If you experience back pain, you’re not alone. Back pain is a relatively common condition which can be caused by acute injury, degenerative disc disease, herniated disc, and other issues. One potential cause of back pain is spinal stenosis, or a narrowing of the spine. The spine can be affected in its center, in the canals where nerves branch out, or in the spaces between the vertebrae. If there are issues in any of these three places, spinal stenosis may be the result. Spinal stenosis in Miami is typically found in adults over 50 years old, but can also affect a younger segment of the population. Read on to learn more about spinal stenosis in young patients.
Symptoms
In some cases, spinal stenosis may not present with any symptoms at all. At other times, the symptoms may appear gradually and get worse as time goes on. Neck and back pain are common symptoms of spinal stenosis, as is numbness, weakness, or pain in the arms or legs. Some patients may experience foot pain, while others feel shooting pains down their legs. If you notice that you have any of these symptoms or that they are getting worse, talk to your spine center doctor.
Causes
Spinal stenosis is often due to the changes in the spine brought on by the aging process. However, spinal stenosis can also affect younger people. Rheumatoid arthritis usually appears earlier than osteoarthritis, and can cause damage and swelling in the joints. It is not a common cause of spinal stenosis, but may affect the spine nonetheless. In some cases, people are born with issues that can lead to spinal stenosis. Some people are born with a relatively small spinal canal, which sets them up for the condition. People who are born with a curved spine, better known as scoliosis, may also be at increased risk of developing spinal stenosis. Injuries may also cause spinal stenosis, and these injuries may occur at a young age.
