Spinal stenosis describes the narrowing of the space in the spine that results in pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots. People with the problem should consult a doctor either for medication to relieve the symptoms or surgery to improve the condition.
Spinal stenosis is a common condition that occurs when the small spinal canal containing the spinal cord and nerve roots becomes narrowed. This causes a compression of the spinal cord or nerve roots and leads thereby to an irritation of the contained nerves, which leads to pain, cramping, weakness or numbness.
A spinal stenosis is the result of several degenerative processes. The promoting factors are: 1.) Aging: Due to yearlong strain of the spine, the spinal disk loose volume and tend to build protrusions. Meanwhile the vertebral bodies tend to ossifications in form of bone spurs, so called spondylophytes, which also may narrow the spinal canal. 2.) Arthritis: chronic arthritis may cause spinal stenosis, such as spinal osteoarthritis (spondylarthropathy) and rheumatic arthritis. 3.) Spondylolisthesis: A condition with forward gliding of a vertebral body caused by spondylolysis. 4.) Inherited conditions: some people are born with a small spinal canal or a curved spine. 5.) Other causes such as tumors of the spine, injuries, Paget’s disease, too much fluoride in the body, and calcium deposits on the ligaments along the spine. People with spinal stenosis may have symptoms such as pain in the neck or back, numbness, weakness, cramping, pain in the arms or legs. Often the problem is located in the lower back and leads to pain in the upper legs while walking or standing, which typically relieve promptly when the legs are bent, such as in a sitting position. Alarming symptoms of a progressed stenosis are the loss of control of the bowel and bladder, and numbness in the inguinal and anal region.
Treatment of spinal stenosis includes medications to reduce swelling and reduce pain, infiltrations of the facet joints, physical therapy, and a brace for the back. If the symptoms do not improve or when serious symptoms occur like problems with walking, loss of bowel or bladder control or issues with the vegetative nervous system, then surgery will be considered or performed as an emergency respectively.
Several years of work in academia, medical practice and finally commercialization make it possible to provide an end-to-end process to help users to “find the appropriate medical help based on their present symptoms”. Below you will find a short explanation, showing you which part of the platform will help you best in finding the appropriate medical support.
Proceed as follows to enter your current symptoms.
Click on the appropriate body part on the picture. Select one/multiple symptoms corresponding to your complaint.
You can also add symptoms by typing your medical complaint in the search box and selecting the best matching suggestion.
Note: Your information will be kept anonymously.
Once you have selected all applicable symptoms, click the “analyze disease pattern”-button.
Accordingly, you will get a list of possible diseases and matching doctor categories who can further help you.
You can inform yourself about the possible diseases by reading the related information. But you can also return to the previous step and add more symptoms or delete already added ones to further narrow down your disease pattern.
Click on the desired doctor category to find a doctor who can help you.
If you are logged in with your profile, you will be displayed the appropriate doctors in your area. Otherwise you can enter an address in the “address” field and you will be displayed a doctor’s list around that specified address.
You will receive further information about the displayed doctors when you press on “details”.
Online bookable doctors in your area will be indicated with the notation “Book appointment” or “Book externally”, additionally they will be displayed on top of the list for your convenience.
Click on “Book appointment” to start the online appointment booking process with the desired doctor.
Please select an available appointment. “Green“ appointments are booked directly. “Red“ appointments need to be confirmed by the doctor.
Enter your general personal and health information.
Enter your present medical symptoms.
Enter your mobile phone number to identify yourself and you can finalize the appointment booking.
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