A, a woman in her 50s, a full-time housewife living in Dongtan New Town, is suffering from leg pain and numbness that began last year. My legs started to hurt regardless of day and night, and I started to feel tired when I walk lightly as well as exercise due to frequent numbness. In any case, I was tested for diseases such as varicose veins, but no specific problem was found on the leg side.
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Shin Jae-heung, director of the Orthopedic Surgery Specialist at the Spinal Center at Dongtan City Hospital, said, “In the case of Mr. A, who has pain and numbness in his legs, even though he does not have leg diseases such as varicose veins, it is necessary to question whether there is a problem with the spine. Usually, many people think that if there is a problem in the area, the back will hurt. However, even if the back pain does not appear, the spine problem is not limited to this, and symptoms can appear in various places such as the calves and legs.”
He continued, “It is usually difficult to walk for a long time due to numbness in the legs, or pain in the calves, buttocks, and thighs are all symptoms that appear when a spinal problem occurs. If these symptoms occur for a long time, the orthopedic disease, spinal canal stenosis, is suspect. The spinal canal is a passage through which nerves in the spine pass from the neck to the lower back, and when the surrounding ligaments and joints become enlarged, the tube narrows and presses the nerves. At this time, the nerves going down to the leg are pressed and leg pain appears. In addition, in addition to pain, symptoms such as cold hands and feet may appear.”
“Walking is one of the most basic movements that a person performs. Pain every time you walk and your legs are numb after a long walk can significantly degrade your quality of life. So, if you suspect a disease, plan your treatment early. “It can be desirable.”
“The method of treatment can be different depending on the symptoms. If the symptoms are not very severe at the beginning, conservative treatment without surgery can treat the disease. “Pharmaceuticals or physical therapy can help relieve pain, and exercise therapy or a combination of nerve injections can be used to strengthen back muscle strength.”
“If the symptoms have already progressed to some extent and the patient feels pain to the extent that daily life is difficult, the conservative method may be insignificant. In these situations, it is helpful to consider surgical treatment. It goes through the process of decompressing the nerve by removing the thickened spinal joint and the surrounding yellow ligaments. “It can be helpful for those who are considering this to be carefully diagnosed with their condition during the planning stage, and to make a plan in consideration of scars and side effects.”
Lastly, “It is helpful to clearly distinguish diseases such as spinal canal stenosis because symptoms and treatment patterns are different from those of herniated discs, which are generally recognized. Since the waist, including the spine, is an important part to be called the power of our body, it is an important part not to miss the treatment time if the initial symptoms of the disease appear. In addition, it can also be a way to establish the usual correct posture and proper lifestyle for prevention.”
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