An Introduction to the Causes 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).
In some cases, spinal stenosis can be caused by
arthritis. 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.
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.
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