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What Are Stenosis Causes?
Although it has many causes, stenosis is a general term that simply refers to the narrowing of the spinal canal. In most cases, the condition doesn’t produce any pain for the afflicted person, and many don’t even realize they have it. However, in some situations, the condition can result in painful and even debilitating symptoms due to interference with nerve roots and/or the spinal cord.
Stenosis causes are as widely varied as the people the condition affects and can include:
- Disc Degeneration - A natural part of the aging process, disc degeneration is the slow flattening and breaking down of the cartilaginous discs between vertebrae in the spine. As these discs break down, the tough outer layer can begin to bulge out (bulging disc) and push on a nearby nerve root, in turn causing pain, weakness, pins and needles, and more in the extremities to which that nerve extends. The same symptoms can be experienced if the disc breaks open (herniated disc) and the gel-like nucleus material of the disc spills into the spinal canal.
- Arthritis - The most common of stenosis causes, degenerative arthritis can result in a reduction of cartilage in the spine. Without cartilage to cushion them, the bones in the spine can rub against one another, resulting in bone spurs which can impinge upon nerve roots.
- Physical Trauma - Sometimes related to a car accident, stenosis caused by physical trauma is usually due to vertebrae or discs that have shifted or been injured by the incident.
Effective Stenosis Treatment
No matter what the causes, stenosis pain can limit mobility and even impact the quality of your life. Laser Spine Institute (LSI) specializes in treating and eliminating that pain to help you get back to living life as you want to. If you’d like more information, or a free review of your MRI or CT scan, contact us today.