Definition, Pathophysiology, Incidence, and Prevalence
Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal, lumbar stenosis is the narrowing of the lower back, the lumbar portion (Spinal stenosis, 2018). This spinal canal narrowing can place additional pressure onto the spinal cord nerves which may cause the affected individual pain. Ferri (2018) explains that in lumbar stenosis, the spinal nerve roots in the lower back become compressed and this can produce symptoms of sciatica involving: tingling, weakness, and/or numbness that radiates from the low back and into the buttocks and legs, especially with activity. Spinal stenosis can occur due to a variety of reasons. Most people with spinal stenosis are over the age of 50; however, some individuals have congenital defects with their spinal canal, causing compression on the spinal cord (Spinal stenosis, 2018). Other causes of lumbar spinal stenosis include: osteoarthritis of the vertebrae can prompt the formation of bone spurs, Paget’s disease, herniated vertebrae, tumors, spinal trauma, and thickened ligaments (Ferri, 2018).
