Therapy
  • Therapeutic Massage
  • Physical Therapy that includes strengthening exercises
  • Chiropractic Manipulation
  • Medications like muscle relaxants
  • Decompression surgery