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Causes of Spinal Stenosis
Common Causes of Spinal StenosisThere are several underlying reasons for spinal stenosis to exist: Degenerative disc disease is when the spinal discs dehydrate and shrink causing loss of disc height. This process can cause the disc to bulge and be pushed into the spinal canal. This can also cause a reduction in the space needed by the spinal cord or spinal nerves. This scenario is not typical for enacting significant symptoms in most patients.Herniated discs can also bulge and push into the spinal canal. If the disc has a central herniation it can create a “mass effect” on the spinal canal and create the start of a stenosis condition. Generally, herniations do not affect the neurological functions of the spinal cord and any pain created by a disc bulge will generally resolve in a short time frame. Arthritis in the Spine can cause spinal stenosis. The bones in the spine change as we age. They can sometimes produce bones spurs that can infringe on the spinal canal. This causation can be the most difficult to actually cure, without surgical correction. Spondylolisthesis can also cause stenosis symptoms. Sometimes the shifted vertebra can move so far forward that it will actually push into the spinal canal. In this case, the stenosis is a side effect of the spondylolisthesis and not a true condition by itself. Is it Normal?Remember…Degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis are conditions that often come with age. A large percentage of the population has them, but only a small percentage actually suffers symptoms.Stenosis is rarely problematic. It is easy to use stenosis as a scapegoat for pain, especially in elderly individuals. Unfortunately, most doctors do not tell the patient that this is a normal condition. Instead, many doctors scare the patient half to death, when they tell them their spinal canal is narrowing. No wonder the nocebo effect is the actual cause of pain in so many patients.
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