The spinal canal is located inside the spine. It is a structure of ligaments and bones that surrounds the sensitive spinal cord and the associated nerves. The spinal canal therefore primarily has a protective function of these highly sensitive structures.
A spinal canal stenosis describes a narrowing (= stenosis) of the spinal canal, which compresses the structures within it and can lead to numerous problems. A spinal canal stenosis can occur at any point of the spine. However, this is particularly common in the lumbar spine (lumbar spinal canal stenosis).
Symptoms
The symptoms of spinal canal stenosis can vary from patient to patient. This is mainly due to the localization of the spinal canal stenosis at the spine, as well as the progress of the disease. In most cases, spinal canal stenosis occurs in the area of the lumbar spine.
The narrowing of the spinal canal causes pain and movement restrictions there. Due to the pressure on the nerves, paraesthesia, numbness and failure symptoms in the lower extremities are not uncommon. The affected persons often complain about the feeling of leaden legs, especially in the beginning.
The complaints increase when the patient brings his spine into a strong hollow back position, as this additionally compresses the spinal canal. A bent posture, such as when riding a bicycle, on the other hand, causes hardly any complaints, since the load on the spine is reduced and it is stretched. In case of a spinal canal stenosis in the area of the cervical spine, the upper extremities in particular are affected by the symptoms. The restricted movement can also often lead to tension in the shoulder and neck area, which places additional strain on the patient and contributes to the development of relieving and incorrect posture. Overall, the patients are severely restricted in their quality of life by the symptoms of spinal canal stenosis and in particular the severe pain.
Causes
Specialists distinguish between two different types of spinal canal stenosis: congenital spinal canal stenosis is caused by malformations of the individual vertebral bodies. The lateral connecting bones of the vertebral bodies are too short or the vertebrae themselves have malformations. As a result, the actual protective function of the spinal column for the spinal canal is lost.
This now presses on the sensitive structures themselves. Since the spinal canal does not reach its required width due to the malformations, this automatically leads to spinal canal stenosis, which can cause problems from the age of about 20 years. Acquired spinal canal stenosis is usually a symptom of old age and thus affects people around the age of 60.
Due to pre-existing conditions, such as osteoarthritis or increased fluid loss in the body with age, the intervertebral discs in particular become unstable. To counteract this instability, the body forms ossifications around the individual vertebrae, which then exert additional pressure on the spinal canal and are thus responsible for the narrowing.
- Congenital spinal stenosis is based on malformations of the individual vertebral bodies.
The lateral connecting bones of the vertebral bodies are too short or the vertebrae themselves have malformations. As a result, the actual protective function of the spinal column for the spinal canal is lost. This now presses on the sensitive structures themselves.
Since the spinal canal does not reach its required width due to the malformations, this automatically leads to spinal canal stenosis, which can cause problems from the age of about 20 years.
- Acquired spinal canal stenosis is usually a symptom of old age and thus affects people around the age of 60. Due to pre-existing conditions, such as osteoarthritis or increased fluid loss in the body with age, the intervertebral discs in particular become unstable. To counteract this instability, the body forms ossifications around the individual vertebrae, which then exert additional pressure on the spinal canal and are thus responsible for the narrowing.
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