Spinal Stenosis

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Medical Author:

Jason C. Eck, DO, MS

Jason C. Eck, DO, MS

Dr. Eck received a Bachelor of Science degree from the Catholic University of America in Biomedical Engineering, followed by a Master of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering from Marquette University. Following this he worked as a research engineer

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Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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• Spinal Stenosis Overview
• Spinal Stenosis Causes
• Spinal Stenosis Symptoms
• When to Seek Medical Care
• Exams and Tests
• Spinal Stenosis Treatment
• Self-Care at Home
• Medical Treatment
• Medications
• Surgery
• Next Steps
• Follow-up
• Prevention
• Outlook
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Author and Editor
• Read more on Spinal Stenosis from Healthwise
• Viewer Comments: Lumbar Spinal Stenosis - Symptoms
• Viewer Comments: Lumbar Spinal Stenosis - Describe Your Experience

Spinal Stenosis Overview

The spinal canal is formed by the openings of a series of bones (vertebrae) stacked on top of each other.

• The upper part of the spinal canal is the cervical spine in the neck, the middle part is the thoracic spine of the midback, and the lower part is the lumbar spine of the lower back.
  
  
• The spinal canal is attached to the head at the top and to the pelvis at the bottom.
  
  
• The spinal cord passes from the brain through the spinal canal and travels down the back. Nerves exit off the spinal cord between vertebrae of the neck and low back that help control the arms and legs respectively.

Spinal stenosis is a condition whereby there is abnormal narrowing in the spinal canal. This narrowing limits the amount of space available for the spinal cord and nerves. As spinal stenosis becomes more severe there is compression or squeezing of the spinal cord and its nerves. Spinal stenosis can occur anywhere in the spinal canal, but it is most common in the cervical and lumbar spine.

Spinal Stenosis Causes

The most common reason to develop spinal stenosis is degenerative arthritis, or bony and soft tissue changes that result from ageing. Spinal stenosis is usually seen in patients over 50 years of age, and becomes progressively more severe with increased age. The normal "wear and tear" of ageing can cause arthritis in the spine that leads to spinal stenosis. This can be from bone spurs (osteophytes) forming, bulging and wear of the intervertebral discs, and thickening of the ligaments between the vertebrae.

Sometimes, increased motion between the vertebrae can cause one vertebra to slip forward on another. This is called spondylolisthesis, and it can also cause spinal stenosis.

Not everyone develops spinal stenosis as they become older. Certain people are more likely to develop spinal stenosis than others. People that have a family history of spinal stenosis or other back problems are at an increased risk of developing spinal stenosis because of a genetic trait. Also, people that subject their backs to greater demands such as heavy laborers or athletes are also at an increased risk to develop spinal stenosis than someone with a more sedentary job.