ENLmedical.com: Conditions And Concerns: Medical Encyclopedia: Spinal stenosis

Spinal stenosis

Causes and Risks:
Spinal stenosis occurs in middle-aged or elderly people. It may be caused by osteoarthritis , Paget's disease , or as a result of injury that causes pressure on the nerve roots. It occurs in 5 out of 10,000 people.

Prevention:
There is no known prevention.

Symptoms:

pain in the buttocks, thighs, or calves that is worse with walking or exercise
numbness in the buttocks, thighs, or calves, that is worse with standing, walking, or exercise
back pain that radiates to the legs
weakness of the legs
neck pain
leg pain

Signs and Tests:
An examination of reflexes of lower extremities reveals asymmetry. Neurologic examination confirms leg weakness and decreased sensation in the legs.

An X-ray of the spine shows degenerative changes and narrowed spinal canal.
A spine MRI or spinal CT scan shows spinal stenosis.
An EMG may show active and chronic neurological changes.

Treatment:
see - spinal stenosis treatment

Prognosis:
If the nerve roots can be successfully relieved of pressure, the symptoms will not worsen and may even improve.

Complications:
Injury can occur to the legs or feet caused by lack of sensation to that area.

Call Your Healthcare Provider:
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if symptoms of spinal stenosis develop.