What Is Spinal Stenosis?
Stenosis refers to a narrowing of the opening in the spine through which the spinal cord and nerves pass. It can be congenital (something you are born with) or, more often, due to degenerative disease. Most patients present with leg pain when walking. Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the space that the nerves occupy inside the spinal canal. Bone spurs, disc herniations, tumors, or the buckling of ligaments inside the spinal canal can produce this. Fractures are also associated with this condition when a piece of bone displaces into the spinal canal.
Spinal Stenosis is an abnormal narrowing of the spinal canal which holds the spinal cord or the nerves. The narrowing may be caused by age related changes of the spine such as disc degeneration and arthritis causing a bone buildup in and around the canal and nerve holes producing nerve compression. The compression of the nerves causes arm or leg symptoms such as numbness, weakness, or pain.
Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of one or more areas of the spine. This narrowing, which occurs most often in lumbar region (lower back) can put pressure on the spinal cord or nerves branching out from the compressed areas. Typically, a person with spinal stenosis complains about developing tremendous pain in the legs or calves and lower back after walking. Pain comes on more quickly when walking up hills. This is usually very reproducible and immediately relieved by sitting down, or leaning over. When the spine is bent forward, more space is available for the spinal cord, causing a reduction in symptoms.
