Causes of Spinal Stenosis in the Lower Back
Spinal stenosis in the lower back can occur for a number of reasons, but aging is typically the main culprit. As we grow older, degenerative changes take place within the entire spine, but particularly within the flexible and weight-bearing lumbar (lower back) region. Intervertebral discs begin to lose water content and shrink, becoming susceptible to bulging and herniating. In an effort to stabilize weakened areas of the spine and compensate for the degeneration of cartilage, bone spurs might develop. Ligaments can thicken and calcify. All of these situations can cause degenerating bone material or intervertebral disc tissues to extend into the space of the spinal canal. This narrowing, or stenosis, could eventually cause the the compression, or "pinching," of lumbar (lower back) nerve roots.
Additional Causes
Spinal stenosis in the lower back could also be caused by the following:
- Traumatic injury - Accidents involving forceful blows to the spinal components could lead to vertebral slippage or fractures, which could impinge on the spinal canal.
- Paget's disease - Paget's disease is a disorder that involves the abnormal enlargement of bones. The disorder is most commonly found in the spine and can lead to bone structure changes and fractured vertebrae, both of which could cause the narrowing of the spinal canal.
- Fluorosis - Fluorosis is an abnormal amount of fluoride in the body, which can arise due to excessive inhalation of industrial gases or dusts that contain fluorides, or the ingestion of insecticides with fluoride in them. The chemical can soften bones and calcify ligaments, occurrences that could lead to neural compression in the spine.
Treatments
After a diagnosis, spinal stenosis in the lower back is often treated conservatively, or non-surgically. Such treatments often include pain medications, physical therapy, low-impact exercise, stretching, and corticosteroid injections, among others. These methods are usually able to alleviate symptoms after several weeks or months of implementation. Surgery may only be recommended if conservative methods fail to provide relief. |
