Risk Factors, Causes and Symptoms of Spinal Stenosis
There are several risk factors that can increase the chances of developing spinal stenosis. The most common risk factor is age over 50. Unfortunately, as your body ages, the spine will begin to weaken as well and may experience some wear and tear. The ligaments can harden, the discs between vertebrae can wear out, and the bone can grow bone spurs. Any of these conditions can narrow the spinal canal and create pressure on the nerves and ultimately lead to spinal stenosis.
Other less common risk factors include birth defects and/or injury. Birth defects, such as achondroplasia (bone disorder that is responsible for the most common type of dwarfism), will put people at greater risk of developing spinal stenosis, due to a natural narrowing of the spinal canal. Direct trauma to the spine can cause damage to the vertebrae bone, ligaments and spinal discs. These types of injuries may lead to disorders such as herniated discs that put pressure on the nerves.
Causes of spinal stenosis include:
- Osteoarthritis – The most common cause of spinal stenosis. The joints between vertebrae begin to deteriorate. In response to this, the body will begin to grow osteophytes to repair the damaged joints. These osteophytes will narrow the spinal cavity.
- Spinal Disc Disorders – The cushy discs in the spine will also begin to deteriorate with age and direct injuries. These discs will flatten and tear and may protrude into the spinal canal.
- Bone Disorders/Diseases – Paget’s disease will increases the rate at which you grow bone. This produced soft bones that are structurally weak. Achondroplasia, a disorder that slows down bone growth during fetal development, results in dwarfism.
- Tumors – It is possible for spinal tumors to develop inside the spinal cord that would put pressure on the nerves.
Symptoms you can experience if you have cervical spinal stenosis (neck) is noticeable numbness and weakness in the arms, hands, legs and feet. It can affect the nerves responsible for maintaining your balance, which may increase clumsiness and falling. A more serious symptom of cervical spinal stenosis is loss of bladder and bowel control. For those suffering from lumbar spinal stenosis, you may feel pain and cramping in the legs. These symptoms usually worsen when you keep your body upright while standing or walking, while they often subside when you lean over or sit down.
There are several ways to treat spinal stenosis, ranging from simple physical therapy to possible surgery. Read more about treatment options and spinal stenosis laser surgery options.
