In the center of the spine, there is a canal that is home to the spinal cord and the nerve roots. If there isn’t enough room in this canal, the delicate structures within can become compressed. This condition is spinal stenosis, and it can cause symptoms that range from mild to debilitating. If you’ve been experiencing possible spinal stenosis symptoms, a back doctor in Miami can take a look at your risk factors.
Most people who develop spinal stenosis are over the age of 50. When the condition occurs in younger patients, it’s typically either caused by physical trauma, or it’s a congenital condition that the patient was born with. Other risk factors of spinal stenosis include having arthritis of the spine, having a prior history of back surgery, and being diagnosed with a bone disease such as Paget’s disease or ankylosing spondylitis. In addition to reviewing your medical history, risk factors, and symptoms, your spine doctor can confirm the diagnosis with a physical exam and imaging scans, such as X-rays or MRIs.
