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Different Types of Spinal Stenosis

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Major types of lumbar stenosis include

Spinal stenosis can affect you in any of the major segments of the spine and is often termed with the segment affected.  If there is surgery to be preformed it is very important for the surgeon to know the specifics of your spinal stenosis as it will guide the surgeon in locating the correct area for treatment.  In other words the injured spot must be known in advance to guide the surgeons approach for correct treatment or removal.

Foraminal stenosis - Nerve roots leave through a hole in the side of the spinal canal called the lateral foramen.  If a bone spur has developed in this area it can put pressure on the nerve root exiting the lateral foramen.  This is termed lateral spinal stenosis and is the most common form of spinal stenosis.  Of known cases seventy two percent of foraminal stenosis occurs at the lowest lumbar level.  The emerging nerve root is trapped, compromising a major part of the sciatic nerve.

Central stenosis - When the central canal is being choked or compressed it is referred to as central spinal stenosis.  The cauda equine (note the reference as it resembles a horse’s tail) is a loose bundle of nerve filaments that can become compressed with central spinal stenosis.  Being more common at the second from the lowest lumbar spinal level, central spinal stenosis is most often caused by a bulging disc plus a large overgrowth or redundancy or ligament.  The ligament is there to help protect the dura.  A degenerating disc between adjacent vertebrae will cause this overgrowth of ligament.

Far lateral stenosis - With lateral stenosis the nerve is affected as it is leaving the spinal canal through the lateral foramen.  With far lateral stenosis the nerve is affected after it has left the spinal canal through the lateral foramen usually by a bone spur or bulging or herniated disc. 

The most effective way that you can care for yourself and increase your chance at avoiding spinal stenosis is to learn what causes it.  For more detailed information please refer to our page that takes a closer look at the causes of spinal stenosis.

Cervical Spinal Stenosis

Cervical Spinal Stenosis - The open area in the bones that makes up the spinal column is the spinal canal.  The narrowing of this spinal canal in the cervical section of the spine is termed as cervical spinal stenosis.  Being most common in patients over fifty years of age, this is often caused by a person’s age-related changes in the shape of the spinal canal.

Our spinal cord is made up of a collection of nerves that run through the spinal canal.  These nerves begin at the base of our brain and run through to our lower back.  Our ability to feel, to move, to control our bowel and bladder along with several other body functions are controlled by these nerves.

If stenosis occurs in the cervical spinal canal it narrows and compresses the nerves exiting through the foramen, sometimes even irritating the spinal cord itself.  There are seven vertebrae in the spine that are located between the head and chest that make up the cervical spine (C1-C7).  When nerves and occasionally the spinal cord are compressed, function in this area can be changed and cause pain and stiffness accompanied by tingling and numbness sensations in the neck, arms and legs.  Very rarely loss of bowel and bladder control may occur.  If you experience this, it is highly recommended that you seek immediate medical attention.  If cervical spinal stenosis damages the spinal cord there is a small possibility it could lead to paralysis.

If you ‘re concerned you may be beginning to show signs and symptoms of any the above forms of stenosis, please refer to our spinal stenosis symptoms page where we go into further detail on this topic.