Rheumatoid Arthritis
- It affects most people at a younger age than osteoarthritis
- It causes the soft tissues of the joints to swell
- It can affect the internal organs and systems
- It is not a common cause of spinal stenosis
- It can cause severe damage, especially to joints.
Inherited Conditions That Cause Spinal Stenosis
Some people are born with conditions that can become the cause of spinal stenosis. For instance, some people are born with a small spinal canal and some people are born with a curved spine (
scoliosis).
Other Causes of Spinal Stenosis
Other causes of spinal stenosis include:
- Tumors of the spine
- Injuries
- Paget's disease (a disease that affects the bones)
- Too much fluoride in the body
- Calcium deposits on the ligaments that run along the spine.
Tumors of the Spine
Tumors of the spine are abnormal growths of soft tissue that may affect the spinal canal directly by inflammation or by growth of tissue into the canal. Tissue growth may lead to bone resorption (bone loss due to overactivity of certain bone cells) or displacement of bone.
Injuries
Injuries may either dislocate the spine and the spinal canal or cause burst fractures that produce fragments of bone that penetrate the canal.
Paget's Disease
Paget's disease of the bone is a chronic (long-term) disorder that typically results in enlarged and abnormal bones. Excessive bone breakdown and formation can cause both thick and fragile bone. As a result, bone pain,
arthritis, noticeable bone structure changes, and fractures can occur. The disease can affect any bone of the body, but it is often found in the spine. The blood supply that feeds healthy nerve tissue may be diverted to the area of involved bone. Also, structural problems of the involved vertebrae can cause narrowing of the spinal canal, producing a variety of neurological symptoms.
Previous
Add this article to your Favorites
Email this article
Print