Definition of Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis is a condition in which different areas of the spinal column, the lumbar and cervical areas in particular, become narrowed and cause abnormal pressure on the spinal cord and nerves occupying that space. It can be caused by a variety of factors including hereditary influences, injury and the aging process. It can be mild, or sevwre with functional impairment. Treatment for spinal stenosis depends upon the type and severity of the constriction.

What is Spinal Stenosis?

• Simply defined, spinal stenosis is any narrowing of some or all of the spinal column, through which the spinal cord and nerves pass. This narrowing is called "stenosis" and can exert a tightening constriction and pressure upon the structures that occupy the spinal canal, namely nerves.
  Spinal stenosis can be found at virtually any and every level of the spinal column, but is seen more commonly in the lumbar (low back) and cervical (neck) regions.

Congenital Spinal Stenosis

• Congenital spinal stenosis occurs when there are abnormalities of the bony and soft tissue structures of the spinal column formed during embryonic development. This could manifest itself by the presence of excess bone causing a "tight" spinal canal. Other manifestations could include abnormal number of spinal segments and/or overgrowth of supportive bone elements in the spinal column.
  Congenital spinal stenosis is often diagnosed in adolescent years when there is difficulty performing athletic or sporting activities.

Degenerative Spinal Stenosis

• The degenerative type of spinal stenosis is typically caused by overall deterioration and degeneration of the various structures that make up the spinal column, such as bones and inter-vertebral discs.
  With the aging process comes the degeneration of the disc material which causes narrowing of bony spaces throughout the spinal column, the lumbar and cervical areas in particular. With this narrowing comes bone spur formation which compounds the resulting pressure on the spinal nerves. Bone spurs press, discs bulge and spinal stenosis of the degenerative variety results.

Pathologic Spinal Stenosis

• This type of spinal stenosis is typically caused by encroachment on the spinal nerves by some sort of "space-occupying" abnormality such as a tumor. These tumors do not have to be malignant to be problematic. Even benign, non-cancerous tumors and cysts can cause abnormal and dangerous pressure on the spinal nerves as they grow and enlarge.

"Cauda Equina Syndrome" The ultimate spinal stenosis

• Because spinal stenosis can occur in different forms of severity, treatment varies and is relative to this severity. The more pressure that is applied to spinal nerves, the more severe the potential problems can be come, such as permanent nerve injury, and even loss of bodily functions (i.e. bowel/bladder function).
  Cauda Equina Syndrome refers to the name given to the area of the spinal cord/column where the cord itself ends and the nerves continue down the canal, hence cauda equina ('horse's tail").
  The most severe and threatening form of spinal stenosis occurs when there is massive obstruction of the lumbar spinal canal, frequently the result of a large ruptured inter-vertebral disc, or subluxation (partial dislocation) of a spinal vertebral segment, which compresses the spinal nerves to the point that they can no longer function and can affect bodily functions. The bodily functions typically involved in this scenario are loss of bowel and bladder function.
  This type of spinal stenosis is a true emergency, for if the pressure on these nerves is not relieved expeditiously, the loss of these bodily functions can become permanent.