Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

As we age, our spines change. These normal wear-and-tear effects of aging can lead to narrowing of the spinal canal. This condition is called spinal stenosis. Almost everyone will experience low back pain at some point in their lives. A common cause of low back pain is lumbar spinal stenosis. Your spine is made up of vertebrae, muscles, ligaments, nerves, and intervertebral disks. When stenosis occurs in the lower back, it is called lumbar spinal stenosis. It often results from the normal aging process. As people age, the soft tissues and bones in the spine may harden or become overgrown. These degenerative changes may narrow the space around the spinal cord and result in spinal stenosis. Degenerative changes of the spine are seen in up to 95% of people by the age of 50. Spinal stenosis most often occurs in adults over 60 years old. Pressure on the spinal cord is equally common in men and women, although women are more likely to have symptoms that require treatment. A small number of people are born with back problems that develop into lumbar spinal stenosis. This is known as congenital spinal stenosis. It occurs most often in men. People usually first notice symptoms between the ages of 30 and 50. Arthritis is the most common cause of spinal stenosis. Arthritis is the degeneration of any joint in the body. Since 2002, we have treated spinal stenosis with CT guided epidural injection of steroids.