What Causes Spinal Stenosis and How Can I Treat It?

Spinal stenosis is an abnormal narrowing (stenosis) of the spinal canal. The narrowing occurs in the space where the spinal cord or nerve roots pass through the vertebrae. This narrowing results in a restriction/compression of the spinal cord or nerve roots. Lumbar (lower back) stenosis and cervical (neck) stenosis are the two most frequently seen types of spinal stenosis. Lumbar stenosis is more common. Back Clinics of Canada’s High Performance Healing System is a safe, non-invasive and highly effective treatment for spinal stenosis and other back pain conditions.

Symptoms of Spinal Stenosis
Symptoms of spinal stenosis vary depending upon where in the spine the stenosis occurs.

Symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis may include:

  • sciatica (tingling, weakness, or numbness that radiates from the low back and into the buttocks and legs)
  • pinched nerve
  • heaviness in the legs
  • pain when standing or walking for a long time

Symptoms of cervical spinal stenosis can be quite serious and may include:

  • major body weakness
  • paralysis

Overall, spinal stenosis can cause pain, numbness, weakness, tingling, and loss of motor control.  There may also be occurrences of fever, nighttime pain, gait disturbance, structural deformity, unexplained weight loss, pain upon lying down, and presence of severe or progressive nerve deficit.

Causes of Spinal Stenosis
There are different possible causes of spinal stenosis.

Aging: Some types of degeneration in the spine occur naturally as one ages. The following changes can cause the spinal canal to narrow:

  • Bulging or herniation of spinal discs
  • Thickening of ligaments
  • Development of bone spurs
  • Breakdown of facet joints
  • Compression fractures in the vertebrae (seen more commonly in patients who have osteoporosis)
  • Formation of cysts on the facet joints

Arthritis: Osteoarthritis may be a direct cause of Spinal Stenosis

Heredity: One may be born with a narrow spinal canal, or have structural deformities of the vertebrae that cause narrowing of the spinal canal

Instability of the spine: If the vertebrae are not stable and begin to slip from their position, narrowing of the spinal canal can occur

Trauma: An accident or injury can dislocate the spine (and the spinal canal), or cause a fracture that sends bone fragments into the spinal canal

Tumors: Irregular soft-tissue growths on the spine can cause narrowing of the spinal canal

Treatment for Spinal Stenosis
Back Clinics of Canada of Canada’s offers the High Performance Healing System, an integrated, multi-pronged system of care that is seeing great results among patients suffering with spinal stenosis and other painful low back and neck conditions.

The High Performance Healing System includes a combination of non-surgical spinal decompression, class IV K-laser therapy, and nutritional supplementation. “The cutting-edge technology we use allows us to target the very area of the spine requiring care. We’re healing patients at the source of their pain,” says Dr. Nusbaum. “And what’s really remarkable is that we’re helping patients achieve true healing without medication, surgery or other invasive techniques.”