Spinal canal stenosis can cause:

• Weakness or numbness in both legs (paraparesis) or both arms and legs (quadriparesis)
• Difficulty walking or moving
• Pain in your neck or back
• Tingling or pins and needles in your arms or legs
• In severe cases, loss of bladder or bowel control or increased frequency or urge

These symptoms happen because the spinal cord or nerves are being compressed.

If you have symptoms like weakness, numbness, or pain in your arms, legs, neck, or back, you might have spinal canal stenosis. A doctor can check for this by:

• Asking about your symptoms and medical history
• Doing a physical exam to test your strength, reflexes, and sensation
• Ordering tests like X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs to see your spine
• Sometimes, using other tests to check nerve function

A healthcare professional will explain the results and discuss treatment options with you.

If you’re worried about any symptoms, contact your doctor or visit a hospital for advice. 

IMPORTANT FOR ALL PATIENTS.

If you are on any blood thinning medications such as anti-platelet, anti-coagulant or anti-inflammatory medications, they should be stopped one week prior to any surgery. Examples of these medications include plavix, co-plavix, prasugrel, ticagrelor, asasantin, aspirin, disprin, solprin, astrix, cartia, warfarin, pradaxa, dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, clexane, heparin, celebrex, mobic, naproxen, indomethacin, diclofenac, ibuprofen.

Some diabetes medications need to be stopped up to three weeks prior to surgery. Please discuss with your doctor if you are taking one of these medications.

Similarly, any herbal or natural remedies including (but not limited to) traditional Chinese herbal remedies and prescriptions, naturopathic and homeopathic treatments, and supplements (such as glucosamine, garlic, ginger, ginkgo, ginseng, turmeric and fish oil) should be stopped one week prior to any surgery.

If these medications are not stopped, then your surgery may need to be delayed and rescheduled for reasons of safety. If you are unsure about whether you need to stop any of your medications, please ask your doctor.

Depending on your general fitness and your medical co-morbidities, you may require an assessment by physician specialists and an anaesthetist to assess your safety for surgery, before a decision can be made about your suitability for surgery.

Prior to any surgery, you will need to fast. On the night prior to surgery, your last mouthful of food should be prior to 12 midnight. On the day of surgery, you can sip clear water up until 4 hours prior to your surgery. You may use this opportunity to take medications that your doctor is happy for you to take. Please check with your doctor, what you should do with your medications and write those instructions here.

A member of staff from the hospital or the surgeon’s rooms will contact you up to three days prior to your admission and discuss this with you. They will also discuss your hospital paperwork if this has not been done. This is your opportunity to ask any questions you may have about your upcoming admission.