In a recent article published by Shin Ming Daily News, Dr. Marcus Ling said that lumbar spinal stenosis is a degenerative spinal disease characterised by the narrowing of the spinal canal, which causes spinal nerve compression. It mainly affects people over 65 years old. Patients usually have pain in the lower back, which can also radiate down the legs.
Due to the pain, patients often complain that it is difficult to walk long distances. The most common cause of spinal stenosis is osteoarthritis. Over time, osteoarthritis can cause changes in the spine causing spinal stenosis.
Other possible causes of spinal stenosis include:
- Spinal injuries: spinal injuries caused by accidents and other forms of trauma (such as dislocations or fractures), and the swelling that accompanies such injuries.
- Spinal tumors: abnormal growth of the spinal cord, including cancer. Although this is rare,
- Herniated discs: when a disc rips, the contents of the disc can escape and compress the spinal cord, causing a herniated disc.
If not treated promptly, severe spinal stenosis may lead to cervical spondylosis. In advanced stages, cervical spondylosis can lead to degenerative changes in the neck and severe neurological dysfunction. This can cause weakness, loss of control of movements, loss of urination and defecation, and even loss of the ability to stand or walk.
Also interviewed in the Shin Ming Daily article was a patient of Dr Marcus Ling who underwent awake lumbar fusion:
“64-year-old Madam Teo said she began experiencing pain and numbness in her legs last year. She initially ignored it, but the discomfort gradually worsened, making it difficult for her to walk long distances and significantly impacting her daily life.
She revealed that she visited a polyclinic and was prescribed painkillers, but the pain didn’t improve and instead became increasingly severe.
“I felt something was wrong, so I went to the hospital for further examinations and was referred to a specialist.” After performing a scan and evaluating Madam Teo, the specialist diagnosed her with lumbar spinal stenosis, which compresses nerves in the L4-L5 spinal region. This was the cause of the pain and numbness in her legs.
The doctor recommended surgery, but she was terrified when she heard about it. “I was worried that it would require general anesthesia and I wouldn’t wake up.” After learning of her concerns, the doctor recommended an endoscopic lumbar fusion surgery, which didn’t require general anesthesia. Relieved, she agreed.
“I didn’t need a long recovery period after the surgery because I was awake throughout. The local anesthesia was effective, and I didn’t experience any complications. I was able to get out of bed and move around soon after the surgery.”
She was delighted that her leg felt much better after the surgery, with no more numbness or pain. She has recovered well and is now back to work and her symptoms have completely resolved.“
Source: Shin Min, Page 12, Section: 副刊
Tuesday 15 July 2025
