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Diagnosis
Spinal stenosis is difficult to diagnose because its symptoms can be caused by other conditions. Many times the use of diagnostic imaging, devices that can scan through the body, is required to make a proper diagnosis. The two most common scans used in spinal stenosis are:
- MRI scan. The magnetic resonance imaging scan is the best diagnostic tool available for diagnosing spinal stenosis. It can take a clear picture of the body and find if there is compression of the spine or lower back.
- CT scan with myelogram. The CT scan with myelogram uses an x-ray dye to highlight the spinal sack fluid to determine whether there is compression. Without the dye, it can be very difficult for a CT scan to pick up spinal stenosis.
MRI and CT scans are also effective in diagnosing cervical stenosis - it can show the tight canal associated with spinal cord pinching. Another device, the SSEP (SomatoSensory Evoked Potentials) uses electrical pulses to determine if the signal between the brain and the rest of the body is delayed, often a sign of a compressed or damaged spinal cord.
These scans can also pick up related conditions, such as bone spurs (also known as osteophytes), which can cause pressure on the nerve root and lead to spinal stenosis. |
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