An abnormal narrowing of the spinal canal or neural foramen that results in pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots.
Symptoms may include pain, numbness, or weakness in the arms or legs; they are typically gradual in onset and improve when the body is bending forward. Severe symptoms may include loss of bladder and bowel control or sexual dysfunction.
Causes may include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, spinal tumors, trauma, Paget's disease of bone, scoliosis, spondylolisthesis, and achondroplasia.
It can be classified by the part of the spine affected into cervical, thoracic, and lumbar stenosis.
Diagnosis is generally based on symptoms and medical imaging.
Clinical presentation:
- standing discomfort
- discomfort/pain, in shoulder, arm, hand
- numbness and weakness at or below the level of involvement
- pain or weakness in buttock/thigh only
- bilateral symptoms
See reference for more information. Adapted from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Internet. Accessed on May 2, 2018.