Lumbar Stenosis

Causes of Lumbar Stenosis

The lumbar spine consists of the five vertebral bodies that make up the lower back. Nerves enter the spinal canal and travel through the canal before exiting through the foramen (small openings in the sides of the vertebral bodies). Lumbar stenosis is a condition that results from the compression of the nerves as a result of the narrowing of the spinal canal or the vertebral foramen. Therefore two types of lumbar spinal stenosis conditions exist: central stenosis (resulting from the narrowing of the spinal canal) and foraminal stenosis (resulting from the narrowing of the foramen). As the spaces in the spine are narrow the nerves are compressed resulting in the painful condition known as lumbar spinal stenosis.

One of the most common causes of spinal stenosis is degenerative arthritis. Arthritis is part of the normal degenerative process that occurs as a result of the ageing process. Degenerative arthritis can occur in all bones in the body including the vertebral bodies that make up the spinal column. The occurrence of degenerative arthritis in the lumbar vertebrae may result in the loss of cartilage in the joints between the bones and the loss of height in the discs between the bones. These conditions result in the compression of nerves leaving the spinal canal.

Degenerative arthritis may also result in the formation of osteophytes (bone spurs) and overgrowth of the ligaments in the spinal column. These conditions result in the narrowing of space within or between the vertebral bodies resulting in the compression of nerves or the spinal cord itself.

Lumbar spinal stenosis can also result from various other conditions that result in the reduction in available space within the spinal canal or the narrowing of the vertebral foramen. Spinal tumors occurring within the spinal column compress the spinal cord causing lumbar spinal stenosis. Various infections and metabolic disorders such as Padget's disease have also been shown to cause lumbar spinal stenosis. The condition may also develop as a result of injuries or trauma to the lumbar spine. However, these causes occur less frequently compared to degenerative arthritis.

Causes of Lumbar Stenosis
Lumbar stenosis is a medical condition that results from any condition
that causes the squeezing of the spinal cord or nerves in the lumbar region.
Article published March 4^th, 2011
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