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• Canal Stenosis Overview

Canal Stenosis

Canal stenosis, also called spinal stenosis, occurs when the space in the spinal canal narrows. When this happens, one or more of the anatomical elements of the spine are typically inflamed or out of place, causing an intrusion into the spinal canal and possibly impinging nerve roots or the spinal cord.

Conditions Causing Canal Stenosis

There are many spinal conditions that may lead towards the development of canal stenosis, including the following:

• Osteoarthritis – This type of arthritis is typically acquired through the natural aging process and involves the degradation of cartilage on the joints. Osteoarthritis can cause the joints to enlarge and enter into the spinal canal.
• Bone spurs – A main cause of bone spurs is bone-on-bone friction. In the spine, this friction can happen in several ways. For instance, as intervertebral discs collapse due to age-related degeneration, the vertebrae might begin to rub against one another, prompting the formation of bone spurs that take up space in the spinal canal. Also, as osteoarthritis causes the wearing away of cartilage on the spine’s facet? joints, this too can lead to direct bone-on-bone contact. Finally, as wear is continually placed on the neck and back, the bones along the spinal column can start to conform to the pressure applied by tendons and ligaments. This can stimulate the creation of bone spurs (enlargements on a bone’s natural structure), which can intrude on the spinal canal.
• Herniated discs and bulging discs – When an intervertebral disc bulges or herniates, disc tissue can enter into the spinal canal, causing stenosis.

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These spinal conditions can be diagnosed through a variety of imaging techniques (including an X-ray, MRI and CT scan). Doctors may also perform strength and reflex tests and take blood to test for other conditions which may cause canal stenosis.

Treatment Options

Patients who have been diagnosed with central canal stenosis should talk to their doctors to determine the proper course of treatment for them. If conservative therapies such as bed rest and over-the-counter pain medication prove ineffective, an endoscopic procedure performed by the surgeons at Laser Spine Institute may provide relief. Contact Laser Spine Institute for more information about our safe and effective techniques and to schedule a free MRI or CT scan review.

Please note: Laser Spine Institute currently does not perform endoscopic procedures on the thoracic spine.