Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the gaps within your spine that can cause pressure on the nerves that run through it. Spinal stenosis most commonly affects the lower back and neck. Spinal stenosis is most typically caused by osteoarthritis wear-and-tear alterations in the spine. In extreme cases of spinal stenosis, doctors may advise surgery to provide more room for the spinal cord or nerves.

Spinal stenosis Types
 

The forms of spinal stenosis are categorized based on where the problem arises on the spine. 

• Cervical stenosis - The narrowing happens in the region of the spine in your neck with this ailment.

• Lumbar stenosis - The narrowing of the spine in your lower back develops in this condition. It is the most prevalent kind of spinal stenosis.
  
  Symptoms
  
  The symptoms frequently begin slowly and intensify over time. The symptoms vary depending on where the stenosis is and which nerves are impacted. Some of the most common signs are; 
   

• Around the neck (cervical spine)

• Hand, arm, foot, or leg weakness

• Walking and balance difficulties

• Neck ache

• In extreme situations, there may be bowel or bladder problems (urinary urgency and incontinence)

• Lower back pain (lumbar spine)

• Foot or leg numbness or tingling

• Insufficiency in a foot or leg

• When you stand for long periods or walk, you may have pain or cramping in one or both legs, which normally subsides when you bend forward or sit.

• Backache
  
  Risk elements
   

• The majority of patients who have spinal stenosis are above the age of 50. Although degenerative changes can induce spinal stenosis in younger persons, additional factors must be addressed. 

• Complications

• Untreated severe spinal stenosis may rarely worsen and result in permanent:

• Numbness

• Weakness

• Problems with balance

• Incontinence

• Paralysis
  
  Imaging examinations
  
  These tests may involve the following:
   

• X-rays: An X-ray of your back might indicate bony abnormalities, such as bone spurs, which can limit the area within the spinal canal. 

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): The test can identify disc and ligament damage, as well as the presence of malignancies. Most importantly, it can reveal where nerves in the spinal cord are being compressed.

• CT scan or CT myelogram: If an MRI is not an option, your doctor may suggest computed tomography (CT), a test that combines X-ray pictures collected from various angles to generate comprehensive, cross-sectional images of your body.

• The CT scan in a CT myelogram is performed after a contrast dye is administered.