Spinal Stenosis 

Spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the spinal canal that houses the spinal cord and nerve roots of the spine. The narrowing may result from disc protrusions or herniation, thickening of the ligaments within the canal, movement of the vertebral bodies or osteophytes (bone spurs) growing into the canal. There are many types of spinal stenosis, including central canal stenosis, lumbar spinal stenosis and cervical spinal stenosis.

Spinal stenosis generally occurs in two sections of the spine: cervical and lumbar. The reason why these two sections are diagnosed with spinal stenosis more than the thoracic spine (middle of the back) is that the cervical and lumbar spine serves to bend, move, and provide flexibility. The thoracic spine’s main function is to provide support and stabilization. When the spinal canal narrows, the nerves in the spinal cord are more likely to be compressed if there is continual bending and moving of the vertebrae. For this reason, spinal stenosis is more evident and symptomatic in the cervical and lumbar sections of the spine.

The primary symptom of spinal stenosis in the lumbar spine is pain, weakness, or other sensations in one or both legs worsened by walking activity. Stenosis can cause difficulty walking even relatively short distances, but this problem is typically improved with a brief rest. In the cervical spine, pain or numbness radiates into the arms and hands.