Your spine is composed of a column of bones, known as vertebrae, which play a significant role in supporting and stabilizing the upper body. The openings of your vertebrae serve as a tunnel for a bundle of spinal nerves to run through it. This tunnel is known as the spinal canal. Any damage to the spinal canal can affect many functions like sensation, balance, or walking.

What Is Spinal Stenosis?

Spinal stenosis is a condition that occurs due to the narrowing of spaces within the spinal canal, resulting in the compression of the spinal cord and nerve roots running through the lower part of your back. When there’s less space within your spine, the spinal cord and nerve roots become pinched, compressed, or irritated, leading to sciatica or lower back pain.

Spinal stenosis occurs gradually over time and affects individuals older than 60 years. The condition occurs as a result of gradual wear and tear occurring in the spine as you age. Spinal stenosis most commonly occurs in the neck region or lower back [1].

If the narrowing of spaces is minimal, you’ll experience no symptoms. Too much narrowing of space may cause serious problems due to nerves compression.

What Are The Symptoms Of Spinal Stenosis?

The range of symptoms associated with spinal stenosis varies from person to person. The frequent symptoms include:

• A dull, aching pain confined in the lower back and neck region.
• Pain radiating into one or more legs and thighs, similar to sciatica.
• Cramping in the calves
• Total numbness or reduced sensations in the legs and arms.
• In rare cases, loss of bladder or bowel function and loss of motor functioning of the legs [2].

What Are The Possible Causes Of Spinal Stenosis?

Aging is the most common cause of spinal stenosis because aging causes the thickening of tissues in the spine, thus compressing the spinal nerves. Various health conditions that may contribute to spinal stenosis include:

1. Spinal Injuries: Due to bone fractures or slipped discs, vertebrae put pressure on spinal nerves.

2. Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis causes the breakdown of cartilage that cushions the joints. When the cartilage in the vertebrae starts to break down, it causes bone spurs in the spine.

3. Paget’s Disease: The bones grow larger than usual and get weaker in this condition.

4. Congenital Spinal Stenosis: People with this congenital disability have a naturally narrowed spinal canal [3].

How Can Spinal Stenosis Be Treated?

The following are some treatment options for spinal stenosis [4]:

1. Medications: The swelling and pain of the spinal column are alleviated by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

2. Physical Therapy: A physical therapist recommends some exercises to strengthen the legs and lower back muscles. Massaging, stretching, and using braces to support your back are also recommended during physical therapy.

3. Surgery: During the surgical treatment, the spaces between the vertebrae are widened, and bone spurs are removed. Sometimes, a part of the vertebrae is also removed to provide more room for the spinal nerves.

Conclusion:

Spinal stenosis gradually develops as you age due to osteoarthritis or wear-and-tear occurring in the spine. A dull, sharp pain, numbness, and cramping are the most common symptoms of spinal stenosis. Early treatment can help manage the condition before it worsens. Surgery becomes necessary when a patient with spinal stenosis develops cauda equina syndrome.

References:

1. Melancia JL, Francisco AF, Antunes JL. Chapter 35 - Spinal stenosis. In: Biller J, Ferro JMBT-H of CN, editors. Neurol. Asp. Syst. Dis. Part I, vol. 119, Elsevier; 2014, p. 541–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-7020-4086-3.00035-7.
2. Genevay S, Atlas SJ. Lumbar Spinal Stenosis. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol 2010;24:253–65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.berh.2009.11.001.
3. Singh K, Samartzis D, Vaccaro AR, Nassr A, Andersson GB, Yoon ST, et al. Congenital lumbar spinal stenosis: a prospective, control-matched, cohort radiographic analysis. Spine J 2005;5:615–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spinee.2005.05.385.
4. Lurie J, Tomkins-Lane C. Management of lumbar spinal stenosis. BMJ 2016;352:h6234. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.h6234.