What is spinal stenosis?

Spinal stenosis is narrowing of the spinal canal that occurs when excessive growth of bone and/or tissue reduces the size of the openings in the spinal bones. This narrowing can squeeze and irritate the nerve roots that branch out from the spinal cord, or it can squeeze and irritate the spinal cord itself. This may cause pain, numbness, or weakness, most often in the legs, feet, and buttocks. Severe disability is not common.

Spinal stenosis occurs most often in the lower back (lumbar) area. When it does occur in the neck (cervical) area, the spinal cord may become squeezed, which if untreated can lead to nerve damage and paralysis. This topic is about lumbar spinal stenosis. If you need information on spinal stenosis of the neck, see the topic Cervical Spinal Stenosis.

What causes spinal stenosis?

Spinal stenosis is most commonly caused by age-related changes in the shape of the spinal canal. The aging process can cause thickening and hardening of connective tissues (ligaments). Joint disease (osteoarthritis) may destroy the tissue that protects and cushions joints (cartilage). These conditions contribute to deterioration of spinal discs, the development of bony growths (spurs), and damage to spinal joints, which in turn may narrow the space in the spinal canal (spinal stenosis).

What are the symptoms of spinal stenosis?

Many people over 50 years of age have some narrowing of the spinal canal but do not experience symptoms. If your nerve roots or spinal cord becomes squeezed, symptoms may include:

1.Numbness, weakness, cramping, or pain in the legs, feet, or buttocks. Leg discomfort usually is worse when walking or standing, and is relieved by sitting.
2.Stiffness in legs and thighs.
3.Low back pain.
In severe cases, loss of bladder and bowel control.
Symptoms may be severe at times, and less severe at other times. Spinal stenosis in the lower (lumbar) back does not usually lead to severe disability.

How is spinal stenosis diagnosed?

A diagnosis of spinal stenosis usually is based on your history of symptoms, a physical examination, and imaging tests, which may include X-rays, magnetic resonance image (MRI), and computed tomography (CT) scanning.

What is the treatment for spinal stenosis?

In mild to moderate cases, symptoms can usually be controlled using medication to relieve pain, exercise to maintain strength and flexibility, physical therapy, or injections of medications (corticosteroids) that reduce inflammation.

Severe symptoms that are getting worse or restrict normal daily activities usually will not improve with nonsurgical therapy and may require surgery. In these cases, surgery to remove bone and tissue that are squeezing the spinal cord (decompressive laminectomy) is usually successful in relieving leg pain and allowing you to resume normal daily activities