Thank you Dr Kaul for your reply, I do understand that the mild stenosis with mild instability would likely not cause compression, but adding the congenitally small spinal canal could that then possibly cause some? My other question was about MRIs and how effective typical supine MRIs are or arent in cases of instability. the supine position, especially when combined with raising the knees with a bolster DOES put the spine into a more open position, possibly temporarily eliminating mild compression. Isnt that part of the reason why leaning over a shopping cart is so helpful in neurogenic claudication?
Hi there!
Well, without a detailed clinical evaluation it would be difficult to determine the cause of your symptoms. Possible cause of arm symptoms that may need to be considered include further degeneration, nerve impingement at a lower level, neuropathy/ myopathy, micronutrient deficiency etc.
The claudication may need further evaluation to identify its type though this sounds more like a neurogenic cause; while the backache could occur secondary to postural issues, neuro-muscular causes such as muscle sprain, nerve impingement, injuries to muscles/ ligaments etc inflammations, fractures/ dislocations, referred pain from other regions, micronutrient deficiencies etc.
With mild spinal stenosis and mild-moderate instability, compression of neurological structures is unlikely and unlikely to be missed on the MRI and one may need to look at other potential causes such as neural compression at lower levels, myopathies etc. I would suggest consulting an internist for a detailed evaluation initially and depending on the cause diagnosed/ suspected, it can be managed accordingly or specialist acre may be sought.
Hope this is helpful.
Take care!