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Understanding Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis is a condition in which the spinal canal becomes constricted by a combination of facet joint enlargement and/or disc bulging. This condition is most often the result of a combination of a congenitally shallow canal and age-related degenerative changes in the spine.
Spinal stenosis occurs most often in the lumbar or cervical spine of older adults (those over fifty).
- Lumbar spinal stenosis is characterized by its compression of nerve roots in the lower back, leading to radiculopathy and lower back pain. Degeneration of the intervertebral disc and the facet joints is believed to be the primary mechanism involved with the development of lumbar spinal stenosis.
- Cervical stenosis is characterized by degeneration of the cervical spine, which often includes intervertebral disc degeneration, disc space narrowing, osteophyte formation, and the narrowing of the cervical spinal canal. Cervical stenosis can lead to arm pain (radiculopathy), and if the spinal cord becomes compromised, it can lead to myelopathy
Age Considerations
Spinal stenosis is one of the most common causes of pain for the older adult population. Aging, arthritis, spondylosis, and disc degeneration are all common in older adults, contributing to the prevalence of spinal stenosis in this age segment. Younger adults are less susceptible to spinal stenosis.
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