Orthopaedic Conditions

CONDITIONS OF THE SPINE

• Spinal Stenosis (Thoracic)

Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal. It occurs when the channels that your spinal cord and nerve roots travel through become narrower resulting in compression (squeezing) of your spinal cord and/or nerve roots. " It can lead to pain in your lower back, legs, neck, arms, or hands depending on where in your spine the spinal cord and/or nerves are getting squeezed. It occurs most commonly in your low back (lumbar spine) or in your neck (cervical spine). In the lower back, it's called lumbar spinal stenosis. In the neck, it is termed cervical spinal stenosis. Spinal stenosis is quite common because arthritic changes in the spine—like this narrowing—are a natural part of growing older. At times symptoms are non-existant or mild requiring no treatment. However, in some patients, persistent pain may require physical therapy, medications, injections, or even surgery to decompress the nerves if conservative measures fail.