What Is Acquired Spinal Stenosis and Why Is It So Common Later in Life?

Do you have lower back pain that doesn’t get better when you apply ice or moist heat? Perhaps the pain also shoots down one leg, or you experience numbness or tingling in your leg or foot. You may have sciatica, a painful condition that can result from spinal stenosis. 

Our board-certified orthopedic surgeons with Peninsula Orthopedic Associates treat many cases of spinal stenosis in senior adults. You’re seeking relief and are likely wondering how you developed this painful condition. We explain here.

What is acquired spinal stenosis? 

If you have spinal stenosis, your spinal canal, which contains your spinal cord, has narrowed. When the canal narrows, the spinal nerves that branch out from your spinal cord may become compressed. That causes your  pain. 

Numbness, tingling, weakness, and severe pain are among the most common symptoms of sciatica, an offshoot of spinal stenosis. 

You’ve likely acquired spinal stenosis as an adult. Less than 10% of spinal stenosis cases are congenital, meaning present from birth. 

Why is spinal stenosis common in senior adults? 

Your body is a complex machine. As you age, you see visible changes in your appearance. Wrinkles and loose skin begin to develop because your body produces less collagen and elastin, the proteins that kept your skin smooth in your youth. 

Likewise, your body experiences internal changes as you age. Following are some of the changes that lead to narrowing of your spinal canal and spinal stenosis. 

Osteoarthritis 

You have protective cushioning, called cartilage, around the bones in your spine. After years of wear-and-tear, including movements such as bending, twisting, lifting, and turning, your cartilage thins. Your vertebrae become irritated without enough cartilage between them, resulting in osteoarthritis. 

When you develop osteoarthritis, your body may respond by producing new bony growths. These are bone spurs that can poke into your spinal canal and irritate the nerves that branch from your spinal cord. 

Herniated discs 

Your vertebrae also have gel-like discs that help to absorb the shock as you bend, twist, and turn daily. Discs often dry out and may become brittle later in life. A disc can crack, causing the gel to break through the disc’s barrier and irritate your spinal nerves, resulting in acquired stenosis symptoms.  

Spinal fractures 

The National Institutes of Health says that approximately 25% of post-menopausal women experience a compression fracture in their spine, with 40% having a spinal fracture by age 80. Osteoporosis is a leading cause of spinal fractures in senior adults. Older men may also experience spinal fractures, but at a lower rate than women. 

A spinal fracture can dislocate a vertebrae, placing pressure on your spinal nerves. 

Spinal tumors and cysts 

Abnormal growths such as tumors or cysts are more likely to occur in older adults than in young adults. They narrow your spinal canal. 

Treatment for acquired spinal stenosis

Our orthopedic surgeons employ a number of options in treating stenosis. Conservative treatment such as injections, medication, and physical therapy resolve the majority of cases. Several surgical options are available if your stenosis doesn’t resolve with conservative treatment. 

Call us at Peninsula Orthopedic Associates or request an appointment at one of our convenient offices through our online portal today if you have unexplained back pain. We’re located in Daly City, Menlo Park, and Los Gatos, California.