MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Spinal stenosis

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Spinal stenosis

Contents of this page:
Illustrations Definition Causes, incidence, and risk factors Symptoms Signs and tests	Treatment Expectations (prognosis) Complications Calling your health care provider

Illustrations

Sciatic nerve

Spinal stenosis

Definition Return to top

Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the lumbar (back) or cervical (neck) spinal canal, which causes compression of the nerve roots.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors Return to top

Spinal stenosis mainly affects middle-aged or elderly people. It may be caused by osteoarthritis or Paget's disease or by an injury that causes pressure on the nerve roots and/or the spinal cord itself.

Symptoms Return to top

Pain in the buttocks, thighs or calves that is worse with walking or exercise
Numbness in the buttocks, thighs or calves, that is worse with standing, walking or exercise
Back pain that radiates to the legs
Weakness of the legs
Neck pain
Leg pain
Difficulty or imbalance when walking

Signs and tests Return to top

An examination of reflexes of lower extremities reveals asymmetry. Neurologic examination confirms leg weakness and decreased sensation in the legs.

An X-ray of the spine shows degenerative changes and narrowed spinal canal.
A spine MRI or spinal CT scan shows spinal stenosis.
An EMG may show active and chronic neurological changes.

Treatment Return to top

Generally, conservative management is encouraged. This involves the use of anti-inflammatory medications, other pain relievers, and possibly steroid injections. If the pain is persistent and does not respond to these measures, surgery is considered to relieve the pressure on the nerves.

Surgery is performed on the neck or lower back, depending on the site of the nerve compression.

Expectations (prognosis) Return to top

If the nerve roots can be successfully relieved of pressure, the symptoms will not worsen and may improve.

Complications Return to top

Injury can occur to the legs or feet due to lack of sensation; infections may progress because pain related to them may not be felt. Changes caused by nerve compression may be permanent, even if the pressure is relieved.

Calling your health care provider Return to top

Call your health care provider if symptoms suggestive of spinal stenosis develop.

Update Date: 4/28/2004

Updated by: Andrew L. Chen, M.D., M.S., Steadman-Hawkins Sports Medicine Foundation, Vail, CO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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