![]() ![]() Sometimes, discs begin to bulge out of place and protrude into the spinal canal, narrowing the open spaces and pressing against nerves. Thinner, flatter discs tighten the space between vertebrae and put pressure on the nerves leaving the spine. Wear, tear and daily stresses cause discs to dry out, weaken and flatten over time. When degeneration leads to pain and symptoms, it’s diagnosed as degenerative disc disease. Degenerative disc disease. Spinal discs naturally degenerate with age. ![]() Bone spurs might press against and pinch nerves or the spinal cord. These bony overgrowths - called osteophytes or bone spurs - can grow into the spinal canal, narrowing the open spaces. The body tries to repair the damage by producing excess bone around the joints. Wear and tear causes the protective cartilage to erode and the bones of the joint to rub against each other. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition that leads to pain, swelling and inflammation in the spinal joints. Some of the most common degenerative conditions that lead to narrowing of the spine include: With age, wear, tear and daily stresses, the vertebrae, spinal discs and soft tissues undergo changes that tighten the open spaces within the spine. DEGENERATIVE CHANGES ARE THE LEADING CAUSE OF SPINAL NARROWINGĪge-related degeneration is the leading cause of spinal narrowing. So what causes the spine to narrow? Let’s explore the primary factors below. Spinal stenosis in the lumbar spine often causes severe pain and symptoms while standing, sitting up straight and walking, because downward pressure on the spine places more pressure on the nerves. You may also experience nerve pain in the arms or legs - this might feel like shooting, electric pain, weakness, numbness and tingling that runs down an arm or leg. If spinal narrowing presses against nerve roots, you may experience back or neck pain, depending on the location of narrowing. When the open spaces within the spine tighten, the narrowing restricts the space that nerves and the spinal cord have to move through the spine and out into the body. However, many cases of spinal narrowing cause significant pain and symptoms. If you have no pain or symptoms, sometimes spinal stenosis isn’t identified and diagnosed until your doctor catches it on a routine imaging study. ![]() Many older adults live with some degree of spinal narrowing and don’t realize it. By itself, spinal stenosis may be a painless condition. The medical condition characterized by narrowing of the spine is called spinal stenosis. ![]()
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