Literally meaning “spinal narrowing,” spinal stenosis is a painful yet treatable condition that can result from years of wear and tear on our backs.

At some point in our lives, the majority of us will experience back pain. For many, the cause will be a strained or pulled muscle, perhaps caused by a day (or even a brief second) of heavy lifting or awkward movement. But for some - particularly for people over 50 who have osteoarthritis - the cause will be an arthritis-related condition called spinal stenosis. To understand this condition and how it is treated, one must first have a very basic understanding of the spine.

The Makeup of the Spine

Made up of 33 bones called vertebrae, the spine encases the spinal cord, the bundle of nerves that runs from our brain down the length of our back. Between these bones are cushions of cartilage - called disks - that act as shock absorbers. Ligaments and tendons surround and support the spine and attach the spine to the ribs.

What Goes Wrong

As we age, these disks and ligaments start to degenerate. Osteoarthritic changes lead to bony overgrowth of the vertebrae. For most people, these changes are minor or even unnoticeable. In some, however, bony overgrowth causes the spinal column to narrow and press on the nerves housed within. The result: spinal stenosis. Because the affected nerves have many functions, the condition may cause diverse problems in the lower body, including low back pain, pain or numbness in the legs, constipation and urinary incontinence.

How It's Treated

Initially, treatment for spinal stenosis consists of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to ease pain. For some people, physical therapy or use of a walker to support the body’s weight can help. When these measures fail, most doctors recommend surgery.

Surgical Options

The simplest and most common surgery for spinal stenosis, laminectomy, involves removing debris that’s pressing on spinal nerves. If laminectomy isn’t successful or if pain returns at some point after laminectomy, the next and final option is spinal fusion. The procedure corrects the spine’s underlying instability by fusing two or more vertebrae into a single, stronger bone. The surgeon actually joins the vertebrae with a plate or screws, often using a graft of bone from the pelvis.