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Stenosis is a term that originates from the Greek language meaning a choking or constriction of space. When lumbar stenosis occurs the spinal nerves roots in the lower back become compressed triggering signals of pain. Along with pain, symptoms of weakness, numbness as well as tingling sensations may be felt radiating from the lower back, into the buttocks and down the legs. Physical activity tends to trigger these symptoms with more severity.
Although spinal stenosis can affect any section of the back, seventy five percent of the time it will occur in the lumbar spine. Spinal stenosis of the low back is termed as lumbar stenosis but may also be termed sciatica if it affects the sciatic nerve. For more information please refer to our lumbar spinal stenosis page where we discuss this topic in further detail.
Spinal stenosis becomes increasingly dangerous if it develops in your neck or the cervical section of your spine. If stenosis is present in the cervical spinal canal it may compress the spinal cord itself, increasing the risks of developing major body weakness or in some extreme scenarios, paralysis. Because your spinal cord is not present in the lumber section of your spinal canal, paralysis caused by lumbar spinal stenosis is virtually impossible. You can find more detailed information on cervical spinal stenosis here.
The most common symptom of spinal stenosis is pain that radiates into your legs while walking. Relief from this pain is almost always near instant when sitting, but in rare cases, pain from spinal stenosis can be severe and persistent to the point where it causes constant weakness in the legs. Please refer to our spinal stenosis symptoms page to find more detailed information on this topic.
Degeneration in the spine will often occur during the fifth decade of life for most people. Because there is such a strong link between degeneration in the spine and spinal stenosis, stenosis will also occur most frequently during this time period. Many people will not show symptoms of spinal stenosis until they reach the age of sixty, although in some rare cases traumatic injury to the spine may be the cause of early development. More information on the causes of spinal stenosis can be found here.
For the majority of cases spinal stenosis is not a medical emergency and will only impact the amount of activity you can enjoy. It is up to you the patient, to decide when you have had enough and seek treatment to lead a more active lifestyle. Our spinal stenosis treatment page can provide you with clear information on what treatment methods are available to you.