Spinal Stenosis — Understanding the Causes and Warning Signs

Spinal stenosis is a common cause of lower back and leg pain. It occurs when the spaces in your spine become narrow, placing pressure on the spinal cord and nerves that run along your spine and causing pain, tingling, and numbness.

Left untreated, symptoms worsen, leading to weakness and balance problems. Dr. Rostam Khoshsar and Dr. Adrian Darryll Sulindro of BioHealth Pain Management in Southern California are experts in diagnosing and treating spinal stenosis.

Here’s what they want you to know about this condition that affects 11% of older Americans.

Arthritis is the primary cause of spinal stenosis

Spinal stenosis results when something narrows the open space in your spine. Arthritis is the most common cause, and spinal stenosis is most often diagnosed in adults over 50.

As you age, wear-and-tear from osteoarthritis can cause your spine to undergo changes that lead to spinal canal compression.

Arthritis can cause the soft discs of your spine to dry out and lose strength. When this happens, the space the nerves exit through in your spine becomes narrower, and weight transfers to the facet joints that connect your vertebrae. 

Your body may respond by growing new bone, but this bone overgrowth may cause the space the nerves travel through to become even smaller.

Other causes of spinal stenosis include:

Ligament thickening

Ligaments are cord-like structures that help connect the bones of your spine. Over time, they can increase in size, become thick and stiff, and reduce the space available for your nerves. The ligaments also may bulge into the spinal canal.

In either situation, the nerves become compressed, causing symptoms of spinal stenosis.

Herniated discs

Discs act as shock absorbers between the bones of your spine. Also known as a slipped disc, a herniated disc occurs when the soft material inside the disc bulges out through its tough exterior. Once this happens, it can press on and irritate your spinal nerves.

Symptoms of spinal stenosis

Not everyone with spinal stenosis has symptoms, and those who do may not experience the same symptoms as someone else with the condition. If you have spinal stenosis, you may experience:

• Lower back pain
• Burning pain in your legs
• Numbness or tingling in your legs
• Leg weakness

These symptoms result from pressure on your nerves and spinal cord. You may experience sensations described as burning that start from your buttocks and radiate down your legs.

If you have spinal stenosis symptoms, visit a specialist for an evaluation and proper diagnosis. Other conditions can cause similar symptoms.

Quick facts

• Anyone over 50 is at risk of spinal stenosis
• Spinal stenosis symptoms vary in severity
• Medical history is vital to making a proper diagnosis
• There’s no cure, but you can take steps to reduce pain
• Exercise can help improve your flexibility and mobility

Treatment

The treatment you choose depends on how severely spinal stenosis impacts your quality of life. Medication may be all you need for effective relief. Physical therapy and spinal decompression also may help relieve symptoms.

When more conservative options fail to control your symptoms, your provider may recommend steroids or local anesthetics injected at the problem site. Surgery to reduce pressure on the nerves is an option for some patients.

The board-certified pain management physicians at BioHealth Pain Management have extensive experience treating spinal stenosis. Book a consultation with the experts today.

We have offices in Lawndale, Whittier, and Arcadia, California. Call the location closest to you or request an appointment online.