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Causes & Risk Factors for Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis occurs when a section of the back narrows and puts pressure the nerves or spinal cord. This compression can cause problems such as numbness in the extremities and bladder dysfunction.

  1. Primary Spinal Stenosis

    • In some cases, spinal stenosis occurs at birth. If there are no other contributing factors, this is called primary spinal stenosis.

    Acquired Spinal Stenosis

    • When changes occur in the spine that come with aging, such as arthritis, it is known as acquired spinal stenosis.

    Other Causes

    • Other causes of spinal stenosis include traumatic injury to the back, herniated discs and changes to the ligaments. Sometimes spinal tumors can also put pressure on the nerves.

    Age

    • The most common risk factor for spinal stenosis is age. People over 50 are more susceptible to the conditions that cause spinal stenosis than those who are younger.

    Skeletal Fluorosis

    • People who have the rare bone disease skeletal fluorosis are also at risk of developing spinal stenosis. This disease is caused by having abnormal levels of fluoride in the bones.

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