The narrowing of the spaces in the spine or backbone causes spinal stenosis, which leads to pressure on the spinal cord and nerves. Most of the time, spinal stenosis occurs in the lower back. That means that nerve root compression in the said area causes pain to be felt along the back of the leg. Age, heredity, spine instability, tumors, and trauma may all lead to spinal stenosis:
- Our ligaments thicken as you age. Small growths may develop in our spinal canal bones. There are also cases when the discs between our vertebrae or facet joints begin to deteriorate.
- Spinal stenosis may even occur at a young age. This is true especially for those who were born with small spinal canals. Hereditary is the biggest contributor in this scenario.
- Other inborn structural deformities in the spine area may also lead to the narrowing of the spinal canal.
- If a person has an unstable spine, his vertebrae will begin to slip forward to another vertebrae. This movement also results in a narrowing of the spinal canal.
- The spinal canal may become inflamed due to tumors or any other abnormal growths in the spine. Bone loss, bone displacement, and collapse are all possible scenarios that can be caused by these abnormal growths.
- Accidents and injuries from trauma can dislocate the spine and the spinal canal, causing bone fractures and fragments to enter the canal.
Low back pain is the most common symptom of low back pain, though there are also cases when a person feels no other signs of spinal stenosis. Other symptoms include:
- Falling frequently
- Clumsiness
- Pain and difficulty when walking
- Numbness
- Tingling and hot or cold feelings in the legs
- Stiff legs and thighs
- Rib pain
- Bladder control loss
If you are experiencing pain in your lower back, it’s time to call an orthopedic spine specialist. Contact Spine Center of Texas to learn more about our various treatment options for spinal stenosis.
