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- Cholesterol Levels: What You Need to Know
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- Stuttering
Spinal Stenosis
Summary
Your spine, or backbone, protects your spinal cord and allows you to stand and bend. Spinal stenosis causes narrowing in your spine. The narrowing puts pressure on your nerves and spinal cord and can cause pain.
Spinal stenosis occurs mostly in people older than 50. Younger people with a spine injury or a narrow spinal canal are also at risk. Diseases such as arthritis and scoliosis can cause spinal stenosis, too. Symptoms might appear gradually or not at all. They include:
- Pain in your neck or back
- Numbness, weakness, cramping, or pain in your arms or legs
- Pain going down the leg
- Foot problems
Doctors diagnose spinal stenosis with a physical exam and imaging tests. Treatments include medications, physical therapy, braces, and surgery.
NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Reference Desk
- Anatomy of the Spine North American Spine Society
- Definitions A-Z North American Spine Society
Find an Expert
- Arthritis Foundation: Local Office Directory Arthritis Foundation
- Find a Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physician American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
- Find a Physical Therapist American Physical Therapy Association
- Find a Rheumatologist American College of Rheumatology
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Treatments and Therapies
- Back Surgery: When Is It a Good Idea? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Cervical Laminoplasty North American Spine Society
- Epidural Injections Radiological Society of North America
- Laminectomy Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
Related Issues
- Cauda Equina Syndrome American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Specifics
- Cervical Stenosis, Myelopathy and Radiculopathy North American Spine Society
- Lumbar Spinal Canal Stenosis American Academy of Family Physicians
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Spinal Stenosis National Institutes of Health
Diagnosis and Tests
- Computed Tomography (CT) Scan of the Spine Radiological Society of North America
- Myelography National Library of Medicine
- Spine MRI Radiological Society of North America
Patient Handouts
- Foraminotomy Medical Encyclopedia
- Laminectomy Medical Encyclopedia
- Questions to ask your doctor about spinal surgery Medical Encyclopedia
- Spinal fusion Medical Encyclopedia
- Spinal stenosis Medical Encyclopedia
- Spine surgery – discharge Medical Encyclopedia
Encyclopedia
- Lumbar MRI scan Medical Encyclopedia
- Lumbar Spine CT scan Medical Encyclopedia
Images
- Lumbar spinal surgery – series — Normal anatomy Medical Encyclopedia
- Spinal fusion – series — Normal anatomy Medical Encyclopedia
- Spinal surgery – cervical – series — Normal anatomy Medical Encyclopedia
Journal Articles
Start Here
- Spinal Stenosis National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
- Spinal Stenosis Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Spinal Stenosis American College of Rheumatology