Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsThe Spinal CanalCauses of Central Canal Narrowing and StenosisSymptomsTreatmentPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
The Spinal Canal
Causes of Central Canal Narrowing and Stenosis
Symptoms
Treatment
Prevention
Central canal stenosis occurs when the spaces in the spine narrow and create pressureon thespinal cordand nerve roots.This space in the spine is known as the spinal canal.
Central canal stenosis is usually age-related, occurs over time, and affects one ormore areas of the spine. The narrowing most commonly develops in the lumbar spine (lower back) and cervical spine (the first seven vertebrae just below the skull).
This article describes the symptoms, causes, and treatment for central canal stenosis.
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The spinal canal is a long tunnel down the center of your vertebral column. Your spinal cord is located inside this canal. The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that comes out of the base of the brain and runs down the center of the spine with nerve roots branching out from the cord.
Dr. John Toerge, D.O., and rehabilitation specialist at Medstar National Rehabilitation Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland said, “the canal is made of bone, and it supports the motion of the spine. The spinal cord provides the means of transmitting the impulses from the brain and other areas of the nervous system to the rest of the body.”
Along with the cord, the spinal canal houses blood vessels, fat, andspinal nerve roots.
Spinal Foramen
Your peripheral nervous system is comprised of the nerves that branch off from the spinal cord. These nerves exit the spine from theintervertebral foramenat the sides of your spine and extend to all areas of your body.
The peripheral nerves detect and relay sensations—temperature, pain, joint and body position—and communicate movement impulses from your central nervous system to your muscles.
Several factors can contribute to the narrowing and stenosis of the spine. Age-related changes in the spine, injury, other diseases, and inherited conditions are typical causes.
Arthritis
Two forms of arthritis that may affect the spine are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Osteoarthritis.The most common cause of spinal stenosis is osteoarthritis—the gradual wear and tear that happens to your joints over time.Osteoarthritiscan lead to the breakdown of disks and an overgrowth of bone that narrows the central canal and nerve root canals. Most people who develop symptoms of spinal stenosis are 50 years or older and women have a higher risk of developing spinal stenosis than men.
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA).This chronic inflammatory condition is an autoimmune disorder that mostly affects joints and causes pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of function in joints. Although it’s not a common cause of spinal stenosis, RA can cause problems with the joints in the spine, leading to stenosis.
Aging and Age-related Changes
Along with osteoarthritis, there are other age-related changes to the spine that can cause spinal stenosis. As people age, the ligaments in the spine can thicken and harden and bones and joints can also enlarge. Common causes of age-relatedspinal stenosisinclude:
Genetic Causes
Some people may be born with narrow spinal canals, called congenital stenosis. “Some individuals have a small canal and a large spinal cord or a large canal and small spinal cord, with the latter being the better scenario,” Dr. Toerge explained.
Other genetic causes can include:
Other Causes
Besidesarthritisand age-related causes, other conditions or circumstances that can cause spinal stenosis include:
The narrowing of the spinal canal creates pressure on the spine and related structures, causing symptoms. Although some people may not have any symptoms, most people develop symptoms that progress slowly over time. The symptoms experienced depend on the location of the narrowing and can include:
There are many healthcare providers who can help with spinal stenosis, arthritis and nerve specialists, pain specialists, physical therapists, and surgeons. Although surgery is usually done as a last resort, treatment can include:
Physical Therapy
A physical therapist can teach you exercises to build endurance and strengthen your back, stomach, and leg muscles to help stabilize the spine. Learning how to do activities safely, using braces to support your back, stretching, and massage may also be helpful.
Medications
A healthcare provider may recommend medicines that help reduce pain and inflammation, such as:
Surgery
Surgery may be necessary if you’ve tried nonsurgical treatments and medications and you still have significant symptoms. When surgery removes or repairs areas of the spine that are creating pressure, it usually helps people have less leg pain and walk better after surgery. Surgical treatments include:
Laminectomy:removing bone spurs and widening the space between vertebrae to remove pressure on the nerves
Spinal fusion:joining or fusing two or more vertebrae in the spine together to stabilize the lower back.
Acupuncture and chiropractic care may also be helpful for some people. A 2018 study found that acupuncture was more effective than exercise for improved physical functioning and more effective than medication for patient satisfaction.The researchers suggest that healthcare providers and patients factor in the study results when making treatment decisions for lumbar spinal stenosis.
Summary
Central canal stenosis is usually age-related and occurs when the spaces in the spine narrow and create pressure. The narrowing most commonly develops in the lumbar and cervical spine and can cause pain, burning, tingling, cramping, numbness, or weakness in the legs and feet.
There are many treatment options to help relieve symptoms, but there isn’t a cure for central canal stenosis. Talk with a healthcare provider if you need help with treatment for back pain.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Spinal Stenosis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Lumbar spinal stenosis.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Spinal stenosis: diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.Oka H, Matsudaira K, Takano Y, et al.A comparative study of three conservative treatments in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis: lumbar spinal stenosis with acupuncture and physical therapy study (LAP study).BMC Complement Altern Med. 2018;18(1):19. doi:10.1186/s12906-018-2087-yAdditional ReadingEmail Interview. Toerge, J. DO, MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital, Bethesda, MD. January 2014.Sources:Email Interview. Glaser, J. DO, LAC, Restorative Medicine in New Hyde Park, NY January 2014.Email Interview. Gonzalez-Arias, Sergio M.D., Medical Director, Baptist Health Neuroscience Center, Miami, FL. January 2014.
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Spinal Stenosis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Lumbar spinal stenosis.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Spinal stenosis: diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.Oka H, Matsudaira K, Takano Y, et al.A comparative study of three conservative treatments in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis: lumbar spinal stenosis with acupuncture and physical therapy study (LAP study).BMC Complement Altern Med. 2018;18(1):19. doi:10.1186/s12906-018-2087-yAdditional ReadingEmail Interview. Toerge, J. DO, MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital, Bethesda, MD. January 2014.Sources:Email Interview. Glaser, J. DO, LAC, Restorative Medicine in New Hyde Park, NY January 2014.Email Interview. Gonzalez-Arias, Sergio M.D., Medical Director, Baptist Health Neuroscience Center, Miami, FL. January 2014.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Spinal Stenosis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Lumbar spinal stenosis.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Spinal stenosis: diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.Oka H, Matsudaira K, Takano Y, et al.A comparative study of three conservative treatments in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis: lumbar spinal stenosis with acupuncture and physical therapy study (LAP study).BMC Complement Altern Med. 2018;18(1):19. doi:10.1186/s12906-018-2087-y
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Spinal Stenosis.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Lumbar spinal stenosis.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Spinal stenosis: diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.
Oka H, Matsudaira K, Takano Y, et al.A comparative study of three conservative treatments in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis: lumbar spinal stenosis with acupuncture and physical therapy study (LAP study).BMC Complement Altern Med. 2018;18(1):19. doi:10.1186/s12906-018-2087-y
Email Interview. Toerge, J. DO, MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital, Bethesda, MD. January 2014.Sources:Email Interview. Glaser, J. DO, LAC, Restorative Medicine in New Hyde Park, NY January 2014.Email Interview. Gonzalez-Arias, Sergio M.D., Medical Director, Baptist Health Neuroscience Center, Miami, FL. January 2014.
Email Interview. Toerge, J. DO, MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital, Bethesda, MD. January 2014.
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