1-

• Contact Laser Spine Institute
• Request MRI Review
• Medical Spine Seminar

You are here

• Home
• »
• Spine Conditions
• »
• Causes
• »
• Canal Stenosis Causes

Canal Stenosis – Causes and Treatments

Canal stenosis and its underlying causes can produce a number of uncomfortable symptoms. Many patients with canal stenosis experience pain in the neck or back, as well as traveling pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in other parts of the body. Depending on the exact location of the stenosis, some may experience these symptoms in the shoulders, arms, legs, ribs and internal organs. Some patients may even experience no symptoms as a result of canal stenosis.

Causes

Canal stenosis occurs when an element in the spinal canal (such as a disc, vertebra or facet joint) becomes inflamed or shifted out of place. The result is sometimes a narrowing of the spinal canal, which is referred to as canal stenosis. A number of spinal conditions can cause spinal stenosis including spondylolisthesis, herniated discs, osteoarthritis, bone spurs and degenerative disc disease. Many of these conditions occur as a result of the natural aging process or congenital disorders, making them more common in patients over the age of 30.

Treatments

Most doctors will begin to treat canal stenosis with conservative therapies. These treatments allow many patients to find relief from their symptoms within a few weeks, though some require more or less time. The following conservative treatments may either be prescribed individually or in conjunction with one another:

• Pain medications (over-the-counter or prescription strength)
• Bed rest
• Hot and/or cold compresses
• Weight loss
• Moderate exercise
• Physical therapy

Click Here to see how you can get your life back in 5 days

Be sure to consult a doctor or pharmacist before beginning any diet, exercise regimen or over-the-counter pain medication. Care should always be taken to reduce the risk for further complications and drug interactions.

Endoscopic Procedures

While conservative treatments are beneficial to many patients, some may request surgery to treat canal stenosis. Patients who experience the continued pain associated with canal stenosis and its causes should contact Laser Spine Institute for information about our outpatient endoscopic procedures.

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