Causes of Spinal Stenosis
There are many possible causes of spinal stenosis which may work alone or in combination with other factors to mildly or severely decrease the patency of the central canal space.
Spinal stenosis
is a common condition associated with aging, but is blamed for enacting severe back pain in millions of patients. Stenosis is sometimes an independent process, but more often is directly caused by some other causative
spinal abnormality.
This article will focus on the exact reasons why stenosis exists within the central canal and how each potential cause or contributor may enact symptoms when neurological interaction occurs.
Common Causes of Spinal Stenosis
There 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 escalation of the spinal arthritic processes and contribute to increased bone on bone contact which results in arthritic debris within the central canal.
Herniated discs
can push into the spinal canal, especially when they are central or paracentral in configuration. 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 longterm, although some may produce acute symptoms, particularly when they are combined with posterior canal ligament hypertrophy.
Arthritis in the Spine
can sometimes produce
bones spurs
that can infringe on the spinal canal. The build up of arthritic debris is also a major, but completely normal, process which narrows the central canal in high wear regions. Arthritic causation can be the most difficult stenosis cause to actually resolve without surgical correction.
Spondylolisthesis
can cause the shifted vertebra to move so far forward or rearward that it will actually push into the spinal canal. In these cases, the stenosis will result since the central canal will not line up with the vertebrae above and/or below. Atypical spinal curvatures, such as hyperlordosis, hyperkyphosis and scoliosis can compress the spinal cord in the exaggerated apex of severe curvatures.
Causes of Spinal Stenosis Summary
Remember… degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis are conditions that are universally experienced with advancing age. Almost every older person will demonstrate a narrowed central canal in the low back and/or neck, but only a few will develop symptoms. Any of the causes of stenosis which touch the cord or cauda equina should be monitored. However, research shows that only structures which actually compress the cord or cauda equina will likely produce significant symptoms. Mild to moderate canal 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 post-diagnosed patients who never had pain before.
Causes of Spinal Stenosis to Back Pain
5/19/06 Revised 1/14/12
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