Cause of Spinal Stenosis

The cause of spinal stenosis is often linked to aging, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or inherited conditions. Changes that occur in the spine as people age are the most common cause of this condition. However, the cause of spinal stenosis can also be linked to tumors of the spine, injuries, Paget's disease, too much fluoride in the body, and calcium deposits on the ligaments that run along the spine.

 

Cause of Spinal Stenosis: An Overview

There are often several causes of spinal stenosis, which include:
 
 

Aging as a Cause of Spinal Stenosis

Changes that occur in the spine as people get older are the most common cause of spinal stenosis. As people get older:
 
  • The bands of tissue that support the spine may get thick and hard
  • Bones and joints may get bigger
  • Surfaces of the bones may bulge out (these are called bone spurs).
 

Arthritis as a Cause of Spinal Stenosis

In some cases, arthritis can be a cause of spinal stenosis. Arthritis is a degenerative condition that typically gets worse over time. Two forms that may affect the spine are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
 
Osteoarthritis
Key information about osteoarthritis includes:
 
  • It is the most common form of arthritis
  • It usually occurs in middle-aged and older people
  • It does not go away
  • It may involve many joints in the body
  • It wears away the tough tissue (cartilage) that keeps the joints in place
  • It causes bone spurs and problems with joints.
(Cause of Spinal Stenosis Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD