Spinal stenosis refers to the narrowing of the spinal canal anywhere along its axis. Although the disorder often results from acquired degenerative changes (spondylosis), spinal stenosis may also be congenital in nature. Stenosis of the central cervical and thoracic spine may result in myelopathy from cord compression. Lateral canal stenosis at any region of the spine may lead to nerve root compression. It is a condition in which the spinal canal narrows and compresses the spinal cord and nerves. This is usually due to the natural process of spinal degeneration that occurs with aging. Spinal stenosis can cause cramping, pain or numbness in legs, back, neck, shoulders or arms a loss of sensation in extremities and sometimes problems with bladder or bowel function. Spinal stenosis is most commonly caused by osteoarthritis related bone damages.

Spinal stenosis refers to the narrowing of the spinal canal anywhere along its axis. Although the disorder often results from acquired degenerative changes (spondylosis), spinal stenosis may also be congenital in nature. Stenosis of the central cervical and thoracic spine may result in myelopathy from cord compression. Lateral canal stenosis at any region of the spine may lead to nerve root compression. It is a condition in which the spinal canal narrows and compresses the spinal cord and nerves. This is usually due to the natural process of spinal degeneration that occurs with aging. Spinal stenosis can cause cramping, pain or numbness in legs, back, neck, shoulders or arms a loss of sensation in extremities and sometimes problems with bladder or bowel function. Spinal stenosis is most commonly caused by osteoarthritis related bone damages.

Signs and Symptoms

• Patient may have weakness, and numbness along the distribution of the affected spinal nerve.

• Low back pain

• Patient may have numbness, weakness or tingling in leg or foot as it moves down from buttocks and upper legs

• Pain or cramping may occur in legs

• Symptoms improve when the patient is sitting or leaning forward

• Standing and bending backwards can make the pain and other symptoms worse because bending forward increases the space in the spinal canal and vertebral foramen, while bending backward decrease the space.

• Unable to walk for long distances

• Leg cramps

• Pain when standing up

• Loss of balancing ability of the body

• Loss of Bladder and Bowel control

Causes

• As the age advances the intervertebral discs start becoming brittle and they will spill gel filled inside them to the intervertebral space leading to narrowing of disc space and compression of cord and nerve roots

• Ligaments undergo degenerative changes, becoming stiff and thick over time narrowing the spinal canal and compressing the nerve roots.

• Spinal tumors may compress spinal cord and nerve roots.

• Trauma leads to dislocation of spine causing pressure on spinal cord and nerve roots

• Pagets Disease of bone can lead to Spinal Stenosis

• Achondroplasia is a genetic disorder which may lead to spinal stenosis

• Fluorosis

• Osteoarthritis

• Rheumatoid arthritis

• Spondylosis

• Spondylolysthesis

• Spinal injury

• Spinal birth defect

Diagnosis And Investigations - can be done by

• Spinal X-Ray

• CAT Scan

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI)

• Computed Tomography(CT)

• CT Myelogram

• Bone Scan

Treatment and Drugs

• Physical Therapy and Exercise

• Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs like Naproxen, Indomethacin, Aspirin and Ibuprofen can be prescribed

• Analgesics like Acetaminophen can be used if the pain is persistent

• Corticosteroid injections can be given to suppress the symptoms and will result in the quick relief of symptoms

• Chondroitin Sulphate and Glucosamine can be used in some conditions

• A brace or a corset may be used to relieve the symptoms

• Various Surgical measures like Laminectomy, Laminotomy and fusion can be done to relieve the pressure on the spine