Your spine is a remarkable part of your body. It not only supports your upper body and protects nerves from harm, but it also has to be flexible for a variety of movements. Taking care of your spine is important for living a quality life, but there are many conditions and injuries that can harm the spine. One condition that commonly develops as you age is spinal stenosis.
Spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the spinal column. The spinal column contains the nerves that run from your brain into the rest of your body. When the spinal column grows more narrow, it puts pressure on these nerves. This causes pain and affects your range of motion.
What causes spinal stenosis?
Spinal stenosis is known to have a few different causes, including:
- Osteoarthritis — Osteoarthritis damages the cartilage in your spine, which can lead to the development of bone spurs as a reaction. These bone spurs can put pressure on the spinal column, which causes spinal stenosis.
- Herniated discs — If one or more of the discs between your vertebrae are damaged, their fluid can slip out onto the spinal column, which can lead to the development of spinal stenosis.
- Scoliosis — Scoliosis is a condition in which the spine grows in an unnatural sideways curve. If this curve is severe, it can cause several issues in your back, including spinal stenosis.
- Genetics — Some people are naturally born with a more narrow spine. You may also be more genetically predisposed to develop spinal stenosis earlier in life than others.
No matter the cause, if you have spinal stenosis, you can visit a medical professional for treatment. In some cases, you can benefit from conservative treatments like chiropractic care or physical therapy. In other cases, you’ll need orthopedic surgery.
Visit the iRISE Spine and Joint Institute for spinal stenosis treatment
Are you suffering from back pain caused by spinal stenosis? Our orthopedic surgeons at the iRISE Spine and Joint Institute specialize in many different procedures for treating spinal stenosis. Many of our procedures are minimally invasive, so you can recover quickly and with less pain than you might think. Contact us today to learn more about spinal stenosis surgery or to schedule an initial appointment.
