Spinal Stenosis Topic Guide

Spinal Stenosis: Spinal stenosis is defined as an abnormal narrowing of the spinal canal. The most common cause of spinal stenosis is degenerative arthritis. The types of spinal stenosis depend on the location along the spine, cervical, thoracic, or lumbar. Symptoms are generally experienced to the areas of the body that is regulated by that portion of the nerves in the spinal chord. Possible symptoms include worsening balance, falling, dropping objects, difficulty buttoning buttons or picking up small coins, loss of control of the bowel and/or bladder, pain, numbness, tingling, weakness along the path of the nerve being compressed, myelopathy (spinal cord compression), weakness or cramping in the arms and hands, and weakness or cramping in the legs and feet, particularly progressively with walking and being relieved with resting. Treatment for spinal stenosis is generally surgery.