How to Know When Spinal Stenosis Is a Problem?

The word stenosis means "narrowing or stricture," so spinal stenosis is a condition in which there is a narrowing of the spaces in your spine. The result is increased pressure on the spinal cord or nerve endings. In rare cases, spinal stenosis is present at birth, but it most commonly develops after the age of 50. According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Muscoloskeletal and Skin Diseases, the most common cause is osteoarthritis, which causes cartilage in-between the bones to deteriorate. Other causes include a herniated disk, degeneration of ligaments in your back, spinal tumors and injury.

Instructions

• 1

  Recognize early symptoms. You may not experience any symptoms at first, and if you do, it's easy to ignore them as nothing more than age-related stiffness. One of the earliest signs might be having a hard time taking your usual walk without experiencing pain. Also be aware that pain, stiffness, numbness or weakness in your back, legs, neck or shoulder that is not related to exercise may be symptoms of spinal stenosis.

• 2

  Pay attention to the location and type of pain. Any pain that interferes with your normal mobility should raise a red flag. According to the American College of Rheumatology, "a person with spinal stenosis complains about developing tremendous pain in the legs or calves and lower back after walking." Compressed nerves cause more pain when walking downhill and feel better when you lean forward or sit down, while compressed vessels cause more pain when walking uphill and improves when you stand still. A herniated disk compresses nerves in your lumbar spine, and that leads to pain that begins in your hips and radiates down the back of your leg. This pain is usually worse when you're sitting and typically affects only one side.

  You may experience random or chronic pain in your neck and shoulders. It may extend into your arm or hand. Pressure on the cervical spinal cord can impact nerves that control balance, resulting in a loss of balance.

  Spinal stenosis causes pain that is severe enough to interfere with your ability to work or perform normal daily activities. Even if you shrugged-off earlier symptoms, this type of pain is telling you that there is a problem that needs medical attention.

• 3

  Seek immediate medical attention if progressive symptoms appear. Spinal stenosis may cause loss of strength in your legs. Depending on the nerves that are affected, it can result in loss of bowel or bladder function, and this is considered a medical emergency. You may experience decreased sensation in your feet that interferes with your ability to walk. It can even result in partial or complete leg paralysis. These symptoms are signs that you need to see a physician right away or go to the emergency room.