Understanding Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis is one of the most common causes of pain and related symptoms for people over age 50. This condition causes the spinal nerve roots or spinal cord to be compressed, or choked. It's a condition that affects the aging population the most - patients usually first visit their doctor about spinal stenosis-related pain at around age 60.
A normal spine is composed of a stack of bony structures called vertebra, each of which help stabilize the spine and protect the spinal cord from injury. In the spine, there is a central passage which holds the spinal cord and holes to each side of the canal where spinal nerves emerge and connect to the rest of the body. With most forms of spinal stenosis, the narrowing or compression of the spinal canal or nerve roots where they exit the spinal canal can cause pain and other symptoms. Aging, arthritis, trauma, spondylolysis or general spinal degeneration over time can cause this compression of the spine.
There are two primary types of spinal stenosis, each with different effects on the body and requiring different treatments:
- Lumbar Spinal Stenosis - This type of stenosis occurs in the lower back and is the most common, occurring in 75% of cases. When the spinal nerve roots of the lower back are compressed, pain can travel from the low back into the legs and feet, producing pain and/or symptoms of tingling, weakness, or numbness.
- Cervical Stenosis - This type of stenosis occurs in the neck and is the less common but potentially more dangerous condition. In cervical stenosis, the spinal cord itself is compressed, which can lead to major body weakness or - in rare but serious cases - possibly paralysis. The spinal cord is not compressed in lumbar spinal stenosis since there is no spinal cord in that area.
Despite the fact that each form of Spinal Stenosis affects a different part of the spine (low back vs. neck), both are serious conditions which can cause a great deal of pain for those afflicted. Cervical stenosis is especially dangerous because pressure on the spinal cord can affect the function of the rest of the body.
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