What Causes Spinal Stenosis?

Stenosis means narrowing, and spinal stenosis means that your spinal cord becomes narrower than normal in some areas. Spinal stenosis causes pain in various areas of the body, including the legs, back, neck and shoulders. Severe cases of spinal stenosis may require surgery to remove pressure from the nerves and relieve a patient's pain. According to the doctors at the Mayo Clinic, a small group of people were born with spinal stenosis, called primary stenosis, while the majority of people with this condition acquire it later in life (see Resources).

Genetic Disorders

• Spinal stenosis can be caused by genetic disorders including achondroplasia, a form of dwarfism.

Tumors

• Tumors that develop on the spinal cord itself or between the spinal cord and the disks can cause a narrowing of the spine.

Herniated Disks

• Herniated disks, a condition that occurs as people age, can cause pain and narrowing within the spinal column.

Bone disease

• A bone disease called Paget disease may cause spinal stenosis. People with this condition have abnormally soft bones that are very large and thus, contribute to a narrowing of the spine.

Trauma

• Injury to your back can cause a narrowing to occur. Car accidents, falls and other trauma may all produce symptoms of stenosis.