Spinal Canal Stenosis Quiz
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Low back pain
Tingling
Foot numbness
Frequent nighttime urination
Pain in legs when walking/taking stairs
Feet cold
Lower back pain that makes me want to sit down
Not seeing your symptoms? No worries!
What is Spinal Canal Stenosis?
Narrowing of the canal surrounding the nerves. It can be caused by normal wear and tear of the spine or by a previous injury to the region.
Typical Symptoms of Spinal Canal Stenosis
- Lower back pain that improves when bending forward or sitting
- Numbness anywhere from the knees to the ankles
- Numbness of the thigh
- Tingling or pricking numbness or pain in the legs that improves after a period of rest
- Whole body pain
- Numbness in the region from shoulder to elbow
- Lower back pain
- Numbness anywhere from the elbow to the wrist
Diagnostic Questions for Spinal Canal Stenosis
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
- Does your lower back pain improve when you bend forward or sit?
- Do you have numbness in your lower legs?
- Do your thighs feel numb?
- Are you able to exercise again after your pain and numbness improve with rest?
- Do you have pain all over your body?
Treatment of Spinal Canal Stenosis
Initial treatment involves physical therapy to strengthen and improve posture. Anti-inflammatory medicines can also be given through pills or injections. In severe cases, surgery can help stabilize the segment, free the spinal nerves, and relieve symptoms.
Reviewed By:
Ziev Moses, MD (Neurosurgery)
Dr. Moses is a board-certified neurosurgeon and assistant professor of neurosurgery at Harvard Medical School.
Tomohiro Hamahata, MD (Orthopedics)
Dr. Hamahata graduated from the Jikei University of Medical Science. After working at Asanokawa General Hospital and Kosei Chuo Hospital, he joined the Department of Orthopedics at Asakusa Hospital in April 2021, specializing in general orthopedics and joint replacement surgery.
Content updated on Feb 19, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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Symptoms Related to Spinal Canal Stenosis
Diseases Related to Spinal Canal Stenosis
FAQs
Q.
Uneven Back? Why Your Spine Is Curving & Medical Next Steps
A.
An uneven back is most often caused by scoliosis, a sideways spinal curve, and how serious it is depends on the curve’s degree, your age, how fast it is progressing, and whether you have pain or nerve symptoms. There are several factors to consider. See below for the full guide on next steps, including when to see a doctor, which imaging confirms the diagnosis, who to see for specialty care, treatment options from observation and bracing to therapy, pain management, or surgery, plus urgent red flags and signs that nerve compression or spinal stenosis may be involved.
References:
* Protopsaltis T, et al. A Comprehensive Review of Spinal Deformity: Etiology, Epidemiology, and Treatment. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2018 Mar 15;43(6):E372-E385. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000002380. PMID: 28723793.
* Ailon T, et al. Adult Spinal Deformity: Evaluation and Management. Neurosurgery. 2015 Mar;76 Suppl 1:S40-54. doi: 10.1227/NEU.0000000000000624. PMID: 25686015.
* Varghese G, et al. Adult kyphosis: a review of the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management. Spine J. 2021 Jan;21(1):159-171. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2020.08.019. PMID: 32889269.
* Patel N, et al. Pediatric spinal deformity: a review of current concepts in diagnosis and management. J Orthop Sci. 2021 Mar;26(2):167-176. doi: 10.1016/j.jos.2020.08.016. Epub 2020 Nov 13. PMID: 33189505.
* Lonner BS, et al. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a review of current treatment. Bone Joint J. 2018 Oct;100-B(10):1273-1282. doi: 10.1302/0301-620X.100B10.BJJ-2018-0248.R1. PMID: 30295204.
Q.
Worried About a Hunch? Why Your Spine Is Curving & Medical Kyphosis Steps
A.
Kyphosis can explain a rounded upper back and posture changes, ranging from flexible postural slouching to structural curves linked to aging, osteoporosis or compression fractures, Scheuermann's in teens, and less common conditions that may affect nerves or breathing; there are several factors to consider. Care depends on cause and severity, from observation and targeted physical therapy to bracing, pain control, treating underlying bone loss or fractures, and surgery only for severe or progressive cases, with urgent care for red flag symptoms like numbness, weakness, walking trouble, bladder or bowel changes, or breathing issues; see the important details below to choose the right next step.
References:
* Gupta N, Singh M, Kaur M. Kyphosis: A Comprehensive Review. Semin Spine Surg. 2018 Jun;30(2):83-88. doi: 10.1053/j.semss.2018.06.002. Epub 2018 Jul 11. PMID: 29775317.
* Pimenta A, Schwab F, Ames CP, Boissiere L, Bourghli A, Burton D, Dieudonne G, Etchebarne L, Faundez AA, Flink C, Floccari R, Godet L, Guler T, Iizuka S, Joshi A, Lafage V, Le Huec JC, Mignard E, Obeid I, Passias P, Pecci C, Roussouly P, Vialle R, Vignes JR, Challier V. Kyphosis management in adults: a systematic review. Eur Spine J. 2021 Jan;30(1):16-30. doi: 10.1007/s00586-020-06673-x. Epub 2020 Nov 27. PMID: 33499427.
* Papaliodis D, Mavrogenis AF, Papaliodis DN. Scheuermann Kyphosis: A Narrative Review. World J Orthop. 2020 Jul 18;11(7):311-319. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v11.i7.311. PMID: 32665979; PMCID: PMC7370335.
* Knezovic D, Požar L, Crnkovic T, Smiljanic A. Effectiveness of specific exercises in reducing hyperkyphosis: a systematic review. Spine J. 2020 Oct;20(10):1741-1755. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2020.06.007. Epub 2020 Jun 16. PMID: 32549495.
* Lafage V, Schwab F, Challier V, Hawkinson N, Glassman S, Shaffrey C. Sagittal balance of the spine: an overview of the biomechanics and clinical applications. Semin Spine Surg. 2014 Sep;26(3):144-154. doi: 10.1053/j.semss.2014.07.006. PMID: 25166299.
Q.
Is Your Spine Twisting? Why Scoliosis Isn’t Slouching & Medical Next Steps
A.
Scoliosis is a structural sideways and rotating curve that does not correct by standing up straighter, diagnosed on standing X-rays when the Cobb angle is 10 degrees or more; look for uneven shoulders or hips, clothes hanging unevenly, a rib hump on forward bend, and in adults possible back or leg symptoms. Next steps depend on age, symptoms, and curve size: mild curves are monitored, growing kids with moderate curves may need bracing, and severe or progressing curves may need surgery; see a doctor for evaluation and seek urgent care for new weakness, numbness, or bladder or bowel changes, as there are several factors to consider and key details below.
References:
* Wang Z, Xia L, Liu H, Guo Z, Li C, Wang K, Lu S. Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Review of Etiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Front Pediatr. 2021 May 26;9:676101. doi: 10.3389/fped.2021.676101. PMID: 34123999; PMCID: PMC8187841.
* Kotwicki T, Durmala M. Diagnosis and Conservative Treatment of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis. J Clin Med. 2023 Apr 1;12(7):2699. doi: 10.3390/jcm12072699. PMID: 37048564; PMCID: PMC10094766.
* Bunnell D, Reichel LM, Hresko MT. Natural History of Untreated Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Literature Review. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2022 Oct 19;104(20):e90. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.21.01524. Epub 2022 Jul 25. PMID: 35878204.
* Liu Y, Jiang H, Yang S, Zeng H, Fang H, Chen L, Luo W. Consensus on Scoliosis Diagnosis and Treatment for Adolescents and Adults: An Evidence-Based Update from the International Consensus Conference on Spinal Deformity (ICCSD). Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2022 Aug 15;47(16):1173-1180. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000004381. Epub 2022 Jun 29. PMID: 35766297.
* Lafond D, Rhalmi M, Paquet N. The Role of Exercise in the Treatment of Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Narrative Review. J Clin Med. 2023 Nov 21;12(23):7270. doi: 10.3390/jcm12237270. PMID: 38068770; PMCID: PMC10707430.
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Which is the best Symptom Checker?
Ubie’s symptom checker demonstrated a Top-10 hit accuracy of 71.6%, surpassing the performance of several leading symptom checkers in the market, which averaged around 60% accuracy in similar assessments.
Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Siebert E, Prüss H, Klingebiel R, Failli V, Einhäupl KM, Schwab JM (2009). Lumbar spinal stenosis: syndrome, diagnostics and treatment. Nature reviews. Neurology.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19578346/Webb CW, Aguirre K, Seidenberg PH (2021). Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: Diagnosis and Management. American family physician.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38648834/Melancia JL, Francisco AF, Antunes JL (2013). Spinal stenosis. Handbook of clinical neurology.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24365318/