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.

Spinal Stenosis Information

Cause of Spinal Stenosis: An Overview

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

Aging
Osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Inherited conditions.

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)