Stenosis

With age, the joints of the vertebrae wear down, triggering a contraction of the spinal canal. This condition is known as stenosis, wherein the narrowed spinal canal puts pressure on the surrounding nerves and causes weakness in the limbs.

Symptoms

Since stenosis is a progressive condition, it may be asymptomatic as well. About 95% of patients who have stenosis also have sciatica.

The patient experiences radiating pain in the limbs depending upon where the stenosis is, and about 70% of the patients complain of sensory changes in the arms and legs.

Causes

Stenosis occurs due to normal wear and tear associated with aging, and usually affects people over 50. Other causes of spinal stenosis are:

Rheumatoid or osteoarthritis.
Tumor in the spinal canal, reducing its size.
Bone spur: An overgrowth of the bone pinching the nerve in the spinal canal.
The soft gel inside the vertebrae leaking through a herniated disc and putting pressure on the surrounding nerves.
Thickening ligaments: Due to aging, the ligament thickens and bulge into the spinal canal.

In very rare cases, people are born with stenosis.

Stenosis

Stenosis

Symptoms

Causes

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